Ways of not bending right wrist too much

[LotusCarsLtd52]

I started noticing discomfort in my right wrist/arm (probably due to typing not bass playing) so I am worried for my hand/wrist health. When I play fingerstyle I noticed that I bend my right wrist a lot as I "rest" my arm on the top of the instrument. This mostly happens with the E and A strings but most especially the E. I have tried playing the instrument with the strap set high and low to no avail.

The following random picture illustrates what I have a tendency to do:

http://api.ning.com/files/PL8mhIzOxq...NLiuW/bass.jpg

What can be done to fix this issue?

P.S.: I recently bought a wrist brace for the heck of it and started typing with it...definitely reduced the pain. I also tried playing with it and it kept my right wrist very straight but it started to hurt after while so I removed it and the pain went away again. Strange...

[Fergie Fulton]

The simple act of moving your elbow away from your side will straighten the wrist. Lowering the bass will help straighten the wrist also. Your arm has the ability to lead the hand and keep the wrist straight in normal movement. When you next play let you arm be the hinge that sets the hand to the bass not the wrist.
Now in doing this you have to learn to keep your shoulders down, in other words tension free. Many players make this mistake and then introduce a new problem, shoulder and back ache, so kepp it relaxed.
Use a mirror and see what relaxed (shoulders down) feels like and learn this feeling, it always creeps back in when you start so learn to recognise it.

As for you arm.. you say you rest it on the bass, now it will be more on the front of the bass, so gently hug the bass to you, a sort of friendly very gentle clamp to your body with the forearm, this will help keep your shoulders down.

I feel i should mention that this is for you and your situation. If it is your job that creates the problems then bass playing will highlight them.

See a medical pro and get to the bottom of this pain.

Look in the health sticky at the top of this form and start using some stretches and light exercises to counter the effects your work has on your hands and prepare them for playing..a warm up routine if you will.
I have the same routine that i have use for over 20 years, it takes about 10 mins here or there. Because i know it so well if any part of it feels wrong then i know playing bass will not feel right or be affected, and make allowences for that.

[fearceol]

+1 to all the above... especially about seeing a medical expert before it gets any worse.

You might like to give this technique a try. There is a sticky about it ("Floating Thumb" technique), at the top of the forum.

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

[4001]

Perhaps this might help.........


http://www.youtube.com/v/w_oBJlE5qNc&hl=en_US&fs=1

[Hugh Jass]

Try a Spector. Seriously! with the body shape they have I play with perfectly straight wrists and relaxed shoulders. Really comfortable. Feels Weird to go back to the "slab" shape of my G&L.

I also use a kind of floating thumb, movable anchor hybrid muting technique which keeps your elbow in a better position.

[kr0n]

Every time I play standing up I get the feeling I should hold the bass up near vertical alignment for proper right & left hand technique, much like upright. 45 degrees just doesn't feel like it's enough.

[mambo4]

+1 to elbows out and forward
+1 to angling the bass neck more vertical

I sling my bass a bit lower than in the pic, so my pluckign hand rests around belly button height.

[Hiromakuta]

Originally Posted by kr0n

Every time I play standing up I get the feeling I should hold the bass up near vertical alignment for proper right & left hand technique, much like upright. 45 degrees just doesn't feel like it's enough.

IMO, there's no need for that. 45 degrees should be more than enough. I think what's really important is to have a balanced bass, so it says in the same position where you left it, without having to counterbalance the head of the bass with the plucking hand forearm on the body of the bass.

[tobie]

Originally Posted by Hiromakuta

I think what's really important is to have a balanced bass, so it stays in the same position where you left it, without having to counterbalance the head of the bass with the plucking hand forearm on the body of the bass.

Agreed. A nice, wide leather strap is a real help with this.