• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Double Bass Finger Collapsing

V

Vitor_Alexander

Jun 23, 2008
5
0
Póvoa de Varzim, Portugal
#1
Hi guys,

Some time ago I had tendinitis on my left hand pinky finger. I did the correct treatment and everything went fine. The problem is that this finger, after some time of study, simply collapses what makes me loose the correct fingers shape and proper string pressure. I make some trills exercises that my teacher gave and It seems to work a little. The problem is that when I think everything is ok and I start playing some of the Storch's etudes... bam... the finger collapse and I can't continue to play because it seems that it is going to break and the notes starts to fail. Last Saturday I was rehearsing with my accompanist pianist and it happened, i couldn't play any fast passage correctly and the vibrato just... and my patience dried out. I know that the problem is that the tendon is weak but I'm not finding any way to make it better so do you know any exercise, any tip for that purpose? :help::help::help:

Thanks in advance,

Vitor
 
#4
jallenbass said:
How long has it been since your treatment? What was it? I had a trigger finger release (surgery) and it took a couple of months before I regained my full strength.
Click to expand...

I forgot to mention it (sorry, I was a little upset when I posted it :mad:)... it's been 2 years since my treatment and I had this problem before but I continued to play and the finger got better. But this time it's taking longer... it's been like 2 weeks since I'm having this problem and it's preventing me from correctly practice. My treatment based on stretches and strengthening exercises along with medication like anti-inflammatory.

Andrew Grandahl said:
Right, things like this can take a long long time to fully fix. You should talk to a specialist, get some stretches and exercises that will help you recover, it sounds like it's not fully healed yet. Best of luck!
Click to expand...

I spoke with my teacher and he said that maybe the finger's tendon got weaker with the tendinitis and, since my repertoire is much more demanding this year, it's showing signs of it. Since I don't feel any pain at all (only mental :atoz:) I'm going to be patient and focus on the finger. I'll do some exercises using correct shape to try to strengthen it. If I start to feel any pain or the finger doesn't get better soon I'm going to see a specialist.

One interesting thing that I remembered today is that by 1 month ago I stopped doing some exercises based on finger agility (up and down the same string using various finger patterns)that I did for 4 or 5 months. Do you think it can be the cause for the weakening of the finger? Because what is intriguing me is that the finger suddenly lost strength.

Thank you very much,

I'll post again soon

Vitor
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back