Right arm "locking up".

[Psycho]

I've been playing for a good 3 years, and am working on playing faster.

But, i've found out that at faster tempos, and when dealing with triplets, my right arm begins to lock up VERY quickly.

I can play the first couple minutes of a song like The Trooper before my right forearm simply slows to a halt, and even though I try I can't seem to push past it and keep playing. I have to stop.


Any advice???

[Stinger5]

just keep trying and eventually u'll get through it. the same thing happened to me and still does if i havent played in a while.

[Metal Mitch]

Try to relax your fingers/forearm while playing. Your stamina will go way up, and you won't cramp.

[Red Planet]

Originally Posted by Psycho

I've been playing for a good 3 years, and am working on playing faster.

But, i've found out that at faster tempos, and when dealing with triplets, my right arm begins to lock up VERY quickly.

I can play the first couple minutes of a song like The Trooper before my right forearm simply slows to a halt, and even though I try I can't seem to push past it and keep playing. I have to stop.


Any advice???

May I assume your right hand is plucking the strings?

IMO the straighter my right arm is the less effort it takes to play.

[markkoelsch]

In all honesty this is bound to happen. It happened to me when I first was working out how to play Steve Harris parts in 1983-84. It is much like working out, and our muscles get pumped as you are working them very hard to play that fast.

A few thoughts. First, make sure you warm up well before hitting the Maiden. Take a break in between songs of a few minutes, and stretch your hand/wrist/forearm. When done, play slow a bit to cool down. Finally, I would not do it everyday as it could lead to over use injuries.

[Chris K]

Originally Posted by Psycho

I've been playing for a good 3 years, and am working on playing faster.

But, i've found out that at faster tempos, and when dealing with triplets, my right arm begins to lock up VERY quickly.

I can play the first couple minutes of a song like The Trooper before my right forearm simply slows to a halt, and even though I try I can't seem to push past it and keep playing. I have to stop.


Any advice???

Hard to give without seeing you play. The most important point is that you let the shoulder do the job of carrying your arm. Do not rest the arm on the bass. Thumb on pickup or string: just for orientation, no leaning. No resting the arm on the rim of the body. Elbow/upper arm in line with the shoulders. Bass well-balanced: certainly no controlling the bass with the right arm/hand.

Do not miss the point your arm is trying to make; it's a protest. Don't try to push it.

A read:

http://chriskeuken.nl/health/the-rig...r-muscles.html

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by Psycho

and even though I try I can't seem to push past it and keep playing.

IMO these are the key words in your post. ChrisK also referred to it. As well as a possible change of technique, IMO you need to slow things down until you can play comfortably. Have a look at this link (Floating Thumb) :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPVMBPmrblU

[JtheJazzMan]

Originally Posted by Psycho

I've been playing for a good 3 years, and am working on playing faster.

But, i've found out that at faster tempos, and when dealing with triplets, my right arm begins to lock up VERY quickly.

I can play the first couple minutes of a song like The Trooper before my right forearm simply slows to a halt, and even though I try I can't seem to push past it and keep playing. I have to stop.


Any advice???

You should stop, forcing yourself to continue will only cause injury.

To play fast you need to play lighter for starters.

[251]

Originally Posted by Psycho

I've been playing for a good 3 years, and am working on playing faster.

But, i've found out that at faster tempos, and when dealing with triplets, my right arm begins to lock up VERY quickly.

I can play the first couple minutes of a song like The Trooper before my right forearm simply slows to a halt, and even though I try I can't seem to push past it and keep playing. I have to stop.


Any advice???

That's called a cramp. Begin by drinking more water, daily.

Practice with a metronome can be useful, too. Start a little too slow, play a chorus, increase speed 5 bpm, play a chorus, increase 5 bpm ... until you can't play a clean chorus. Back down 5 bpm, play a chorus, increase 5 bpm, etc. Basically find the outside of your performance envelope & play there for 15 minutes or more per day. Keep a diary so you can see the progress. Remember, you will find your limit with the technique you are using. I find more stamina if I can switch between 2 or 3 techniques to play the same music. Move positions, change the way you use your right hand? It gives some muscles the rest needed to continue. YRMV, 8-)

[Ian the bassist]

Originally Posted by Psycho

I've been playing for a good 3 years, and am working on playing faster.

