So I have been experiencing a pain in my shoulder and upper arm when I play. It starts off as a fatigued feeling almost as if I have been lifting weights but if I continue to play it progresses until it becomes quite painful. If I stop then the pain subsides until I start playing again but if I play through the pain for a while my shoulder might ache for a few hours after (I only did this once, I know it's terrible for me to do this). This mainly happens if I play on the G string for a while (Dragonetti, vomit drills or high octave scales etc...). I thought for a while that it was linked to flexibility but I have been stretching before I play for a few months now and it doesn't seem to be helping. I am about to take a trip to the doctor to have him take a look at it but I am wondering if any of you have had this problem or have any ideas as to what it could be. Thanks.
Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
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 Pain in my right (bowing) arm. Help :(
- Thread starter Anddrew914
- Start date
Which bow do you use? How long is 'a while'?
Basically, it sounds like you've pulled a shoulder or arm muscle and you need to lay off for a while (a week or two) to let it get over the injury. You build strength through slightly tearing the muscle, which releases growth hormones that strengthen the muscle as it heals... but if you keep doing that faster than the muscle can build, you get a muscle that fatigues really fast to protect itself. A rest is in order, and you should probably make sure there's enough protein in your diet. Massage helps this sort of thing by clearing out the lymph system of repair debris (that's the theory, I'm not sure anyone has proved it... but whatever, it works).
Musicians are athletes, bass players more so than most, and a lot of athletic training advice and science applies.
Basically, it sounds like you've pulled a shoulder or arm muscle and you need to lay off for a while (a week or two) to let it get over the injury. You build strength through slightly tearing the muscle, which releases growth hormones that strengthen the muscle as it heals... but if you keep doing that faster than the muscle can build, you get a muscle that fatigues really fast to protect itself. A rest is in order, and you should probably make sure there's enough protein in your diet. Massage helps this sort of thing by clearing out the lymph system of repair debris (that's the theory, I'm not sure anyone has proved it... but whatever, it works).
Musicians are athletes, bass players more so than most, and a lot of athletic training advice and science applies.
Double bass players shouldn't injure themselves playing... If they do then they probably have a technique problem that needs fixing, rather than developing those muscles that become fatigued and injured.
In this case it seems as though you're using too much muscle in your right hand/bowing technique - I don't know what school of playing you come from, but I have always been taught that, in bowing, rather than 'pulling' the bow across the strings forcefully, you need to be relaxing your arm and shoulder completely and using the actual weight of your arm to provide pressure. So, the weight of your arm and shoulder (which is quite alot of weight) needs to be directed into the bow by relaxing 'into' the strings. Forcing the bow across the strings will choke your sound and lead to muscle fatigue and injury, and there is no need for it when volume can be attained by altering the speed of your bow and its relative location to the bridge.
Of course, I am just assuming that this is the issue. But its often the case that soreness is a result of technique issues. I had similar issues with my arm, shoulder and incredible pain in my lower back until I was introduced to Rabbath's ideas on relaxation and so on.
In this case it seems as though you're using too much muscle in your right hand/bowing technique - I don't know what school of playing you come from, but I have always been taught that, in bowing, rather than 'pulling' the bow across the strings forcefully, you need to be relaxing your arm and shoulder completely and using the actual weight of your arm to provide pressure. So, the weight of your arm and shoulder (which is quite alot of weight) needs to be directed into the bow by relaxing 'into' the strings. Forcing the bow across the strings will choke your sound and lead to muscle fatigue and injury, and there is no need for it when volume can be attained by altering the speed of your bow and its relative location to the bridge.
Of course, I am just assuming that this is the issue. But its often the case that soreness is a result of technique issues. I had similar issues with my arm, shoulder and incredible pain in my lower back until I was introduced to Rabbath's ideas on relaxation and so on.
Oh, for sure you shouldn't be so tense that you need to develop muscle (much, anyway). I was just trying to explain where I thought the issue was coming from... badly, it seems. Oh well, can't get it perfect every time.
sorry this is off topic but derob im seeing that you also live in lametown too! is there a reason for you not being in the lametown regional junior youth philharmonic symphony orchestra? were playing very fun repitour this year. our section is all guys and it would be fun to have a girl in the section! i dont use pops rosin because personally i think that dark rosin looks better but would you like to get together and play for eachother on friday from 3:30-4:20? i live off radford, by the in-n-out burger.
That's okay! No, I read your post the wrong way. But the point is valid, and you're right that we need to keep our bodies in shape - I've meet a lot of players who do yoga to keep their bodies and muscles relaxed and in shape.
Another possibikity to explore is the way you are sitting or standing in relation to the bass. The bass should turn in towards your right side keeping an imaginary arrow from your chest pointing towards the bridge. Turning in any more than this will leave a white stripe of rosin on your leg.
The idea is to bring the G string closer to your right shoulder and arm. Then ensure (1) that your bow hold (French?) only turns in far enough to use the right elbow freely in the same direction as the bow movement (your elbow is a hinge joint that only works in one direction) and (2) use no "crane" muscles to hold your arm away from resting on the strings. It does not matter if you cannot see the G string as you play and the arm can approach the string from a lower angle so that you hook down on the string.
DP
The idea is to bring the G string closer to your right shoulder and arm. Then ensure (1) that your bow hold (French?) only turns in far enough to use the right elbow freely in the same direction as the bow movement (your elbow is a hinge joint that only works in one direction) and (2) use no "crane" muscles to hold your arm away from resting on the strings. It does not matter if you cannot see the G string as you play and the arm can approach the string from a lower angle so that you hook down on the string.
DP
