What are the possible bad side effects of playing low slung?

[FBS1996]

I play my bass low (About 2 inches below the buckle). I'm not comfortable with having my bass high up. I feel like my arms have to be completely straight to play comfortably. But the other night I was playing for about 2 hours and I got a really sharp, rather painful shock in my wrist and it concerned me. So I tried adjust my strap to several different heights (Chest, Stomach, Crotch and spaces in between) but all of them were uncomfortable. So I think I'm gonna have to stick with playing low. What are the possible side effects of playing with your bass down by your knees?

NOTE: Its not so low that I have to crouch.

[SoonerMatt]

Unless you have long arms you're over extending your arm when you play that low. The only reason the other positions feel uncomfortable is because you're not used to them.

[JeffBTZ]

Sharp pain is never good. Did you experience sharp pain with your bass in the other spots?

[FBS1996]

Originally Posted by JeffBTZ

Sharp pain is never good. Did you experience sharp pain with your bass in the other spots?

Nope, I've been playing this since I started playing bass, and this was the first time I've had any kind of sharp pain. The other spots were fine of my wrists, but my arms ached after a bit.

[rewopnayr]

i ran into the same problem about 5 or so years ago. turns out i have had carpel tunnel for a while. i doubt i got it from playing bass. but anyway, try adjusting your strap so the bass sits at the same position it does when your sitting down and playing. that helped me out a lot. it did take some time to get use to and my back ached in a different spot for a while but it eventually went away somewhat lol. but now my carpel tunnel has gotten a lil bit worse so no matter where i wear my bass my fretting hand hurts and pops when i play up around the first few frets. hope this helps and i hope you dont have the wrist cancer like me and many others do. peace

[JohnnyGuest]

If you are bending your wrists backwards, you are closing the carpal tunnel, and for us, that leads to repetitive stress syndrome.

I've been teaching guitar and bass for 19 years...and never had a student with wrist problems, because I educated them on good hand placement, and made my students pay attention to the angles of their wrists.

Was this the left or right hand?!

If you watch Pete Townsend play, you'll see his palm on the back of the neck. Ok for a few chords, but for a bassist, you have to constantly fight the construction of your knuckles. You cannot spread your fingers and cover frets, and bend your 1st knuckles at the same time.

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The above player, Greg Smith is touring with Ted Nugent right now, and I had the chance to jam with him at one of our shows. Great player! I noticed he likes a low slung approach, but check out his left hand. He's using his wrist bent forward, and his 1st knuckles are slightly bent, especially up the neck since the frets are closer.

The dude is a pro, on the road at a young age...no wrist problems.

Can you post a pic of how you hold your bass?!

One way to keep things healthy is a stretch. Sounds weird, but if you pull on your fingers for 60 seconds, you help align the carpal tunnel bones. This might help the issue.

Best of luck!

[JohnnyGuest]

Ok, try this:
Greg Smith Bass - Vocals

[Rockin Mike]

Best case you want your wrist to be straight in line with your forearm. Whatever height and angle you need the bass to be, that's what you should go for if you're having pain.

Some people are more sensitive than others. I always played really low with a bent left wrist and it never bothered me, but pay attention to that pain! That's your body's warning that something's not right.

Generally pain is accompanied by inflammation, which means the "tubes" that your tendons are in get swollen. Then it becomes a vicious cycle as the swelling puts more pressure on your tendons and every time you move them it gets worse. Best thing to do is let the wrist rest for a few days (or more, I don't know... Only your doctor knows for sure) until the swelling goes down. If you wait until damage is done, it can get bad enough to require surgery. In the worst case they never return to normal.

I don't mean to sound alarmist, damage doesn't happen overnight, but that pain is a warning sign and you ignore it at your peril.

Edit: I play low with my wrist bent forward as JohnnyGuest describes. Not backward. And I stretch.

[colcifer]

FYI, that's crazy low. Muscle soreness is ok-anything else is not. Wear your bass at whatever height and angle that keeps your wrists the most strait for the most time even if it looks lame. Cumulative strain is something to be taken very, very seriously.

[Catbuster]

As a young guy who's wrist has been hurt more than once, and they don't get better,and I really don't want to think of my future with it; my recommendation is to get comfortable with your bass higher. Even if it's hanging with the bottom horn at your waist, it's a huge improvement, and is where I have mine set.

[FBS1996]

I'll get a pic up in a minute to help you guys out

[JohnnyGuest]

A piano teacher once told me, if you hang from the wrist, you should be ok. I translate that into relaxing my wrist, letting my hand hang, then flipping it over. That's a pretty safe angle. Like the guys above said though, if you're having trouble, straight the better. Put the headstock at your shoulder, and ice that sucker when you're done playing.

I've known guys who went through surgery. I highly recommend NOT doing that, but instead, try a chiropractor. I know...to each his own, but a good bone doc can tell if something is out in your wrist, causing problems. I've knocked mine out several times over the years, and have no long term problems.

Good luck!

[FBS1996]

Originally Posted by JohnnyGuest

.

Was this the left or right hand?!

My left hand (the fretting hand)

[spade2you]

Good excuse to take some lessons. Hard to diagnose/fix over the interw3b

[jarrhead]

I developed carpal tunnel as a result of bad technique. While I didn't have my bass low, that certainly speeds up the process.

It doesn't get any better without surgery and steroidal medication unless you completely forego use of the wrist for an extended period.

Fix your technique. Now.

[FBS1996]

When I'm playing, I tried to keep my thumb away from the fretboard.

[darkstorm]

Sounds like you might be weraring it a little to low. You need to be able to both stand up straight, and not lock out your elbows and wrist. A little bit of bend is desireable. Your right that having arms all bent at elbow like some do with wearing high isnt good. But at the same time you dont want to be haveing to constantly stoop over nor struggle to reach to where you want to strike strings with pick or fingers.

Also do warm up and warm down excercises for wrist and fingers.

Looking at your pic, a part of your problem is keeping the neck to horizontal, for good arm thru elbow thru wrist postion for the needed actions, the neck should be pointing upward most of the time when wearing bass or guitar low.

[Rockin Mike]

You can play with a straighter left wrist if you hold the bass with the neck angled up more (i.e. not parallel to the ground) even at the same playing height.

[Mayers]

I, too, would have problems playing in that position. In that position you are choking the neck ... I always advocate the classical guitar position, best position for your hands and the position will help you reach your maximum potential.

[KillianRussell]

The side effect of looking Elvis cool playing low slung was sounding bad