Left Hand Help

[Sagaris]

So I've been playing DB since the beginning of this school year as I was picked first to play DB for our school jazz band next year.

I reckon I've taken to the instrument very well however I don't own my own one and I spend most of my lunch breaks, which are 40 minutes, practicing scales and songs for the Jazz Band.

So far I've been playing Watermelon Man and I Heard it through the Grapevine but during the song a really uncomfortable, unbearable sometimes, pain accumulates in the squishy bit of my palm, next to my thumb.

I've tried having the Bass leaned forward and not gripping the neck so hard and I can keep it that way through most of the songs but it still comes back.

Any advice?

(And this is my first time in the DB forums. )

[stefaniw80401]

Segaris, I wish I had more students like you ... i.e. students that practiced their instruments.

Sounds like you have some tension in the left hand, which you understand by knowing to lean the bass forward so as not to clench the neck with your thumb. But I think you're dealing with two issues:

1) You could be practicing too much. Drop down to 30 minutes.
2) Your bass has a really high action.

I also stand when I play, but I use a stool as a tool to develop a LH technique with as little tension as possible. Hook up with a bass teacher in your area who can show you this.

Best of luck!
- mark

[jfv]

Originally Posted by Sagaris

So I've been playing DB since the beginning of this school year as I was picked first to play DB for our school jazz band next year.

I reckon I've taken to the instrument very well however I don't own my own one and I spend most of my lunch breaks, which are 40 minutes, practicing scales and songs for the Jazz Band.

So far I've been playing Watermelon Man and I Heard it through the Grapevine but during the song a really uncomfortable, unbearable sometimes, pain accumulates in the squishy bit of my palm, next to my thumb.

I've tried having the Bass leaned forward and not gripping the neck so hard and I can keep it that way through most of the songs but it still comes back.

Any advice?

(And this is my first time in the DB forums. )

Get in a room with teacher to look at what you are doing.
Yes, it gets repeated endlessly, but guess what, thats cuz
its the ONLY right advise.

Can you imagine some aspiring gymnist trying to get advise
on a web site? Not if you are serious, you want a trainer,
someone physically there to correct your stance, grip, whatever.

Its ONLY in the physical one-on-one that proper guidance
happens, and its the same in this case.

Good luck,

[Sagaris]

Originally Posted by stefaniw80401

2) Your bass has a really high action.

Ah. I forgot to mention, it has insanely high action indeed. The string is over an inch above the bottom end of the fretboard. I don't know why it's that high at all really, I've been moaning to my head of music to get it lowered.

And sorry, I forgot to mention that I do have a teacher for Bass Guitar and Double Bass. He's the one that advised leaning it forward but still, I'm guessing it's all coming down to the action right now?

[stefaniw80401]

Originally Posted by Sagaris

... it has insanely high action indeed. The string is over an inch above the bottom end of the fretboard. I don't know why it's that high at all really, I've been moaning to my head of music to get it lowered.

Moan some more. No -- make that strongly insist. I also have no idea why school basses are set so high. My local band/string store that supplies many violins to area schools started using adjustable bridges on their rental basses. They still set them too high. I've cranked down every bridge I've encountered with my students, annd have even given specs to the "luthier" in the store that does the setups -- no luck. Excuses I've heard for the high action are: "more sound" and "fewer finger board buzzes". The former only discourages budding bassists and may cause them physical damage, and the latter has s-o-m-e merit.

Originally Posted by Sagaris

And sorry, I forgot to mention that I do have a teacher for Bass Guitar and Double Bass. He's the one that advised leaning it forward but still, I'm guessing it's all coming down to the action right now?

Well, I wouldn't say "all". You're gonna have to build up your LH strength -- slowly and safely -- over months. Ask your teacher if he knows how to use a stool. The LH technique is a bit different on a stool (as is the RH to some degree) -- whereas you can play below thumb position without your thumb. Your LH will "hang" off the finger board and your thumb will just graze along the back side of the neck, thus removing all tension in the thumb muscle. Then take this concept and feeling back to a standing position and you will/should notice less tension. I mentioned ealier that I stand, but I use a stool at least once a month as a tool like this.

Good luck. Stick with it. Get that bridge lowered. Don't over practice or you could hurt yourself. Learn how to use a stool. Oh ... and in standing position, your bass should be balanced on the endpin, and leaning more forward (and maybe slightly towards you) as you move up to the higher registers. This is how Gary Karr plays and I have modeled my technique after Gary Karr. Other standing styles involve the bass leaning against your body and your right foot stepped back a bit. I don't like this method.

- Mark

[GriffithLea]

Make sure the nut end of the fingerboard gets checked as well as the bridge height. It's the height of the string at the nut that contributes to most of the fatigue. Check it with the business card rule - a business card inserted under a given string and butted up against the nut should exhibit a slight amount of drag when pulled perpendicular to the string.

[stefaniw80401]

Yes excellent Griffith, I also like action to be set 9mm-11mm G-E at the end of the fingerboard. But on a school bass with a potentially wavy FB, this could have lots of buzzes. I think 9mm-11mm would be considered "standard". Check the set-up/luthier's forums. - Mark

[gwaltrip]

It might just be that your hand muscles are not yet in shape. One of the DVD's I bought that teach bass mentions this part of the thumb. It will ache while you are developing strength. I had the same problem myself, after switching to double bass from bass guitar. However, the pain is almost gone now.

The double bass is a physically demanding instrument and strengthening the fingers is part of the process of learning it.

[pat.p]

Welcome dear friend.
Be careful with your playing- practicing is not enough to be a bass player. you should practice PROPERLY.
As one of colleagues said, you should check everything with your teacher- face to face.
One of the most important things in daily routine is warming up. Believe me, it's really important. You should do warmup exercises slowly, patiently and systematically. Fingers, palm, shoulder, everything need time to stretch and be stronger.
Man, if you do things too fast, without any idea- you'll have problems...
You should be able to spend more than 40 minutes with your instrument... 2-3 hours if you think seriously about playing.
Warm regards
Pat

[Rayzorx]

Originally Posted by gwaltrip

It might just be that your hand muscles are not yet in shape. One of the DVD's I bought that teach bass mentions this part of the thumb. It will ache while you are developing strength. I had the same problem myself, after switching to double bass from bass guitar. However, the pain is almost gone now.

The double bass is a physically demanding instrument and strengthening the fingers is part of the process of learning it.

What DVD did you get? I'm looking for something to view while I'm waiting for my URB to arrive.