5 hours (in one sitting) of anything would make me sore... maybe less practice, more often?
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Gear update ,guide
- Thread starter wishforbass
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5 hours (in one sitting) of anything would make me sore... maybe less practice, more often?
Get the new slimmer necked bass. If you can though, try some different 4 string basses too — it might not be the thinnest neck that you find most comfortable (though it may — I’m just saying to try some different ones with an open mind as to what might be most comfortable — whatever works, works). Also, there’s no need to play a 5 if you want a 4 — get what you want.
Try lighter gauge strings and make sure the bass’s setup isn’t too high (also, a new string gauge might require a new setup). A .40 - .95 set of strings is certainly possible (might be hard to obtain locally though — I can’t get a set of those locally in the country where I live). At least don’t go over 100 on the E string, I’d say.
You can get away with lower action if you use a lighter right hand technique. I recently bought a bass where the previous owner had had it set up crazy low. It was super easy to play, but the strings were always buzzing so it sounded bad. I was, however, eventually able to stop the buzzing by adjusting to playing much more gently with my right hand (plucking/picking hand), which led to a mellowed left (note fingering) hand too and...well, it’s just a different approach to the bass. It is easier on the hands, but I didn’t want to make such a big adjustment to my playing style so after a few weeks (it’s not my main bass, so there was no rush) I set it to my normal action. Still, it was a bit of an eye-opener for me as to the possibilities.
Can you see a doctor about the pain? Take a little phone video of your playing and show it to him when you go
As others have said, don’t over-practice, take breaks and experiment with your technique to reduce stress on the thumb.
Good luck!
Try lighter gauge strings and make sure the bass’s setup isn’t too high (also, a new string gauge might require a new setup). A .40 - .95 set of strings is certainly possible (might be hard to obtain locally though — I can’t get a set of those locally in the country where I live). At least don’t go over 100 on the E string, I’d say.
You can get away with lower action if you use a lighter right hand technique. I recently bought a bass where the previous owner had had it set up crazy low. It was super easy to play, but the strings were always buzzing so it sounded bad. I was, however, eventually able to stop the buzzing by adjusting to playing much more gently with my right hand (plucking/picking hand), which led to a mellowed left (note fingering) hand too and...well, it’s just a different approach to the bass. It is easier on the hands, but I didn’t want to make such a big adjustment to my playing style so after a few weeks (it’s not my main bass, so there was no rush) I set it to my normal action. Still, it was a bit of an eye-opener for me as to the possibilities.
Can you see a doctor about the pain? Take a little phone video of your playing and show it to him when you go
As others have said, don’t over-practice, take breaks and experiment with your technique to reduce stress on the thumb.
Good luck!
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This^
You can actually do quite a bit of playing without your thumb even touching the back of the neck at all. Sitting down, try playing a bit with your thumb in the air a little off the back of the neck ("floating", like BassUrges said above) and only let it touch the back of the neck lightly when needed for a little support. You’ll see that for numerous things, no thumb pressure is needed at all!
Now try it when standing up and playing (you may need to adjust your strap and instrument position).
I’m not saying to play with your thumb completely off the neck all the time, but just to experiment and see how little pressure is actually needed (often, none). Then try to use that knowledge to use thumb pressure only as needed when doing your normal playing with the thumb actually [lightly] touching the back of the neck.
You may need to adjust your strings to lighter gauge, your setup for lower action and strap and instrument position so that you can incorporate that very light thumb technique into your regular playing when you are standing up.
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I can tell you from experience that Soundgears have very comfortable necks.
I can also tell you that going from a 5 string to a 4 is NOT downgrading. Play what suits you.
I can also tell you that going from a 5 string to a 4 is NOT downgrading. Play what suits you.
Downgrade? Sounds like an upgrade to me.
Based on your other replies, I think you should get the 4-string .
1) Get yourself a set with a 100 E string — easier on the hands; ‘nuff said.
2) "One of problem is that for hammer on I push the neck to front" — Okay, that’s a start. First you have to know where the problems are. Next, figure out a way to fix, or at least mitigate, each problem. Looking at it myself just now, I see I can hammer on a bit without using my thumb on the back, but especially playing any string besides the G string, it takes a lot of tension on the forearm and hammering finger and the note doesn’t always sound clearly. In other words, hammering on does take a bit of pressure from the thumb. But, with lighter strings and lower action, it should take less thumb pressure. Further, spend some time examining your hammer ons and learn to do them with the minimum thumb pressure necessary.
Another possibility to consider is avoidance. I have no idea how bad your thumb is, but a basic idea with pain is if some action hurts and is getting worse, don’t do it. Unless your bass playing is out front in the band and you are playing a signature line of a song that requires a hammer on(s), will the audience really know or care if you’re hammering on or not? Of course, hammering on is a basic technique that is used all over the place, but you may be able to at least reduce the amount of times you’re doing it, at least until your thumb gets better. Anyway, I know I’ve moved to lighter gauge strings and I avoid some things that I’d otherwise do because they strain my hand, wrist or forearm. Sucks, but that’s life.
Look for other situations where you’re using too much thumb pressure too and work on improving them too.
