I have a pain in my... hand1

What kind of bow?
Do you have a teacher?

 

First I'll steer you to my Double Bass Links Page - http://www.urbbob.com/basslink.html and suggest you look under the Musicians Health section, which has some musician-specific sites that center on concerns like you describe.

Second I'll ask if your teacher has been consulted about this-- and I'm assuming you have a teacher who is a bass, or at least, string specialist, not a general music teacher (director). Someone knowledgeable needs to look at your technique- it sounds like you're working far too hard at arco or doing something wrong- it shouldn't be that much of a strain!

 

I found myself unable to accommodate even the finest French grip bow, and I always ended up aching. I switched to German. My personality improved.

 

Absolute Ditto!! Unfortunately, here in the culture bastion Oklahoma City, there is not a single bass teacher (at least one who is decent) who plays German bow primarily. I make do with a good teacher who knows some about German bow....

Monte

 

So that explains it. I changed from German to French bow when I started noticing shoulder pain. The pain left my shoulder but now I'm just a pain in the ass.

Mark

 

I've spoken to a number of bass players that were good with the Stick'O Pain and played French. Almost without exception they said that if they had it to do over again, knowing what they know, 'would they start on French again', and 'nope' was the answer. I started on German and have decided to stay -- after about 4 mos. of trying to get the French bow together.

Another opinion that seems universal is that the minuses of German contrasted with French can be overcome, where you can never really get French up to where you have the power/stamina/lack of physical ailments that German offers.

 

I've got two words for anyone who says you can't get around with a German bow: Gary Karr.
On the other hand, Karr thinks you should have experience with both.

 

Am I to understand that a German bow can cause physical ailments in the sholder?

I noticed after a long practice the back side of my sholder will hurt a little.

 

2 words
Sounds Like Slam Stewart
oh wait yea Slam Stewart: jazz w/bow
Mike Moore: Jazz w/bow
Rufus Reid: Jazz w/bow
Ray Brown and his Superbass clan: jazz w/bow

I started the same way wanted to play mostly jazz but now that bow is in hand I can't stop using it.

 

You'd have never known.

 

It wouldn't be too savvy to dismiss the bow. It's part of the instrument -- essential for getting your intonation together.

 

I have experinced a lot of pain, I had tendonitis in the past, is very important to stretch, stretch your fingers hold'em for about 20 seconds, there is a lot of tension in our hands that need to be released, you could also visit a chiropractor, I had my wrist and every bone in my hand checked and that a big relief, my chiropractor even showed me few things that I can do on my own, also if you feel any pain try to soak your hand in cold water and stop playing, when the pain is gone you can do the stretches, what helps a lot is to strech under warm water, good luck, take good care of your hands now, there is still time.

 

You have alot to learn about bass.
You have alot to learn about jazz.

 

I wouldn't necessarily stretch without guidance either. If you're experiencing pain (other than cramps, for which the French bow is famous), see a doctor. I found that when I was dealing with my tendonitis that stretching did me no good at all as my connective tissue is on the long side (the doc, of course, had some kind of intractable term for this) and stretching would only aggravate things.