Serious flaw in my left arm/wrist

Ground Pounder · #1 08-28-2007, 12:34 AM

Over the years, I developed a seriously flawed habit of bending at the wrist, especially when doing large position jumps. Then, after a hand injury a few years back, the magnitude increased as I was compensating for finger strength by arching the wrist and applying far too much thumb pressure.

As with most bad habits, I've been trying to break this and play in a more natural position, but it's been a tough road - especially live, when I have a tendency to just let loose.

Of course, as my practice time has greatly increased the last six months (both alone and with the band), I'm starting to get those damn pains...

... Help?

equinox_zero · #2 08-28-2007, 06:39 AM

Awwww mannn... so sorry to hear that.

I once saw Garry Willis on youtube about right hand technique. He advises to keep our wrist as straight and natural as possible when playing bass. This is just something I thought about and haven't really tried, but how about using those wrist straps? The kind that are hard enough to keep your wrist straight, but not too painful on your wrist?

I don't know about relieving the pain in your wrist. Does putting ice packs helps?

Ground Pounder · #3 08-28-2007, 08:14 AM

Actually, it's my fretting hand/wrist that's the issue.

The current pain isn't really that bad - it's just a twinge. I just don't want to compound it by continuing with bad technique.

I think I'm going to get an instructor for a while.

**Rune Bivrin** · #4 08-28-2007, 08:25 AM

Well, the straight wrist applies equally to the left hand. And also, the thumb shouldn't have to excert any force at all. You should be able to fret without even touching the neck with the thumb at all.

Christopher · #5 08-28-2007, 08:26 AM

I know it's not cool in metal, but try wearing the bass high and keeping the neck at a 45 degree angle to the floor. That position puts less strain on the left hand wrist when you have to cover a lot of ground on the fretboard.

chaosMK · #6 08-28-2007, 08:40 AM

Do you have any pics showing what you are doing? It might be a thumb position issue.

TheBassBetween · #7 08-28-2007, 08:54 AM

I agree with wearing your bass higher. For me, it really hurts my wrist to wear it low, and I end up pointing the neck almost straight up in the air so that my wrist doesn't hurt when I play.

Jazzdogg · #8 08-28-2007, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher

I know it's not cool in metal, but try wearing the bass high and keeping the neck at a 45 degree angle to the floor. That position puts less strain on the left hand wrist when you have to cover a lot of ground on the fretboard.

+1

Might also want to practice while seated, with the left foot elevated and your bass resting on your left knee - like a classical guitarist.

While you probably won't want to perform this way, it'll give your left hand and wrist time to rest and recover, and put you in a neutral position to focus on improving your left-hand technique.

middy · #9 08-28-2007, 09:39 AM

You might try some wrist straps.

equinox_zero · #10 08-29-2007, 10:25 PM

Upsss.. Sorry I thought it was your right hand. For left hand, maybe instead of putting the bass high, you can follow John Myung's pose (I don't consider his pose when holding his bass as high, don't know about you guys

)
I personally feel comfortable using he's pose, although now I lowered my bass a bit due to S.U.B's slab body