Wrist crapping out

Poop-Loops · #1 09-06-2006, 07:12 PM

Ugh, I've had wrist problems ever since I started playing bass. I thought they were going away, that I was getting used to it and my technique was improving, but now it's back and pretty severe.

I keep my wrist on my fretting hand at about a 45 degree angle when I play. I play sitting down in the classical position, so I doubt that my bass is too low.

After a few minutes, the inner part of the wrist will just feel sore, like a muscle that's been over exerted. It almost hurts. It definately hurts to keep playing, though. I don't know what I'm doing wrong.

It's the worst on my 5 string. But even on my regular guitar, it still doesn't go away. I'm really clueless. My instructor says I have decent technique for a beginner. Anybody else have these kinds of problems?

Also, it's the worst when I fret with my pinky vs any other finger. I don't squeeze the strings hard. I even tried playing without my thumb to see if that was the case, and nothing.

Here's a few pictures of me playing my 5 string while standing:

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k3...ops/Whole1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k3...ops/Wrist1.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k3...Picture003.jpg

http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k3...Picture004.jpg

Please excuse the zombie-like expression on my face. I don't photograph well.

WillBuckingham · #2 09-06-2006, 07:40 PM

You always want to keep your wrists as straight as possible. Try sticking your arm out a little more and straighten your wrists. This applies to both hands, even though you're left hand might not be bothering you yet.

Poop-Loops · #3 09-06-2006, 07:52 PM

Tried it. My finger span dwindles when that happens.

Will:

Tried sticking my elbow out more. That just makes my pinky not touch the string (it gets pulled back) and my wrist angle is worse. Believe it or not, it's actually better this way. (I'll try to get some more picks up to show you, but can't right now.

driver800 · #4 09-06-2006, 08:28 PM

Out of curiosity, I reviewed photos of myself playing and realized that I normally keep my forearm perpendicular to the neck. So when I'm playing higher up the neck, my elbow is next to my side and when playing lower notes, my elbow may be a foot away from my side. I don't really do it consciously, but it keeps my wrist straight. I'm not saying I have good technique, but it is comfortable.

I understand you say you tried holding your elbow out more and it didn't work for you. Try it just keeping your forearm perpendicular to the neck, no matter where you are playing on the neck. keep your wrist straight.

this pic shows my elbow away from my body (you'll have to not look at the girls for a moment):
http://vwpband.freespaces.com/img/junesl07-640x480.jpg

this one is really blurry, but shows playing higher up the neck:
http://vwpband.freespaces.com/img/ap...02-800x600.jpg

sometimes I stray from this habit, but usually when i'm playing easier material.
i hope this helps give a different pserspective for you.

Poop-Loops · #5 09-06-2006, 08:55 PM

How do you press down on the strings? I try to do it guitar style where it's just my fingertips. On some video's I've seen people pressing down with flat fingers on the lower strings (well, not flat, but fully extended instead of curled). Is that acceptable on bass?

WillBuckingham · #6 09-06-2006, 09:03 PM

How do you post images?

Poop-Loops · #7 09-06-2006, 09:05 PM

There should be an upload feature, but I use photo bucket (google it, it's free).

driver800 · #8 09-06-2006, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WillBuckingham

How do you post images?

click on the little

and type or paste the link to the photo.

you can upload attachments if you are a paying tb'er

WillBuckingham · #9 09-06-2006, 09:08 PM

OK. Thanks. I think I've attached an image. This is good left-hand position. You may have to adjust it slighty to reach the lower strings but you get the idea. (Don't pay attention to the right-hand technique, this is a bad example, imo)

Poop-Loops · #10 09-06-2006, 09:11 PM

Higher strings are no problem for me, I'm mainly concerned about the lower strings, where I have put effort to get to them. =/

tradition_2kill · #11 09-06-2006, 11:35 PM

wrist fairly straight elbow about six inches from body.

jasonhafer · #12 09-06-2006, 11:59 PM

Don't forget to stretch before you play! But not too much...seriously.

Light stretches...put your palms together like a prayer (pointing up) and VERY GENTLEY seperate your lower palms while keeping your fingertips together...hold for a few seconds and release.

Next, while keeping your fingertips together, roll your hands downward so the back of your hands are together pointing down. Then while keeping your knuckles and fingers touching, lift your hands up and begin to roll them GENTLEY back to the prayer position.

