Pinkie finger on fretting hand cramping up

[Juniorkimbrough]

Hey guys, recently I've been having problems with my pinkie finger cramping up on my fretting hand. In the past I had problems a few times with the same thing on my plucking hand but it was just to the way I was using the mouse of my computer and I was holding my hand too tense while playing, I adjusted both of these and it went away(also I broke this hand a few years ago which I don't think helped).

BAck to the problem........my pinkie finger on the fretting hand is just kinda cramping up and tightening up toward the finger next to it. Could this possibly be caused by playing bass?

I've recently started playing upright but I don't know why this would cause my pinkie to cramp up.

Are there any hand exercises I can do to maybe help or prevent this IF it's caused by my playing?

I've decided I'm gonna lay off the upright for the rest of the week to see if it clears up or not.

Thanks!

[locolobo85]

A few low impact exercises.....
http://www.bostonhand.com/fingerjoint.html

http://www.bostonhand.com/tendongliding.html

http://www.bostonhand.com/edcglide.html

http://www.bostonhand.com/intrinsicexercises.html

http://www.bostonhand.com/thumbexercises.html

[Juniorkimbrough]

thanks

[DocBop]

I started playing DB a year or so ago and went thru the same thing. First this is cramps not pain, if pain see a doctor. First DB is a far more physical instrument than BG so you are going to have to build up more strength and stretch a bit further. I would say eat more bananas to get potassium and drink more water both help with cramps. Then work on your technique DB unlike BG requires your finger supporting each other more. If you use all your fingers properly it will take less pressure to hold down string. It also help you stay in position and play more in-tune. I wouldn't stop practicing for a week that will set you back, reduce your practice time, but don't stop. I would cramp while practice and just drop my arm down to get more blood down into my hand.

Hang in there you'll work thru it.

[Juniorkimbrough]

Thanks for chiming in!

I think I figured out what is causing it. Last night I sat down to learn some new tunes and noticed when I fretted with my middle finger it seemed to make the pinkie cramp up a little. I've been using my middle finger a lot when playing my DB because my index finger has been having some slight pain up between the main and middle joints due to me playing A LOT lately and probably getting too into it during a gig and fretting harder than I should.

My pinkie hasn't bothered me all day today and I haven't even thought about it so I might lay off the DB for one more day just to make sure it stops.

[Martin Bormann]

Originally Posted by Juniorkimbrough

Hey guys, recently I've been having problems with my pinkie finger cramping up on my fretting hand. In the past I had problems a few times with the same thing on my plucking hand but it was just to the way I was using the mouse of my computer and I was holding my hand too tense while playing, I adjusted both of these and it went away(also I broke this hand a few years ago which I don't think helped).

BAck to the problem........my pinkie finger on the fretting hand is just kinda cramping up and tightening up toward the finger next to it. Could this possibly be caused by playing bass?

I've recently started playing upright but I don't know why this would cause my pinkie to cramp up.

Are there any hand exercises I can do to maybe help or prevent this IF it's caused by my playing?

I've decided I'm gonna lay off the upright for the rest of the week to see if it clears up or not.

Thanks!

Maybe you should tell your instructor about this? Don't have one? Get one.