Where's the 'reset' button?

**BullHorn** · #1 07-03-2011, 10:48 AM

I've spent the last 5 years playing bass with zero regard to technique or ergonomics and it's starting to take it's toll.

I recently noticed I can't play songs that I could play after less than a year of playing because my hands can't keep up, every action requires too much effort. Sometimes it might be the picking hand that isn't fast/accurate enough to skip strings or sometimes it's the fretting hand that is stuck doing what it's used to do but can't do anything new.

I have 4 different basses here right now but I can't find a comfortable strap-height nor neck-angle with any of them. Fighting the bend in my picking wrist is tough but the bend in the fretting hand... Well, I haven't found a way to straighten it at all. It also feels like moving up or down the neck smoothly is impossible because the bass will turn left or right along with my motion due to the curvature of my newly-formed beer-gut.

Picking up a bass becomes depressing each time. I want to pick it up but it just doesn't work.

So, is there a reset button? For 5 years I've been looking for 'the tone' only to end up not being able to use said 'tone' because of sloppy and uncomfortable playing.

**BullHorn** · #2 07-04-2011, 07:26 AM

I don't think I ever got 0 replies on any thread. Son, I am dissapoint.

Did anyone ever experience such a thing as I experience now?

delta7fred · #3 07-04-2011, 07:41 AM

I experienced a similar thing about 10 years ago (after playing for 35 years). It turned out to be the first stages of Carpel Tunnel Syndrome caused by too much computer use at work.

I retired from work so stopped using a keyboard and mouse for up to 10 hours a day and the problem went away. I still feel it if I spend too much time on TB. Quite often I will be playing a bass or acoustic guitar at the same time, as I am now so break off playing to type etc.

Your problem may be completely different however.

Phendyr_Loon · #4 07-04-2011, 07:57 AM

Well the first thing I'd do is pickup some books on proper technique and/or take lessons, (the latter is a bit more time consuming).
As far as bass positioning, maybe talk to other bassist with some extra bulk in the front to see how they get around that issue, I'm sure not everybody here on TB is skinny.
I've found it useful to play regularly with others or play with some kind of trainer to increase speed, flexiblity, and consistancy.

saxdragon · #5 07-15-2011, 12:22 AM

Maybe you should take a break from playing. Play tennis...knit...tae kwon do...

JimmyM · #6 07-15-2011, 01:08 AM

The reset button you're looking for is lessons from the best jazz guy who teaches in your area. Having a good teacher is very important because you don't always know if you have good technique.

Depth_Charge · #7 07-15-2011, 01:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BullHorn

I don't think I ever got 0 replies on any thread. Son, I am dissapoint.

Did anyone ever experience such a thing as I experience now?

Yeah when I first started I played the bass way too low, gripped the neck too tight, pinned it to my body too hard, played with tension in my fingers, slouched over the fretboard, all of which took its toll and made me a poor bass player.

The 'reset' button I hit was a completely new approach to my technique and how I wore the bass - sourced from YouTube videos and TB mainly.

It takes a lot of discipline to play something slowly and properly when you can cut corners and have it sound right and noone in your band cares

Matthijs · #8 07-15-2011, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

The reset button you're looking for is lessons from the best jazz guy who teaches in your area. Having a good teacher is very important because you don't always know if you have good technique.

This, and only this. forget about books and youtube, you need a teacher.