Bass playing is for masochists (My hands are broken and am pleased with it).

Arlekiin · #1 03-18-2011, 01:03 AM

Hello,

Been practicing bass alot lately and my hands are sore and broken and I couldnt be happier - I am a masochist coming out of the closet

the byronic man · #2 03-18-2011, 01:08 AM

nothing worth doing comes easily, practice makes perfect, etc. seriously though, my hands still get sore and i love it every time. very satisfying.

kr0n · #3 03-18-2011, 01:14 AM

Just be sure not to over push... You´re currently doing something a human was never meant to do and it causes loads of strain to wrists and hands. Flex, stretch, rest, learn the technique.

fearceol · #4 03-18-2011, 03:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kr0n

Just be sure not to over push... You´re currently doing something a human was never meant to do and it causes loads of strain to wrists and hands. Flex, stretch, rest, learn the technique.

+1 on this.

Not sure what you mean by "broken" though, OP

Basshoofd · #5 03-18-2011, 03:29 AM

I understand that you like the feeling because it shows that you've done work, but make sure you don't feel more than just a little sore. Or else you're probably not going to enjoy it much longer

lenosgood · #6 03-18-2011, 03:58 AM

I found a great song to get a good stretch...play "Green Onions" a couple of times and feel the burn!

Staredge · #7 03-18-2011, 07:08 AM

I love that kinda sore feeling you get in the fingertips.

cnltb · #8 03-18-2011, 07:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arlekiin

Hello,

Been practicing bass alot lately and my hands are sore and broken and I couldnt be happier - I am a masochist coming out of the closet

...so?

fearceol · #9 03-18-2011, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnltb

...so?

I assume he wants to let everyone know how happy he is to play the bass... though how you can be happy about "broken" hands escapes me.

shadow_FIX · #10 03-18-2011, 03:26 PM

Man I remember when I first started playing with my first band back in middle school. We put off practicing for our first "gig" for a friend's birthday party, so the day before we pulled a 6 hour rehearsal. My fingers were blistered and bleeding when we finished. Had to tape up before the party...loved every second of it.

Or my first 2 hour gig on upright, where I was unamplified, and driving the combo without a drummer. Side of my finger was raw after the first set, and I had a blister the size of a nickel on my index finger at the end of the night. Again, you just gotta love it and work through it.

Or recently, when I joined a band with a couple of seasoned players around age 50 (I'm 21). They thought it would be "fun" and a good test to "throw me in the fire" and give me the setlist for our New Year's gig (which we weren't able to rehearse for) 2 days beforehand, which contained about 25 songs I didn't know. I practiced nearly nonstop for those two days, drank beer to numb the pain, took ibuprofen when I wasn't drinking, and made it through the gig with flying colors. And...loved every minute of it!

I guess you just gotta want it enough to endure the pain. Or in the OP's case...he gets off to it!

KingRazor · #11 03-18-2011, 03:45 PM

The only time it ever actually hurt to play was when I couldn't hear myself and I would hit the strings way too hard. Now that I've developed a light touch, I never have any pain even after playing for long periods of time.

fearceol · #12 03-19-2011, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadow_FIX

I guess you just gotta want it enough to endure the pain. Or in the OP's case...he gets off to it!

OP : It is not advisable to play through any pain. This is nature's way of telling you that something is wrong. If the warnings are ignored, then with time ( and not that long either), your bass playing could be terminated indefinitely or permanently, before you even get properly started.

Chris K · #13 03-19-2011, 03:46 AM

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
http:chriskeuken.nl/health

faulknersj · #14 03-19-2011, 04:35 AM

Learn proper technique. This took me 15 years to figure out! If you invest in technique, your playing will progress by leaps and bounds, and you will be able to play hours of challenging material 5 nights a week without any stress at all! Sorry to be a buzzkill, but as a dood that's 'been there done that', I can tell u need a technique coach! Feel free to PM me if u would like some helpful tips!

Jim Campbell · #15 03-19-2011, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arlekiin

Hello,

Been practicing bass alot lately and my hands are sore and broken and I couldnt be happier - I am a masochist coming out of the closet

.....the pro's in these parts agree that if it hurts you are doing something wrong.....perhaps a chat with one of the more senior players is in order.....carpal tunnel is a career killer

wumusic · #16 03-19-2011, 11:02 AM

Agreed - if it 'hurts', you could be doing something that may injure you.

There is a difference between muscle soreness (say, from playing a physically demanding song, and your 'chops' aren't up to speed yet), and when something hurts - like from holding your wrists at a poor angle or something along those lines, or playing so much you're causing repetitive stress disorder or something more heinous like that.

Your body should be able to tell you.

Blisters, muscle fatigue / chops...those all come from practice.

**colcifer** · #17 03-19-2011, 11:03 AM

A great, great AUBist once told me that muscle pain is what you should work through but never nerve pain. My advise is to stop once your finger tips start to bother you but start playing again once they're up to it, repeating as necessary until you get calluses.

D.A.R.K. · #18 03-19-2011, 11:40 AM

be careful...i had that attitude.
now, 28 years later, i'm in physical therapy because when i wake up in the morning trying making a fist is pure agony.
take breaks and listen to yer body.

Skitch it! · #19 03-19-2011, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fearceol

OP : It is not advisable to play through any pain. This is nature's way of telling you that something is wrong. If the warnings are ignored, then with time ( and not that long either), your bass playing could be terminated indefinitely or permanently, before you even get properly started.

+1 This.
The guy's I remember back in the day who thought it was a good idea to work through the pain barrier, had plenty of time to regret that later.

RJjr. · #20 03-20-2011, 10:06 PM

Sometimes what people think is carpal tunnel syndrome is really tendonitis in the fingers. I have cts in my left hand and it makes it feel like my thumb is out of joint. If I tweak it, it hurts like hell, but usually it's not that big a problem. Tendonitis in the fingers is the worst. You can't play at all with that. I agree that improper technique, especially on a bass guitar, is probably what causes most tendonitis, not the amount of time you put in practicing. Basically when you practice you are breaking down the muscle in your forearm and hand just like a weight lifter does. Then it heals stronger overnight. Ice would be a good idea after you stop practicing for the day. Also, you can tell the difference between tendon or joint pain and the burn in the muscle after working out, i.e. practicing.

Sorry, Wumusic. Didn't see your post. Kind of repeated some of yours, but since I already wrote it I think I'll leave it up. And yes, I forgot to mention the nerves. That could be the most serious.