But, i've found out that at faster tempos, and when dealing with triplets, my right arm begins to lock up VERY quickly.

I can play the first couple minutes of a song like The Trooper before my right forearm simply slows to a halt, and even though I try I can't seem to push past it and keep playing. I have to stop.


Any advice???

Practice is the only way. 3 finger triplets are a good way of tiring less if you don't already play that way though.

[Psycho]

Originally Posted by 251

That's called a cramp. Begin by drinking more water, daily.

Practice with a metronome can be useful, too. Start a little too slow, play a chorus, increase speed 5 bpm, play a chorus, increase 5 bpm ... until you can't play a clean chorus. Back down 5 bpm, play a chorus, increase 5 bpm, etc. Basically find the outside of your performance envelope & play there for 15 minutes or more per day. Keep a diary so you can see the progress. Remember, you will find your limit with the technique you are using. I find more stamina if I can switch between 2 or 3 techniques to play the same music. Move positions, change the way you use your right hand? It gives some muscles the rest needed to continue. YRMV, 8-)

I think the lack of water is the problem, seeing as how I rarely drink it. I'll definetly get on that.

I'm working on my technique on the triplets themselves less, and more on playing them I guess. I play with two fingers, because coordinating the ring finger is a little too tough for me. I usually have my thumb on a pickup or string, and will now work on support the bass with my right arm more.

What about bass height? I keep the bass at about pelvis height, so my right arm is a little bent, and my elbow is at a 45 degree angle.

[Green1]

I would slowly start to incorporate your ring finger, if you are serious about doing Iron Maiden. Also, slow down and focus on being clean and accurate. Gradually pick up the tempo and you should be good. Focus on your breathing, don't hold your breath and stay relaxed....Good luck

[251]

Originally Posted by Psycho

I think the lack of water is the problem, seeing as how I rarely drink it. I'll definetly get on that.

I'm working on my technique on the triplets themselves less, and more on playing them I guess. I play with two fingers, because coordinating the ring finger is a little too tough for me. I usually have my thumb on a pickup or string, and will now work on support the bass with my right arm more.

What about bass height? I keep the bass at about pelvis height, so my right arm is a little bent, and my elbow is at a 45 degree angle.

I used to wear my bass high, over my liver. I found bending my right wrist, in that position, tiring & made the strap an inch & then 2" longer, to straighten my wrist.

It's worth the effort to shorten the strap 2", test & maybe adding an inch if you're not comfortable. I doubt making the strap longer will help but if all else fails ...

I learned to drink water from jogging. Experiment until you know how much water is too much. You may already know how little is too little. 8-)

[countrybassist]

You're tensing up.

[Psycho]

Originally Posted by countrybassist

You're tensing up.

I think I am too, now that I think about it.


I hear potassium helps with cramps too, so if this is true would eating a banana a day, or every few days help???

[Chris K]

General condition and stress are known to have influence, but more from the background. Or: eating bananas might help. but this is very uncertain and will take ages to take effect.

A more direct influence, as had already been mentioned, comes from

general posture:

http://chriskeuken.nl/health/posture-and-breath.html

and from how you strap the bass:

http://chriskeuken.nl/health/strapping-the-bass.html

[Psycho]

Chris turns out I was doing more of a job supporting the bass with my right hand than I thought!

With a bass that's a good 12 lbs, i'm sure seeing a difference in supporting it with my fretting arm.


Thanks a ton, and thanks for all the input from everyone else!

[coffin blurt]

You can always start weight training it has helped me a lot. (just make sure you do high reps with a moderate amount of weight->around 5-6 kilos, also don't play hard/fast the next day as your muscles need their rest, drink a lot of water too)
Eat a lot of vegetables and get your daily fix of flax(linseed) oil (for your joints), also try and consume enough protein.
Try doing cardio as it enhances your stamina as well.

Other than that, as far as playing goes you can also start at half time and bring yourself up from there, till you can keep playing for 3 minutes straight at 130% tempo (over a week's time)
After that try going 100%-130%-50% every day for 3 mins each.
Playing bass is a physical feat as well