Wrist pain

[notverygood]

I get some hand and wrist pain when I play the 1st-4th frets for extended time. Would a 30" scale bass help take care of this? I have no pain at all anywhere else on the neck.

[basmartin]

The trick is not to strech your hand to reach between the 1st and the 4th fret, but to move your hand while the thumb stays in the same place. To do that you need apply minimum pressure with your thumb, so the hand stays flexible. Also keep the wrist straight. Don´t try to use the four finger technique at the first frets if you don´t have big hands, use it higher up the neck where it´s more comfortable. Skip the ring finger.

I don´t think you need to change your bass to one with a 30", bass players like Tal Wilkenfeld and Esperanza Spalding has small hands and big basses so it´s just a matter of how to learn to play ergonomical.

[notverygood]

Thanks I'll try that right now.

[Fergie Fulton]

Hi and yes to all that has been said. But lets see if we can find the source of this problem.

Check your bass, does it have balance issues like neck dive, that is when you let the bass go the neck falls to the ground? This will but extra strain in the hands as you have to support and play.

Did it start as a result of increased playing or doing something different in the work place?

Have you been un-well recently?

Are you using an over developed technique? By that i mean wrist angle to allow the thumb to stay low behind the neck to allow full access to the fretboard all the time. If you play a rock/blues style this technique is not nessesary and simpler safer one will do.

Just a few things to consider in your playing. if you want to disscuss it more drop me a PM or check out the blogs at

www.myspace.com/vintageprecisionbass

for more info. I would see a medical profesional now for a medical view, but if not now and it continues or gets worse see a medical profesional.