Activities that make bass more difficult

[Buzz E]

The cold weather kicks my a$$. Especially my hands.

 

[bumperbass]

The past few months during 4 hour gigs, my right hand would clam up on the last set. I literally couldn't move my middle or index finger. I experimented with my bass height. Turns out, my bass was so high, I was angling my wrist too much. Lowering the bass just a few inches made my wrist straighter and last weekend the 4 hour gig went fine.

 

[Feral Feline]

MTB guide. After an all-day ride slamming over roots, rocks, and drops (even with a suspension fork) with a vice-like grip on the handlebar, then playing bass can be painful.

 

[Feral Feline]

I used to work as a chef, and had cuts and/or burns on my fingers all the time. That was definitely bad for bass.

Lately I have been doing a lot of home maintenance and guitar building, both involving a lot of manual sanding. My plucking and fretting fingers are dry and calloused to hell. Also bad for bass.

Maybe we should start a "what is your favorite moisturizer" thread?

Lol. My vote goes to burt's bees almond milk beeswax hand creme. Or that working hands stuff you get at home depot.

I've been using "O'Keeffe's Working Hands" for dry hands that crack and split, miniscule amounts go a long way and it's helped with Psoriasis that just developed. I got it at Lee Valley, where you can also get Lee Valley's Badger Balm or Bag Balm.

I find it really hard to play bass while getting laid. All I seem to get out is Sexual Healing.

It's easy for me. It's all about finding the groove and staying in it. You just need more practice.

 

[Tom Bomb]

Another tip(s), that will save your wrists, fingers, and arms, is simply to let the tool do the work - with a jackhammer, have it upright and virtually let it go when it's hammering. You do not have to hold on like grim death but just keep it in control (this is more or less what the anti-vibration gloves will facilitate. They seem like a good idea but maybe they'll sometimes have the effect of increasing the strain - especially on your fingers - I'm not certain about that but, generally speaking, gloves will do this if they make it harder to hang onto equipment. They would be excellent for weed-eaters, mowers, whackers etc.); using a sledge hammer, crowbar etc. - best to let it go, almost, at the moment of impact. This is the policy for any hammering activity - Let the Tool do the Work!; shoveling - a shovel is a lever. Use it as one. Use the weight of your body to plunge in, not the strength of your body - you can avoid a lot of strain this way. Work smarter not harder. Been there, (not) done that One more thing - the ice-pack is your friend

 

[sean_on_bass]

Usually a full day at work is enough to mentally exhaust me. This definitely affects my playing. As a result i play better on the weekends.

 

[baceface]

Judging from this thread, there are a lot of other bassists in the plumbing/tile setting/engineering trades.

I guess bass minds think alike.

Ahhh yes... Plumbers that play Bass (Don't bite your fingernails and change strings often...)

 

[vistacruiser]

Ahhh yes... Plumbers that play Bass (Don't bite your fingernails and change strings often...)

It occurs to me that bass players tend to be a very practical minded sort of person, more so than other musicians. I see this more and more as I learn about the occupations and hobbies many of us have. I make a living rebuilding transmissions and differentials, crushing the left middle finger tip (dropping a truck transmission on it) at work, had me "flipping the bird" while playing without it for the next 8 weeks.