Wrist ache and a few other problems

[Guz2]

After about 10-15 minutes of play my left wrist (fretting hand) begins to ache. I think I've got the positioning wrong cos I have to hold the bass so my wrist is bent sideways and I'm kinda worried about CTS setting in if I do this for too long...Also, I'm having trouble playing with a pick. I think the picks I'm using ATM are about .88 mm thick, is that thick enough? I'm having trouble with upstrokes and keeping a steady rhythm of up-down-up-down strokes. And I keep hitting other strings when I try to pick

Any suggestions? Thanks

[JeremyJJackson]

Well are you a beginner player? Cause if you are the wrist ache is nothing and will go away as your wrist becomes stronger. As for the pick it takes sone getting used to. Practice, Practice, Practice. And try without a pick if you get frustrated

[Guz2]

Originally Posted by JeremyJJackson

Well are you a beginner player? Cause if you are the wrist ache is nothing and will go away as your wrist becomes stronger. As for the pick it takes sone getting used to. Practice, Practice, Practice. And try without a pick if you get frustrated

Yes I am. And thanks

[scotch]

Sounds like it would benefit you greatly to find a good instructor. If for no other reason than to make sure your' playing ergonomics aren't going to cause you problems down the road.

[So Low Bass]

Originally Posted by JeremyJJackson

Well are you a beginner player?

Don't try to look cool. When I see young bands on TV I see a great deal of bass players (and guitars) with thier instruments WAY too low to play their instrument.

Watch players like Bruce, Wooten, Entwhistle, Osborn, Kaye (Clapton, Beck,) ... people who played more than three notes. Sit down when you practice, and adjust your strap to that height when you standing

If you into the Wooten thing the strap has to be even higher.

Don't try to look cool.

[Guz2]

Yeah, I find it really uncomfortable to have my bass at Ramones level...

[JeremyJJackson]

I asked the Beginner player question because there will be some amount of discomfort at the start until your wrists get stronger. As for playing at a "Ramones level" You dont need it that high just don't have it down by your knees, a good healthy lower stomach is always good. Or just play where its comfortable

[PBass101]

I've always tried to keep my wrists as straight as possible and never had pains at all.

And I never heard anything about needing "stronger" wrists to play bass comfortably.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by PBass101

I've always tried to keep my wrists as straight as possible and never had pains at all.

And I never heard anything about needing "stronger" wrists to play bass comfortably.

+1 I would say if it hurts, you are doing it wrong.

[tobie]

Originally Posted by seanm

+1 I would say if it hurts, you are doing it wrong.

Sounds right to me. I picked up bass for the first time in November last year, practiced on average 2.5 hrs per day using straight wrists (thanks to TB!). The only discomfort is a sore muscle right behind the right hand pinky (understandable) and tender finger pads on the left (fretting) hand.

[seanm]

Originally Posted by tobie

The only discomfort is a sore muscle right behind the right hand pinky (understandable) and tender finger pads on the left (fretting) hand.

Yup, the finger pads can hurt. That is pretty normal.

It also took a long time before I could put my fretting thumb *behind* the neck without pain.

But I am a programmer by trade; I have to be very careful with my hands. Carpal tunnel (CPS) is a huge problem in my industry. As soon as I have any arm, wrist, or hand pain (not counting the above finger pad pain) I stop. I have always been able to correct the problem. Sometimes this means "bad technique" such as wrapping the thumb over the neck.

[Guz2]

But how do I stop it?

[Yours fretfully]

I know it's already been said, but I had the same problem because my bass was too low. When I played high on the fret board my wrist was really bent, not to mention I had no strength at all in my fingers especially with the "one finger per fret" thing.

When you go from sitting down to standing up, the bass should stay in the same height/position, that's at least how I adjust it and it's much better now. Not only it doesn't hurt the wrist as much, but you get used to a single position which is always better when you go from practising to actually performing.
And of course play as long and often as you want, but you should know when to stop; if you feel a painful spot in the wrist or electricity down your arm, just put it down and rest.