Warm up for a few minutes by playing gently, starting without the thumb and then gradually adding it, each time before you play. After you play, ice the sore area of the thumb for about 10 minutes (no more than 15 minutes or you’ll get frostbite and won’t be able to ice again until that heals!). See a medical professional instead of listening to some dude like me on the internet
Just one warning about medical professionals: a doctor may give you a steroid (cortisone) injection which will make the pain go away temporarily (it’s like magic), but beware as that doesn’t actually solve the problem. It’s only to give it time to heal with rest and rehabilitation excercise. If you keep playing like normal (since the thumb won’t hurt any more), the original situation will only return in a few months, potentially worse. Then you could go back for another injection which again will work for a while (but a shorter time this time) and then when that stops working get another, and then another — but each time it’ll work for a shorter and shorter time until it finally doesn’t work at all and then that solution is over for the rest of your life and you’re back where you started or worse. Worse, because repeated injections can actually kill the tendon tissue (necrosis)
Anyway, no need to get all worried about that - you haven’t even had a single injection yet! It’s just something to be aware of — some doctors, unbelievably, will just do a series of injections like that until the situation is beyond repair.
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- Oct 18, 2012
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Hard to give you advice if we don't know the sound you are looking for. Your Yamaha bass is a nice instrument. The Fender Rumble 100 while nice, is not really a high level amp. It is actually a relatively low wattage amp in terms of bass. Nice for practices and small gigs but probably won't work for large gigs without PA support. If you want something with more power at a a reasonable price, look for some used Hartke gear. Great quality and sound. Last year I purchased a Hartke HA2500 head with a 410 Hartke cab for $200.
I have a question about the 1st fret hammer on. Is this part of a song you are learning, or is it just an exercise you are doing to try and strengthen your hand? If it is just an exercise, I recommend you stop doing this exercise, because it is having the opposite effect--it is actually weakening your hand by causing soreness, fatigue, and possibly permanent damage! On the other hand, if the 1st fret hammer on is part of a song you like, my suggestion is to try some different techniques, maybe not playing the song exactly how the bassist plays on the original recording, but rather in a way that is comfortable for you.
5 hours of practice a day is a lot for anybody. Make sure you take breaks, stay relaxed, and don't overdo it. There are lots of ways to practice music without physically picking up your bass: ear training, singing, piano, rhythm exercises, composition, transcription, harmony studies, etc.
5 hours of practice a day is a lot for anybody. Make sure you take breaks, stay relaxed, and don't overdo it. There are lots of ways to practice music without physically picking up your bass: ear training, singing, piano, rhythm exercises, composition, transcription, harmony studies, etc.
One other thing you may try, don't rest your arm across the top of the body. Find a comfortable place to anchor your thumb. This makes your thumb more of a pivot position, and the only part on the bass. This also puts your hand at a better position to the strings, and doesn't stress wrist, hand, or fingers.
I vote for the four string upgrade. It sounds like you plan to keep the five, so you'll have that option as a fall back. See what you can try, and pick (I'm a fender guy, and a jazz with half-rounds works very well, for me, in an acoustic setting). The Rumble amp should be fine.
FWIW I play way too hard.... or at least I used to. I still do a little bit but nowhere near as bad. My hand used to cramp up too, which is a very scary thing when music is all you really care for in life.
The solution?? Well, they solution for me anyways.. was a set of 40,60,80,100 strings and a new setup with low action. My playing has been so much better since I went to lighter strings... I can get more dynamics out of my playing and im not killing my hands when I dig in. It forced me to have a more appropriate touch.
This was like a decade so and I still play light gauges because of it.
The solution?? Well, they solution for me anyways.. was a set of 40,60,80,100 strings and a new setup with low action. My playing has been so much better since I went to lighter strings... I can get more dynamics out of my playing and im not killing my hands when I dig in. It forced me to have a more appropriate touch.
This was like a decade so and I still play light gauges because of it.
I have a question about the 1st fret hammer on. Is this part of a song you are learning, or is it just an exercise you are doing to try and strengthen your hand? If it is just an exercise, I recommend you stop doing this exercise, because it is having the opposite effect--it is actually weakening your hand by causing soreness, fatigue, and possibly permanent damage! On the other hand, if the 1st fret hammer on is part of a song you like, my suggestion is to try some different techniques, maybe not playing the song exactly how the bassist plays on the original recording, but rather in a way that is comfortable for you.
5 hours of practice a day is a lot for anybody. Make sure you take breaks, stay relaxed, and don't overdo it. There are lots of ways to practice music without physically picking up your bass: ear training, singing, piano, rhythm exercises, composition, transcription, harmony studies, etc.
Ita part of two song I play ,
One on e string
Other on a .
I practice 2 hours a day by bass and about 1 hour read and study harmony .
Just on Friday and Tuesday I play 5 hour.
Because I practice with band a ,then 5 mim rest start with band b ,then 30 min rest again start with band a .
I usually like learn play synth so sometimes spend time learn it.
Mtd ,
They are super expensive and kind of I see two of them .
I played with a 5 string one and it had a really wide nut .
I liked the feel but the price was too high .tobias I never try one ,I only know Gibson shop sell them .
