Tried to improve my fretting technique, and OUCH

[hrodbert696]

For lack of funding for a teacher (weeping and violins) I'm a self-taught bassist this past year. I've got a group I play with, can get through our songs fine, I'm no Jaco or whoever but I can play them. So last night I went looking on studybass.com at basic technique (which despite what I'm about to say is a GREAT website) and freaked out -- oh no! My technique is all wrong! I've got to fix it!

Got my bass out this morning (Washburn T-25) and put off running songs to do some exercises and try to fix my left hand position. One finger per fret, thumb behind the index and middle finger, fine. But then I was trying simultaneously NOT to let my palm touch the neck but ALSO to keep my wrist straight. Could not for the life of me find a position that did both of those. Lifting my palm off the neck always seemed to force my wrist into a crook.

Not right away, but a little while afterward, I'm all sore in my hand and wrist. It doesn't seem like muscle soreness, getting used to using different muscles than usual, more like strained tendons and joints in my fingers, back of my hand, and wrist. I didn't feel this the way I was playing before (basically letting my palm glide along the bottom edge of the neck lightly).

So what's the diagnosis, all my non-MD TB friends? Should I relax about position and say that a little palm on the neck is just my style? Or should I keep hacking at a more textbook fretting hand position and trust that my body will get used to it with practice? I don't want to keep entrenching bad habits but I don't want to pursue an artificial "correctness" at the cost of my hand!

[Travis Harms]

I have tried this particular "textbook" technique and only use is higher up on the neck and abandoned it in lower positions because of comfort issues. I think comfort should be the number one priority (we do this for fun, right?) as long as it doesn't hinder your abilities to play what you want then there is no shame in using a less than perfect technique.

If you do want to continue trying this technique then I would recommend raising your strap height. With your bass up higher it will allow you to straighten your wrist more.

[Big B.]

The one finger per note idea gets a lot of players in trouble. If you have big hands it is possible to comfortably play that way, but if you have smaller or less flexible hands or a long scale bass, forcing yourself to play that way in the lower positions can bring you pain and frustration. Believe me, I have tried.
I know this may not be the suggestion you want but if you really want to expand your playing you might think of going to a GOOD teacher. Being in a popular local band is not enough. Try to find someone that plays different styles of music. Just 2 or 3 lessons with a good player could help solve tons of technical issues.
Unlike upright bass or violin, where there are traditional methods that are accepted and used around the world. electric bassists and guitarists are mostly left to figure it out on their own. Good luck.

[Righteous Thunderer]

I ran into this problem early one back when I was playing guitar primarily. After speaking with my sister and brother in law, both of whom are college educated in the medical field, I decided that if "proper" technique was causing joint pain and soreness, it would eventually because problematic. Instead, the way I see it is thus: Our bodies are not designed to play guitar or bass. When coupled with the fact that everyone's body is shaped a bit differently as well as various instruments have different shapes to necks and such, one should get as comfortable as possible and play. Only then will you be able to avoid the majority of injury. It's worked well for me so far

[jazzblade]

That pesky left hand…

Here is what I think is a interesting discussion and video about the whole left hand thing.

It makes sense to me especially if your current playing is giving you pain.


http://adamneely.com/2010/07/17/that-pesky-left-hand/

[crow01]

are you stretching your hand before playing or play-stretch-play?

If I don't stretch and play for 2-3 hours straight. I feel like I punched a boxing bag with my bare hand

[Billnc]

Heed the advice regarding NOT using 1 finger per fret in the lower positions, thumb lined up with the 2nd finger. It is sound advice. By the way Adam Neely's videos keep coming up in these threads, seems pretty good at what he does.

[Mayers]

I'm only 5'2 ( so I don,t have big hands ) and I can do one finger per fret in the lower register and play with a 6 strings bass. I think it is important to have proper technic to avoid any injurises and it is good if you want to play more complicated stuff.

[fearceol]

Everyone is different. Some can manage one finger per fret on the lower frets, while it almost cripples others. If it's uncomfortable fretting OFPF down low on the neck, then avoid it.

As crow01 says, gentle stretching for a few minutes before and after a session is a must. Also, start slowly, dont dive in with fast frantic playing from the get go.

Finally, check out this link for L/H technique.




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

[hrodbert696]

Thanks for the advice y'all (and keep it coming, anyone who has more ideas to contribute). Getting a teacher is my ideal solution, but I'm just waiting for the money situation to improve. My fingers are actually pretty long (I'm the lanky type), I think the problem may be more in twisting my wrist out too much trying to keep my palm free of the neck - or maybe it's both those things in combination.

[jwalin]

If you play standing and have the bass hung down at your knees then you don't want to do the thumb on the back of the neck thing...