[Fergie Fulton]

All great advice so let me add a bit of "technical" info LOL.
What we all have is a "trade off" in the wrist department. This is a problem for finger style players, not so much pick players as the angle of attack is different in both hands. By that i mean the picking hand wrist will be easier to keep straight than the fretting hand wrist.
So first off, access you physical characteristics, are you tall, short, etc?
Do you have long fingers or short?
Do your fingers have the normal lengths and sizes in relation to what is considered a "normal" hand?
Is your hand healthy and have its full range of movement?
(if you can touch the fleashy pad at the base of the thumb with each finger of that hand, thats good movement in a healthy hand, regardless of whether other fingers follow, most people find when the little finger does it, the ring finger follows..not a problem)
As for that trade off, well the straighter the wrist the less the strain. With a finger player the lower the bass the better the plucking hand, because the wrist is straighter, but worse on the fretting hand as now it has to really bend. The higher the bass the better the left hand because now the wrist can be straighter, but worse on the fretting hand because now it has to arch to access the strings IF COMING OVER THE TOP OF THE BASS. I stress that point because pick players come in at a lesser angle so there wrist is straighter, as do players who play forward towards the neck.

There are of courses many variables to this set up, some being in the physical nature of your body and some the music you play and image you want to portray.

So to start with find that trade of point where all is sort of equal and go from there. Remember as straight as the wrist will allow is the goal.
Think on this, in a film when a baddie has a knife or a gun, how does the hero when in close combat dissarm him?.....he bends his wrist intowards the forearm, this makes it impossible to hold anything, or use the fingers with any power...try it and see.

As has been said all great stuff, this just something to consider
to use with all the other info you have, its based on what you are physicaly capable of, not the person you love to listen to and play like. Playing should tire you, not hurt you.

[Sav'nBass]

As far as that goes my biggest problem now is that my hands get so stiff... and my fingers someties get numb.. particularly my left middle & pointer. The finger turns yellow and just gets numb as all get out.. Sometimes I cant even feel the strings.... it doesnt happen often, as in everytime I play.. but it happens enough to be of concern. I am actually going to see my PCP tomorrow and that is on my list of "What is that doc..? " questions. My hands will also sometimes cramp... it looks like my hand is deformed when it gets bad. I stretch them out and rub them up before I play... then I warm up.

[bareass]

A) Stretching!
extend your arm infront of you with your fingers pointing up (palm facing out). with your opposite hand gently and slowly pull back on you fingers (all at once) untill you feal a nice stretch up your fore arm. now point you fingers down (palm now faceing in) and pull back on your nuckles. shake your hands like a hyper kid at christmass and do the opposite arm. you'll find yourself pulling harder and harder all the time, and doing this quite offten throughout the day, it makes your arms feel loose!

2) Style
i like playing at the Billy sheehan height. i don't do nipple shredding!
sit on a comfortable stool and play. get comfy then tighten you strap so its snug. you should now be able to stand up with out the bass moving much. thats a good position and you don't look like you just swallowed your bass.

C) Scales and Warmups!
do them dammit!

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by JeremyJJackson

I asked the Beginner player question because there will be some amount of discomfort at the start until your wrists get stronger. As for playing at a "Ramones level" You dont need it that high just don't have it down by your knees, a good healthy lower stomach is always good. Or just play where its comfortable

Jeremy, it should NEVER hurt to play, other than rubbing calluses. Any sign of wrist soreness is bad and should be corrected immediately.

But I don't believe that you should have to wear your bass up to your neck to cure it, either. I wear my bass fairly low, and I don't ever hurt because my technique is good. A teacher well versed in technique is a great idea.

[IbanezATK]

Go see a doctor. Seriously.

THEN find someone to teach you proper technique. You could suffer the rest of your life it you hurt something.

[Mr. Mig]

If it is muscular pain then it is about you getting use to the position, but if it is joint pain then you need to find a new hand position. And as soon as it starts to hurt? STOP PLAYING!!!!!!! Also, find good instructor who can show you the proper posture.