Left thumb pain, balance, playing positions, necks

[TheSuzie]

I just read a bunch of threads about this including the whole 'sit while playing' threads and the bent endpin threads.

I came out of it with a few things. Firstly, that there is more than one way to skin a cat. Secondly, that the teacher who last showed me how to hold the bass while standing learned and is teaching the sort of balance that Gary Karr uses but the teacher had not fully explained some of the fine points of that technique.

Next it looks like I am going to have to do a lot of practicing and experimenting to find what works for me. I am in agony at the moment. My left hand and wrist are in bad shape, my wrist and tendons were badly damaged some years back, leaving me in a cast for about eight weeks. I sometimes have trouble moving and rotating the wrist but the biggest problem WRT playing is pain in the following places:

1. The side of the wrist nearest the thumb with an increase in pain especially if I lift the thumb more open and some pain if I draw the thumb in toward the hand. Some pain definately goes up the side of the arm. I get some snapping when I flex and unflex my wrist but that always happens when things are acting up.

2. The two thumb joints nearest the wrist at the junction of the thumb and the "meat" of the hand and the next

3. The thumb joint nearest the tip is sensitive and painful on the outside part that just about never touches the neck of the bass.

4. General pain and burningin wrist, heel of hand and fingers

Now all of this has started since I have been trying to learn to play the 3/4 DB while standing.

Let me explain my progression in terms of playing. I started off playing EB using left hand technique derived from classical guitar and eventually ended up practicing in the classical guitar position - low stool, left foot on a foot rest, instrument on left leg and the headstock high. The high headstock and the sitting position stability really helped my wrist. It also allowed me to control my posture becaue the stool is only 17.5" high so I can shift my spine an pelvis to be comfortable despite having had several lower back surgeries. I still have to get up and stretch periodically but at least I did not seem to be crippling myself

Next I shifted to playing my 1/4 size DB sitting on the same stool and seemed to do well. The bass was supported solidly and I could use the weight of my left arm for fingering. I had only occasional minor pain with this method. for the most part my left thumb hardly toughed the neck.

Enter the 3/4 DB and the standing position and now I am in deep trouble. There are two things that concern me. One is that I am having trouble finding a comfortable position and balance with the instrument. The second is that with my new thickened neck and fingerboard, I really have trouble reaching the E string without sliding my thumb around the neck toward the E string.

Now I could try sitting down, and probably will try a bent endpin but I do want to have the ability to play both sitting and standing.

I know people will tell me to get to a teacher again but every teacher I talk with has a totally different take on these things and when I go and see them play live many of them don't take their own advice.

So here I am typing (which is quite painful too) and asking you guys for advice before I go and study some theory and aviod playing at all for the moment.

Thanks,
S

[jallenbass]

Originally Posted by TheSuzie

I really have trouble reaching the E string without sliding my thumb around the neck toward the E string.

Your thumb should move to the G string side of the neck when playing on the E string.

I would pursue a playing position that alleviates pain. Don't stand just because you think you should.

You have sought out medical help with this haven't you?

What part of the world do you reside? Someone may have a suggestion for a teacher.

[TheSuzie]

Yes, I have a tendency to not rotate my hand properly when reaching for the E string, likely developed from playing guitars with flat, non-radiused fingerboards. Something I definately need to work on.

Over the years I have been evaluated medically for carpal tunnel, arthritis, tendon damage etc. I have had X-rays and nerve conduction tests though that was a long time ago. But AFAIK I have none of those standard sort of conditions except for the stretched tendons that run across my left wrist.

In addition to the old injuries, I do have a neuromuscular condition that affects my whole body but is worst in my hands and feet. It causes pain, some degree of weakness and problems with my joints. I do the best I can but I have had to drop many activities over the years. Rather than get too depressed over those things I am absolutely unable to do, I am trying to turn my attention back to playing music.

I live in the Greater Boston area, a city where everyone claims to be music teacher, and many are probably very good. Still, I have learned that the devil is in the details and in the teacher's ability to see what the student is doing with absolute clarity and to explain and demonstrate those small details of technique from the bottom up. I think that some teachers I have encountered have a degree of natural affinity for the instrument and a level of experience that makes them take certain details for granted while I am klutzy and inexperienced enough that I need every single thing taught and explained to me.

Whew, that was a mouthful but hopefully you get the idea.

Peace,
S