Also, adjust your action so it is low, and fret right behind or on the fret itself, not in between. You will need less strength to hold the note.

There was a VHS tape that had Michael Manring talking about technique from the 90's that I used to have that I thought was excellent.....

Jeff

[conqr]

Originally Posted by SchecterLover

I ran into this problem early one back when I was playing guitar primarily. After speaking with my sister and brother in law, both of whom are college educated in the medical field, I decided that if "proper" technique was causing joint pain and soreness, it would eventually because problematic. Instead, the way I see it is thus: Our bodies are not designed to play guitar or bass. When coupled with the fact that everyone's body is shaped a bit differently as well as various instruments have different shapes to necks and such, one should get as comfortable as possible and play. Only then will you be able to avoid the majority of injury. It's worked well for me so far

Absolutely correct imho - I long since stopped fighting my natural hand/wrist/arm positions except in healthy ways. I think the same principle applies to any number of fields both within and without music. Beyond a certain point 'proper' technique can often be a very individual thing. Similarly, if some 'traditionalists' had their way, bassists would still be thumming away in the pocket (only), barely audible and indistinct.

[jamisonsalamand]

Fearceol said stretching before and after playing is a must. How exactly do you do stretches for the hand?

[timbledum]

I played violin and piano before hitting the bass and so have never had any problems doing the one finger one fret thing. And trust me it is trainable! Your hand gets stretchier if you do the right training!!

On the other hand for a lot of songs theres no point in doing the thumb to neck position. I only do this when I'm doing a riff or something relatively technical. For pounding out roots or other simple riffs palm to neck is all good, especially if you're lookin cool and ridin low.

[cactus waltz]

Originally Posted by Travis Harms

I have tried this particular "textbook" technique and only use is higher up on the neck and abandoned it in lower positions because of comfort issues. I think comfort should be the number one priority (we do this for fun, right?) as long as it doesn't hinder your abilities to play what you want then there is no shame in using a less than perfect technique.

Absolutely agreed.

The question is how much stock we should put into being able to use this technique and why. Perhaps it is to be equal to classic instruments like piano and violin which do have proper techniques. I would say, start high up on the neck with one finger per fret and see how far you can comfortable go. Personally, I think I would only hurt myself if I forced myself to play one finger per fret in first position.

[Hyper-sloth]

The other thing to remember is how hard you are fretting, how much pressure you are exerting to shape a note. You should use the minimal amount of force to play a note. Also as stated above, watch how your bass hangs. A good book, great actually, is " 101 tips all the pros know and use" by Gary Willis. It will save you a lot of dead ends that I am only now addressing. As also sated above, stretch, a lot. You wouldn't start running a race without stretching. You would be too injured to run after a short time. Carol Kaye suggested using 3 fingers, index, middle and pinky since the ring finger and pinky share some common muscles. Don't quote me on that though! What ever you do, do not play through the pain. Pain is a signal that something is wrong. Good luck and listen to your body.

[Chrisk-K]

I played violin and piano before hitting the bass and so have never had any problems doing the one finger one fret thing. And trust me it is trainable! Your hand gets stretchier if you do the right training!!

Absolutely. I took classical piano lessons for 10 years when I was a kid. That naturally stretched my small hands. I sometimes see 5 or 6 year old kids playing Beethoven or Chopin pieces like I did long time ago. Their pieces oftentimes require insane stretch and talented kids manage to play them.

[Big B.]

Originally Posted by timbledum

I played violin and piano before hitting the bass and so have never had any problems doing the one finger one fret thing. And trust me it is trainable! Your hand gets stretchier if you do the right training!!

On the other hand for a lot of songs theres no point in doing the thumb to neck position. I only do this when I'm doing a riff or something relatively technical. For pounding out roots or other simple riffs palm to neck is all good, especially if you're lookin cool and ridin low.

Kids, please dont try this at home.

[hrodbert696]

Just for clarification, I don't hang my bass too low, kind of medium over my belt, and I don't have the action too low because when I did I was getting fret buzz. It's not way high either, so I guess medium all around. I probably am fretting pretty hard and that may be a factor too, I guess I'll work on a lighter touch. This wasn't after two or three hours of insane speed playing, more like 45 minutes to an hour of scales and exercises and just playing through songs. The point is more that I don't normally get this kind of pain when I practice, it only happened when I tried to "correct" my technique. My fingers are pretty long so I can reach the one-finger-per-fret position, but I think it may be contributing to throwing my wrist out of whack and too much tension on the back-of-the-hand tendons.

[Execut1ve]

I have to reiterate what some above posters have said about keeping your bass high on your body. It makes it much easier to relieve wrist strain which is IMO the main source of your pain/fatigue. I play my bass pretty high on the chest and have no problems whatsoever keeping proper wrist angles.