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How to stop shoulder pain

Mechayoshi

Mechayoshi

Dec 7, 2015
919
819
Tennessee
mechas64castles.net
#1
I like the stand and play, it is more comfortable than sitting and it's easier for me to keep my wrists straight. I have the proper strap height and everything and im using a padded Levi 3.5 inch leather strap.

Here's the kicker: I know some of you will suggest to get a lighter bass by my bass is ONLY 8 lbs 11oz. I've tried the comfort strap and it didn't help, within an hour my shoulder is sore. I have no injuries or anything, I'm not sure what to do!
 
#2
I know you said you have the proper strap height but my shoulder, elbow, heck my whole arm won't be happy if I have it slung too high. Lower is a little harder on my wrist but you have to make compromises and sacrifices to find that comfy spot.
 
#3
Excercise!



downbytheriver.gif
 
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#4
Mechayoshi said:
I have the proper strap height !
Click to expand...

What exactly do you mean by "proper" ? As "saltydude" says, you need to compromise. A good compromise is to have the body of the bass at about belly button height.

Other helpful suggestions would be to be conscious of whether you are tensing up, without realising it. Try to keep the whole body as relaxed as possible. Playing in front of a mirror helps to show this. Also, look up You Tube for clips on .."Yoga exercises for the shoulders"...pick one or two, and spend five minutes doing them, both before and after playing. Finally, be sure that your bass has not got "neck dive". If it does, this means that you are possibly holding some of the weight of the bass with the fretting hand.
 
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#5
fearceol said:
What exactly do you mean by "proper" ? As "saltydude" says, you need to compromise. A good compromise is to have the body of the bass at about belly button height.

Other helpful suggestions would be to be conscious of whether you are tensing up, without realising it. Try to keep the whole body as relaxed as possible. Playing in front of a mirror helps to show this. Also, look up You Tube for clips on .."Yoga exercises for the shoulders"...pick one or two, and spend five minutes doing them, both before and after playing. Finally, be sure that your bass has not got "neck dive". If it does, this means that you are possibly holding some of the weight of the bass with the fretting hand.
Click to expand...

I'm no expert, but all of this makes sense to me.

Also, you could shave even more weight off of your bass by swapping out bridges, tuners and maybe even drilling out a little under the hood. I know a guy who routed out quite a bit of material under the guard of his P bass. I couldn't hear any difference in tone in before and after recordings.

But before you go to all that trouble, try the other stuff suggested above.
 
#7
fearceol said:
What exactly do you mean by "proper" ? As "saltydude" says, you need to compromise. A good compromise is to have the body of the bass at about belly button height.

Other helpful suggestions would be to be conscious of whether you are tensing up, without realising it. Try to keep the whole body as relaxed as possible. Playing in front of a mirror helps to show this. Also, look up You Tube for clips on .."Yoga exercises for the shoulders"...pick one or two, and spend five minutes doing them, both before and after playing. Finally, be sure that your bass has not got "neck dive". If it does, this means that you are possibly holding some of the weight of the bass with the fretting hand.
Click to expand...

Oh, I forgot to mention. I have experimented with different height. I guess at this point, I should mention that I'm a young lady so obviously wearing my bass really high like a necklace isn't going to work. :p
Right now, the neck plate is near my belly button and I have no comfort issues in that area but I'll look into that more thing along with that shoulder exercise stuff.

What concerns me though is the neck dive part. Can a guitar have subtle neck dive? I do feel more weight pulling from the neck side, is that normal?
 
#8
Here's a quick update. I have practiced for a little while after lowering the height one notch. Instead of above my belly button, the neck plate is on it. Strangely enough, it's helping somewhat. I'm at a point where I would usually be hurting but I'm not. But why would the height affect the shoulder? Isn't it the same weight being put on it regardless?
 
#10
adbass said:
Lowering the bass actually relaxes the angle in your wrist and elbow.

Just because your shoulder is hurting doesn't mean that's where the problem is.
Click to expand...
That's interesting. Why do so many sites and teachers recommend it be so High?

By the way, this is my current wrist angle with the lower height. Does this look good? If so, I've solved half of my problem, the bass isn't getting that much lighter but I can play standing a bit longer now.
 

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#12
I am a huge fan of neoprene straps as I suffered shoulder and back pain at different points of my bass playing life. I tried everything and the neoprene straps were a game changer for me. I won't use anything else. I personally use the Sadowsky brand, but I imagine every other strap manufacturer makes them.
 
#13
Mechayoshi said:
That's interesting. Why do so many sites and teachers recommend it be so High?

By the way, this is my current wrist angle with the lower height. Does this look good? If so, I've solved half of my problem, the bass isn't getting that much lighter but I can play standing a bit longer now.
Click to expand...

The height you wear the bass, like string choice, is a purely personal thing. Experiment a bit more and see what's the most comfortable for you.

Perhaps you should check out this clip about safe left hand technique :

 
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#16
reverse butterflies , shoulder shrugs , squats , core training , all to help support proper posture ...

and out straps might irritate the bursa in the upper shoulder ... which usually means the muscles around it need strengthened and/or stretched ...

or a nerve that comes down from your neck ... neck stretches and some 4 point iso neck exercises ...

when it hurts , poke around your shoulder and neck to see if you can find any other pain trigger points . !
 
#18
I got a Mono Betty strap, because my shoulder gets sore after around 3 hours of practice, even with my lightest bass. The strap helps some, but I still get sore. It's temporary; it goes away about an hour after band practice. So, there may not be an absolute solution, but there are some easy things you can do that will help.
The position and strap height I use when playing has no bearing on my shoulder getting sore...age, however, is definitely a factor. This started when I turned 40!
 
#19
Looks like the exercises are gonna be the solution. Would the neoprene really help though? Like I said, I tried the comfort strap and it wasn't much better than the thick leather strap.

Also eight pounds is an average bass weight, which is why my difficulty in this area surprised me. I was convinced it was 10+ lbs until I got it weighed at a post office. Am I extra weak or something?
 
#20
How do you sling the bass over your shoulder? Some guys go over the picking hand shoulder without going over the neck, some guys go over the neck to the fretting hand shoulder.

I would suggest primarily adjusting your strap, and then playing until you get sore, rest up, lather, rinse and repeat as it were, until you find your sweet spot on strap length.

Too high and your shoulders hurt, too low and your shoulders AND back hurt. Your weight will make a difference, as will other fitness factors.
 

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