Left shoulder feels awkward and unnatural

[bassist0981234]

Hello,
when I play on the lower frets, my left shoulder feels really awkward and I experience discomfort. I’ll share some photos—please let me know what adjustments I should make, as I currently can’t comfortably play on the lower frets for a three-minute song if needed.

For your information, in the pictures I’m using two different thumb placements—one in a “claw” position and the other with my thumb pointing toward the head stock.

 

[HardNHeavy]

looks normal to me...any injuries in the past?......did you just start playing?..how heavy is the bass, adjust the strap or maybe some simple shoulder exercises.

 

[bholder]

Me too - degenerative arthritis with bone spurs in both shoulders - plus rotator cuffs shredded. Just lovely.

 

[Chris Chong]

looks ok to me.

 

[DanAdams]

extending the top horn with a spacer and longer screw will make the reach shorter.
also I've seen people relocated the back button higher up the edge of the bass, closer to the top of the contour to help with the reach-issue many players encounter.
This was a lower straplock design choice I made to help with the reach.

 

[pbass2]

I expect you have already, but try wearing the bass at different angles--every pic you show has it at the same degree of angle. Try wearing the bass at different heights. Try having it positioned differently across your torso - pointing "out" more, vs totally parallel across your chest. There's no one "right" way, every body is different. A really small change to one of these things can make a big difference. Try to loosen up, don't worry so much about a specific thumb position and all that for now. Just play however it feels OK and assess what your body is doing. How is it when you play seated? Work on your overall flexibility--your back, your posture, etc, try to open up your chest and shoulders.

 

[ashtray]

You can try different strap lengths to see if that helps. Also relax your shoulder, and loosen your elbow. Your elbow needs to move close to your body and away, depending on where you are playing on the neck and which string you are playing. Your left thumb should move around as well.

If playing the lower frets is just uncomfortable, but the higher frets feel fine, then you might want to try a shorter scale bass.

Let me go grab my bass…

 

[sawzalot]

It looks to me like you might be shrugging your shoulder a tiny bit, which can get very uncomfortable over time. Early on I had to really focus on keeping my shoulder relaxed and just letting the bass hang on it. Also try holding the bass so the headstock is a little lower and see if that makes a difference. Also try shifting the balance of the bass so your left arm/headstock is a little closer to your body and the bridge is a little farther away from your body can help—basically make it so you don’t have to hold your left arm out so far away from your body when playing those lower frets. Or, shift the bass so the body is more on your hip and the headstock is a little more in front of your body. Try all of these and see if any of them work for you.

 

[RattleSnack]

That bass is a bit high, and angle is a bit steep, so you have to reach heigher then it is neccesary.
Bass height should be idealy as when you sit and it leans on your right leg (so a little lower then now). For me, neck plate is just above my belly button. Angle is very subjective, but I would advise to go a little bit closer to horizontal.
Combination of those two will help you keep your shoulder relaxed, as you won't need to raise you hand as high.

 

[ashtray]

So, I just looked. When I’m playing around the 1-3 frets, my elbow is tucked closer to my body, and my hand is angled to the neck. Like if reaching out to hold hands with someone, but the receiving hand pose. When I play notes on the E string, my hand rotates and my elbow moves out. But notes on the G string, my elbow is tucked and my hand is at more of an angle.

As I move up the fretboard, my elbow moves backwards - as in, toward the wall behind me.

Everything should feel relaxed and loose.

 

[Lionel Albert]

I used to have this kind of problem and then I bought a 5 string bass.
It resolved it a bit but I think it was coming from my posture.
I had also gotten a tennis elbow from playing the bass guitar.

 

[wysiwyg248]

Here are my 2 cents:
How long ago the discomfort started?
Does it go away when you stop playing or can you recreate it by moving your arm/wrist?
I'd gather this information and schedule a visit with a Dr. experienced in ergonomics to address your issue.

As reference, here is a Jim Stinnett video playing at similar angle as you do but much higher which keeps a straight arm-wrist line.

 

[bass.slinger]

Something that helps me is to raise both shoulders as far as I can get them (like a shrug) with my arms in playing position, breathe in deeply, then lower / release them (shoulders) while fully exhaling. This makes sure my shoulders are not tense.

 

[ErikP.Bass]

Some may scoff as Scott but he hit on an important point that really resonated with me with respect to playing posture. Watch this VIDEO and pay attention to when he talks about being in a box and the angle of the bass viewed from above.

In your photos it seems the plane of the bass is the same (read paralell) as that of your torso/chest….I did this and unfortunately still do at times (old habits die hard) but modifying it according to the guidance on the video really helped me.

It does seem that the bass may be a bit high too as others have noted but I’d bet where your elbow is relative to your body and the angle (or lack thereof) of the bass is more of a factor.

Also THIS is a weighty article but gets into some things that are good to consider…scapular dyskinesia is no joke. Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[mambo4]

I suggest you fiddle with the strap length and angle simultaneously until you find your comfort zone
Everyone has their preferences, avoid taking any specific suggestion as a rule, keep exploring.

I just strapped on and checked
I angle the neck and set the strap length so that the nut is below my shoulder
your nut is placed quite high in comparison to my preference

I do NOT position the bass to be the same sitting or standing, it's not an absolute rule.
I stand, and adjust the strap length and neck angle
until both hands reach where they need to with out a lot of wrist bending or arm/shoulder strain

Also be sure you aren't holding the neck in position with muscles. it shoudl just rest correctly

 

[mambo4]

As reference, here is a Jim Stinnett

I never noticed how unlike my preference Jim's posture is.
Jim certainly knew his stuff better than I, I have no doubt it worked for him.
He is usually sitting in those (excellent) videos

Just goes to show how everybody needs to find their own happy place

 

[wysiwyg248]

I never noticed how unlike my preference Jim's posture is.
Jim certainly knew his stuff better than I, I have no doubt it worked for him.
He is usually sitting in those (excellent) videos

Just goes to show how everybody needs to find their own happy place

Exactly, I noticed that keeping a straight arm-wrist line works for me after seeing Jim's videos (can't remember who in this forum pointed this).
As the opposite of Jim, I'd put Tommy Stinson, which is IMHO the personification of a Rock & Roll bass player.
He keeps the instrument very low, but the arm-wrist line is still straight.
Different stroked for different folks.

 

[_Some Dude]

The general trend I've noticed is that those with shoulder problems tend to wear the bass too high.

If you spend most of your time playing in the bottom 5 frets, choose a position that's relaxed in the bottom 5 frets. If you spend most of your time noodling in the middle, choose a position that's relaxed when you're noodling in the middle.

 

[pbass2]

I do NOT position the bass to be the same sitting or standing, it's not an absolute rule.

Me neither. In fact, I also have basses I wear at slightly different heights/angles depending on their geometry.
And, I admit it, I wear my bass lower for rock gigs than I do for my soul funk or country gigs!

 

[Ric Vice]

My 35” Lakland 55-94 posed a problem for me. I’ve partially solved the issue with the Duo Strap from Gruv Gear. Previously I used a McIntosh Double Comfort strap. My arm length is probably better suited to a 34” scale 5 string. Lakland’s don’t usually come in 34” Scales. When they do they’re pretty rare or quite expensive.