You can also gentley pull back on your fingers...

...notice how many times I use the word "gentley"....you can do some serious damage if you're too hard. It's not supposed to hurt. You know your doing it right if you find yourself wondering if it's hard enough!

Stretch EVERY TIME you play...and take your time doing it. Also, avoid doing any lifting or straining activities to your forarms before you play. You don't want to play with tence forarms, cause that will cause swelling, and swelling can cause nerves to be pinched or can create circulation problems.

...hope that wasn't too much! Good luck

Poop-Loops · #13 09-07-2006, 01:09 AM

Yeah, I stretch, and it does help me play longer without pain.

I figured out what it was, though. Like most of life's problems, this one was also caused by the thumb.

By keeping my thumb straight and right behind the neck, I basically made the distance from my knuckles to the strings longer. If I bend my thumb slightly and move it more around the neck, I can reach the lower strings much easier. Of course, this limits my finger span, but I suspect I'll just have to alternate between the two positions to get the best playing results.

EDIT:

Oh oh! But whenever I play low on the neck, I ALWAYS get a pain in my shoulder after a while, a tingly feeling in my hand, and it eventually goes numb. I don't know what to do about this, which is one of the reason I like my 5 string so much.

SOA_bassist · #14 09-07-2006, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Oh oh! But whenever I play low on the neck, I ALWAYS get a pain in my shoulder after a while, a tingly feeling in my hand, and it eventually goes numb. I don't know what to do about this, which is one of the reason I like my 5 string so much.

that used to happen to me when i would shake the sign at work during my morning shifts. It would happen to my left hand, and it was because i also had a large watter bottle in that hand. It had a long strap so i had to wrap it around to keep me from dropping it. My hand would go numb until i lowered the weight by drinking half of it.

bassically it is too much stress on the hand, lack of blood flow, and you are squeezing too hard. also becuase your wrist isnt straight.

loosen the grip, straighten the wrist, and you should be fine.

Poop-Loops · #15 09-07-2006, 01:34 AM

It could be because of the bass. The nut is poorly cut. I'll try to do something about that tomorrow.

No, not my 5 stringer. I have no reason to go low on that one.

But my SX 4 string is pretty crappy. So I'll try to fix it.

driver800 · #16 09-07-2006, 06:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOA_bassist

that used to happen to me when i would shake the sign at work during my morning shifts. It would happen to my left hand, and it was because i also had a large watter bottle in that hand. It had a long strap so i had to wrap it around to keep me from dropping it. My hand would go numb until i lowered the weight by drinking half of it.

bassically it is too much stress on the hand, lack of blood flow, and you are squeezing too hard. also becuase your wrist isnt straight.

loosen the grip, straighten the wrist, and you should be fine.

is that a euphemism? for momemt I thought you were talking about something else entirely.

floopy · #17 09-07-2006, 06:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poop-Loops

Tried it. My finger span dwindles when that happens.

There's a possible answer. You could consider accepting a reduced 'finger span' and work on getting good at pivoting on the thumb to enable you to make the notes.

Nature's giving you a strong hint here with the wrist pain I think.

Michael Henson · #18 09-07-2006, 08:10 AM

I used to have that problem of wrist "discomfort" when trying to reach the lower strings. The way I took care of it was learn to play with my thumb lower on the back side of the neck. Basically exactly opposite of the E and G strings. This forced me to relax and helped me reach those lower strings.

Poop-Loops · #19 09-07-2006, 11:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael Henson

I used to have that problem of wrist "discomfort" when trying to reach the lower strings. The way I took care of it was learn to play with my thumb lower on the back side of the neck. Basically exactly opposite of the E and G strings. This forced me to relax and helped me reach those lower strings.

What do you mean? E and G are far away that it's pretty vague to say that...

I put my thumb forward more instead of directly behind the neck. As in, it's closer to being "wrapped around" then neck like in that previous picture, but not nearly as much.

Michael Henson · #20 09-07-2006, 02:17 PM

I meant the D and G. My thumb ends up resting about an inch or so above the bottom of the neck (by the G string...

...I said G string...).

Also, when you play your hand should be completely relaxed. Adam Nitti says that you should be able to play without your thumb on the neck at all...