tight fretting hand after taking a break from bass

spade2you · #1 12-06-2008, 04:14 PM

So, between my band breaking up, a basement flood and getting things fixed, overtime, racing, etc....I haven't been practicing nearly enough. I was messing around today because I didn't have much to do for a change and I noticed my left hand was feeling a bit tight between the knuckle and wrist. There was no numbness or pain, just feeling tight.

My right hand feels great and I don't think my left hand seems to have suffered in performance. I also looked at myself in a mirror and didn't see any obvious flaws in my LH technique either, which had me stumped. My action is extremely low and I'm a very light player.

Is it perhaps that I haven't been playing enough and I'm not nearly in the condition I was? Any other pointers?

Asgath · #2 12-07-2008, 08:00 AM

Did you go through the standard warm up and strenches (without the bass) before playing? Try going through them, it could help, most likely its just down to not get enough 'exercise', perhaps you use your hand regularly doing other things that keeps it 'fresh'. Heh.

If there IS pain, stop. Otherwise just make sure you're thoroughly warmed up. Other posters might be able to give a more educated imput of course.

debassr · #3 12-07-2008, 08:06 AM

Actually, stretching before may be bad for you:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/337...d-for-you.html

spade2you · #4 12-07-2008, 03:10 PM

Hmph, messing around today and not noticing any discomfort or tightness. I hadn't made any changes to my LH, either.

chicagodoubler · #5 12-07-2008, 09:57 PM

Warming up helps tremendously. This is athletics, just on a very small scale.

Also, get a lesson and check your posture for anything that might be causing tension-

excessive bend in either wrist,
shoulder tension,
slumped neck....

there's 1,000 things that can cause pain in your playing.

spade2you · #6 12-14-2008, 10:05 AM

Oddly enough, I have been playing bass a lot more lately and I haven't had any tightness at all with and without warming up. It has me pretty baffled why I had it that one time, but I won't complain.

Overall I have mixed feelings about how warming up works for me since I have such a light touch and technique. About the only time I've seen it beneficial for me is when my hands are actually cold.