Hand aches

[TerenceSharp]

Probably asked a bazzilion times before.

Past 2 days I've had this horrible "Cramp" Feeling in my left hand+wrist and an ache In top of my left bicep.

My fault I guess, I ALWAYS Forget to warm up first then just go straight into some crazy slap solo and pitch-bendicus madness of doom

Any of you bass players got any ideas that help clear it, Or is it a case of just not playing for a week or something (JUST AS I GET MY FIRST STINGRAY GRrrr ) - I guess I learnt my lesson

I hope I can play by tuesday, I got a little Jam with my dad and his friends and I'd hate to miss that.

Many thanks if you can help, It's torture not playing

[JimmyM]

Without seeing you play, I can tell that your technique is off, but I don't know how. You need to get a good teacher who knows good technique to straighten you out.

[fearceol]

The height you wear your bass at, could be a factor here. Your wrists should be as straight as possible. You should also try to remember to warm up each time you start playing.

These tips might help, but as JimmyM says, without seeing you play it's hard to tell. That's where a good teacher would be a big help in showing you correct technique.

[TerenceSharp]

I'll Get a video up in a few once I've woke up a bit - Strange how It only happens recently though , Actually the only thing I can think of that's changed is I've been experimenting with bending the strings a bit more - Maybe my 16 year old hands just can't take it.

Strap height is probably not it, But something related to it might; I sit when I play mostly. (Unless It's a Jam :d) -- When I think about it, That would explain the Bicep? o.0

I'm sorta broke after getting a stingray so a teacher may be out of the question, Unless someone would be nice and give me a free lesson to straighten me out a bit heh.

[john keates]

Yeah, bending strings can cause pains. Try using a few fingers to spread the strain (I use two), and try bending the string higher up the neck on a thicker string rather than lower down the neck on a thinner one. Strings bend more easily in the middle of the string length.

Also, do some gentle warm up excercises first using all your fretting fingers.

Oh yeah, and put on a few years of age.

[TerenceSharp]

Originally Posted by john keates

Also, do some gentle warm up excercises first using all your fretting fingers.

Oh yeah, and put on a few years of age.

Will Do, I Don't want my hand to go explode

Build an inverse time machine

Anyway Here's 2 little vids - Looking at the vids it looks very angled but to me it doesn't feel like it is :s; And Indeed If I straighten it out I can't fret the E easy at all D:
http://bitfiles.net/content/hand1.wmv
http://bitfiles.net/content/hand_stand.wmv

I think It's most probably them string bends and lack of warm up excersises before playing hand crunching stuff - I'll Lay off till tuesday and See how it goes on tuesday (We play country, Irish and stuff; So no string bends, Pain = It's my fretting technique - No pain = string bends :d)

[KrispyJones]

i had a little problem last gig too ^^
first song and i cuted depp into my finger .... (on a string or sth^^)

[TerenceSharp]

Originally Posted by KrispyJones

i had s little problem last gig too ^^
first song and i cut depp into my finger .... (on a string or sth^^)

[offtopic]Love the pickguard on that bass[/offtopic]

That sounds painful D:

[KrispyJones]

hm.... it was the first song of the set, so i had 50 minutes more to play.... the blood was caked all over my hand after the gig^^ .....
but it was a cool gig :-)

(thanks. i really like that look of my bass and im NOT changing anything on it ... did that too often ^^)

[bonzo4880]

your wrist isnt angled too much, raising your strap up a 1/2 inch might make it a bit more comfortable. but yes warmups are important. i have one of the grip master things and yeah i know it looks cheesy but they work well to loosen up your hands before your grab the bass. you can work all the individual muscles and groups in your hand. there are different examples on the website. after i use that for a few minutes i grab my bass and just run chromatically starting with the low E using one finger per fret, stretching out my fingers on the low frets and moving up the neck to the highest note. I also use these when I think of it, taken from a post by beggar98:

Set your fretting hand so that your fingers are spaced out over four frets someplace comfortable. I usually use 7, 8, 9, 10 on the D string, so that first finger=A, middle finger=Bflat, ring finger= B and pinky=C. Then I play through the following pattern. Accuracy and evenness is more important than speed.

1234 1243 1324 1342 1423 1432
2134 2143 2314 2341 2413 2431
3124 3142 3214 3241 3412 3421
4123 4132 4213 4231 4312 4321

[MikeVQ]

Along with what others have posted here, you may want to try some active recovery work for your hands, specifically something to work the extensors in your forearms, remember that the site is not always the source.

Try this, get a reasonably thick rubber band and put it around your fingers, then open your fingers up. This will work your extensors.



A lot of hand wrist problems can be cause by muscle imbalances, just think how much of our daily tasks involving the hands primarily call for flexion (closing of the hands), grabbing something, holding onto something, fretting a bass are all forms of flexion. Seems only reasonable that you should work the other ROM's to avoid imbalances.

[TerenceSharp]

Originally Posted by bonzo4880

your wrist isnt angled too much, raising your strap up a 1/2 inch might make it a bit more comfortable. but yes warmups are important. i have one of the grip master things and yeah i know it looks cheesy but they work well to loosen up your hands before your grab the bass. you can work all the individual muscles and groups in your hand. there are different examples on the website. after i use that for a few minutes i grab my bass and just run chromatically starting with the low E using one finger per fret, stretching out my fingers on the low frets and moving up the neck to the highest note. I also use these when I think of it, taken from a post by beggar98:

Set your fretting hand so that your fingers are spaced out over four frets someplace comfortable. I usually use 7, 8, 9, 10 on the D string, so that first finger=A, middle finger=Bflat, ring finger= B and pinky=C. Then I play through the following pattern. Accuracy and evenness is more important than speed.

1234 1243 1324 1342 1423 1432
2134 2143 2314 2341 2413 2431
3124 3142 3214 3241 3412 3421
4123 4132 4213 4231 4312 4321

Originally Posted by MikeVQ

Along with what others have posted here, you may want to try some active recovery work for your hands, specifically something to work the extensors in your forearms, remember that the site is not always the source.

Try this, get a reasonably thick rubber band and put it around your fingers, then open your fingers up. This will work your extensors.



A lot of hand wrist problems can be cause by muscle imbalances, just think how much of our daily tasks involving the hands primarily call for flexion (closing of the hands), grabbing something, holding onto something, fretting a bass are all forms of flexion. Seems only reasonable that you should work the other ROM's to avoid imbalances.

I can't thank you two enough, I'll give your suggestions a try
I was thinking "Oh god Have I got in a bad habit or something"

The help is very much appreciated!!!

Once again, Thanks * 10,000!