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My popping finger hurts

thefruitfarmer

thefruitfarmer

Feb 25, 2006
618
26
Kent UK
#1
My Finger hurts

Hi all….

I have been learning slap and pop bass (rather than thumping) for a while and practicing daily for the last six months. I have had some aches and slight pains in my fingers and wrists, most of which went as I played through it.

What I have now on my right hand is a slightly swollen index finger and some pain in the first joint (the joint nearest the finger tip) from popping the strings. I am also getting a large callous on that finger.

I am using the twist in the forearm to power the thumb slap and the pop. I am thinking that I could be hooking my index finger under the string too much, be using more power than necessary and stressing the first joint by pushing the index finger slightly sideways for each pop.

Does it seem like my technique needs some attention?

Am I just playing too heavy handed for my joints and need to develop a lighter touch?

Maybe I could find a good teacher to help with this?

Thanks......
 
#2
You need 2-3 days rest. No more popping. When you pick the bass up again work on using less strength, and more flow for the slap/pop. Like you said, you need to develop a lighter touch. When I started, after a couple of hours of playing only slap/pop my fingertip would turn blue/purple. After a few days I worked on my touch and now it never hurts.
 
#3
Thanks Morf...

I have tried resting for a few days and then starting again, concerntrating on developing a lighter touch. It is okay for a while but the problem always seems to be come back.

I will try concerntrating more on the flow and see if that helps.

Something I have just started is popping with the 2nd finger as well as the first. I am learning from Tony Oppenheim's book and he suggests that you use your first finger for popping. However, looking at the picture of his hands I notice they appear to be quite small. My hands are rather large and I am thinking that maybe using the 2nd finger to pop when comfortable suits my anatomy better. Initially, it feels like there is a lot less stress on my hand when using the 2nd finger as well as the index....
 
#4
Try playing something really fast so that you wont be able to play it by popping hard, you'll have to have a light touch to be able to play it at the right tempo. Try Aeroplane by RHCP for example, the slap/pop line he does in there with the alternance slap/pop/slap/pop is pretty fast and if you pop too hard you won't be able to play it decently. Practice that.

Also, try to pop using "less" of the finger, use the tip as close to the nail as possible so you can catch that softer touch.

As far as using the middle finger to pop, thats wat I did when the first finger hurt. It's a good alternative.
 
#5
Fast, with a light touch, using just the tip...

All good advice - I get the idea.

I will have a look for "aeroplane" - I hear the chillies on the radio often but am not familiar with that particular tune. A lot of people here seem to rate Flea's slapping and that song as a good example...

I have the impression that most people pop with the index finger only but a significant minority use the 2nd finger either as an alternative or as an addition to the index finger. I am finding it easier to use the second finger on the G string and the index on the D string. I think part of the problem is that the natural position for my thumb (pointing about 45 degrees downwards) puts my index finger in a position where popping the G string forces it sideways against the joint...

Seems like I am going to have to work on this a bit and develop my own thing...

I reckon I have 30 years before my ears go and I would hate for my fingers to become arthritic before my ears decline from a constant bashing....

:D

:bassist:
 
#6
If your action is high, lower it. Slap as gently as possible while still making the string sound, and pop as gently as possible with as little of your fingertip as possible.


The less effort, the less it hurts, the more stamina you get, the faster you can get with less effort.. etc.


Also google the Willis ramp. Cut one to a height that doesn't allow your finger to get too far under the string. Failing that, if you have a neck pickup, set it to the right height and use that (this is what I do).


As for using your middle finger instead of your index - go for it. It doesn't make any difference in sound, whatever is more comfortable for you. Personally I learned to use both, which is useful for really fast stuff (like Vic Wooten songs).
 
#7
thefruitfarmer said:
Fast, with a light touch, using just the tip...

All good advice - I get the idea.

I will have a look for "aeroplane" - I hear the chillies on the radio often but am not familiar with that particular tune. A lot of people here seem to rate Flea's slapping and that song as a good example...

I have the impression that most people pop with the index finger only but a significant minority use the 2nd finger either as an alternative or as an addition to the index finger. I am finding it easier to use the second finger on the G string and the index on the D string. I think part of the problem is that the natural position for my thumb (pointing about 45 degrees downwards) puts my index finger in a position where popping the G string forces it sideways against the joint...

Seems like I am going to have to work on this a bit and develop my own thing...

I reckon I have 30 years before my ears go and I would hate for my fingers to become arthritic before my ears decline from a constant bashing....

:D

:bassist:
Click to expand...


You'll probably recognize Aeroplane once you hear it. Its a good song to start learning how to slap, decently fast so that it requires you to spend time on developping a light touch, decently funky so that you have to spend time on getting funky with it, and decently short so it takes you 5 minutes to learn all the notes and you can concentrate on technique.

What i do is I try to keep my thumb somewhat parallel to the strings, at a 45 degree angle from my index finger so that my fingers do not need to move for slap/pop alternance. Popping sideways with the string against the joint is why your finger ends up hurting, and will be why you won't be able to slap/pop very fast.

Good luck to you, keep at it and it'll come quickly :)
 
#8
I don't think you need a lighter touch, just take a brake for a while. And the calous is a good thing. I know, when I play popping a lot, my wrist and fingers hurt too. I'll just put my bass down for a little bit and then get back into it later. I try not to stress my wrists too much; they're bad enough from sports. If you're only using your index finger, try switching back and forth with your middle. That's what I do, and I can play for quite a while with no discomfort.
 
#10
I got a copy of "aeroplane" and the music today so I will be having a go at that song and maybe some other of Flea's lines too - RHCP are a great band and manage to make minimal stuff sound fantastic.

Over the last few days I have been really thinking about my technique. I do tend to play quite hard and I feel that is part of the problem - I reckon on getting just as good a sound with less strength in the slaps and pops.

Bman83 - I have tried taking breaks but I feel this is more of a "pain issue" rather than a "training ache", if you get what I mean. I am actually getting pain from forcing the joint sideways which is different from aching muscles. I don't want to end up with a finger like Keith Richards, not before my time anyway.

The way I am looking at it now is that it is the shape of my right hand that is the issue. As I said earlier I slap with my thumb pointing about 45 degrees downwards and this leaves my index finger parallel to the thumb. Consequently, when I pop the index finger is at the 45 degree angle which means that it is inevitable that I will push the joint sideways. This is most evident when I slap on the A string and pop on the G string. However, if I use my middle finger (for A string slap and G string pop) then it is naturally perpedicular to the strings and the popping action does not stress the joint by forcing it sideways.

I still find it easier using the index finger if I am slapping on an adjacent string so I am hoping I can develop a personal technique that works for me, using both index and middle to pop with. If I get it right I hope to gain an extra few years playing before I get the arthritis, which does run in the family.....:eek:

Thanks to all for the contributions.....:)
 

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