Playing with tendonitis

[mmmmmmmmm]

Hi,

I was playing pretty much every day for 4-5 hours a day over the summer and as much as I can now that school has started and have developed mild tendonitis in my thumb (I play primarily slap). I was wondering if you guys had any tips on technique that will still allow me to play while giving my thumb a break so it can heal. Playing bass is really my only hobby, so losing that would really suck!

 

[rufus.K]

I thought you joined a band called "Tendonitis ", or your band was opening for them. ....playing with Tendonitis. If that was the case, I'd hope the opening band was "Tinnitus ". Great bill right there.

If it's your slapping thumb that's the issue, stop slapping.

 

[mmmmmmmmm]

I thought you joined a band called "Tendonitis ", or you band was opening for them. ....playing with Tendonitis. If that was the case, I'd hope the opening band was "Tinnitus ". Great bill right there.

If it's your slapping thumb that's the issue, stop slapping.

Hehe, yeah, that would be a funny bill (sounds like a horror punk setlist, almost...)...

As for the technique, I was wondering if there was a different way of anchoring my hand even when just playing fingerstyle so that there would be minimal or no stress placed on that joint. I couldn't really play slap right now even if I wanted to (ow!)

 

[Lobster11]

Captain Obvious here to suggest playing fingerstyle instead. Specifically, you might want to try the "floating thumb" technique, in which your thumb literally doesn't do anything except lay there:

 

[mmmmmmmmm]

Captain Obvious here to suggest playing fingerstyle instead. Specifically, you might want to try the "floating thumb" technique, in which your thumb literally doesn't do anything except lay there:

Thanks! I'll watch that video when I get home

 

[Mushroo]

4-5 hours a day is a lot.

One suggestion is to break up your practice schedule to include music-practice activities that don't require having a bass in your hands. Here is a partial list of non-bass practice ideas that will make you a better musician, without over-working your thumb: theory, ear training, transcription, sight-singing, rhythm exercises, chord/harmony studies, songwriting, arranging, dabbling in piano/guitar/drums, etc.

 

[Lobster11]

Thanks! I'll watch that video when I get home

Sounds good. I must've hit "Post Reply" at the same instant that you posted your previous message, in which you asked "if there was a different way of anchoring my hand even when just playing fingerstyle so that there would be minimal or no stress placed on that joint." The floating-thumb technique should be exactly what you're looking for -- plus it has numerous other advantages over anchoring the thumb in regard to muting and ergonomics. Check out the video and lemme know what you think.

@Mushroo has some great advice too (as usual).

 

[mmmmmmmmm]

4-5 hours a day is a lot.

One suggestion is to break up your practice schedule to include music-practice activities that don't require having a bass in your hands. Here is a partial list of non-bass practice ideas that will make you a better musician, without over-working your thumb: theory, ear training, transcription, sight-singing, rhythm exercises, chord/harmony studies, songwriting, arranging, dabbling in piano/guitar/drums, etc.

Wow! Great advice! Thanks!

 

[mmmmmmmmm]

Sounds good. I must've hit "Post Reply" at the same instant that you posted your previous message, in which you asked "if there was a different way of anchoring my hand even when just playing fingerstyle so that there would be minimal or no stress placed on that joint." The floating-thumb technique should be exactly what you're looking for -- plus it has numerous other advantages over anchoring the thumb in regard to muting and ergonomics. Check out the video and lemme know what you think.

@Mushroo has some great advice too (as usual).

It's funny how the universe works sometimes, isn't it? I'll check back in after I watch the video.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Float that thumb, man.

 

[micguy]

My suggestion is to get yourself some much lighter strings. I had a decade off from playing due to an issue in my Carpal Tunnel, and can't really get around the fact that some of my style is (at times) bouncing strings off frets. Through a combination of low action, and very light strings (35/50/70/95 - a well balanced set of gauges), I can get my sound without nearly as much stress on my joints. Yes, you have to buy individual strings to do this, and they're a bit more expensive, but compared to hand surgery and being crippled with arthritis when you're old, they're cheap.
I hear that a lot of slappers adopt light gauges for this very reason - you wouldn't be the first, or a wimp for doing this.

The thumb joints you're having issues with are the first ones to wear out in humans - apparently the fact that the thumb is outnumbered 4 to 1 by the fingers on the hand puts it at a distinct disadvantage. Add to that thumb texting and bass slapping, and you really need to think about how to protect those joints, so you can have usable hands when you get older.

 

[lfmn16]

If you don't let it heal, it will become permanent and will haunt you for your entire life. You can't "trick" your body.

 

[mmmmmmmmm]

My suggestion is to get yourself some much lighter strings. I had a decade off from playing due to an issue in my Carpal Tunnel, and can't really get around the fact that some of my style is (at times) bouncing strings off frets. Through a combination of low action, and very light strings (35/50/70/95 - a well balanced set of gauges), I can get my sound without nearly as much stress on my joints. Yes, you have to buy individual strings to do this, and they're a bit more expensive, but compared to hand surgery and being crippled with arthritis when you're old, they're cheap.
I hear that a lot of slappers adopt light gauges for this very reason - you wouldn't be the first, or a wimp for doing this.

The thumb joints you're having issues with are the first ones to wear out in humans - apparently the fact that the thumb is outnumbered 4 to 1 by the fingers on the hand puts it at a distinct disadvantage. Add to that thumb texting and bass slapping, and you really need to think about how to protect those joints, so you can have usable hands when you get older.

Yeah... I was thinking about this. The strings I have on my 5er are a much lighter gauge (the G string is probably 2/3 the gauge as the one on my 4) and I don't feel nearly the amount of stress on my hands on that as I do on my Jazz.

 

[interp]

Patient: It hurts when I do this.
Doctor: Don’t do that.

 

[micguy]

Yeah... I was thinking about this. The strings I have on my 5er are a much lighter gauge (the G string is probably 2/3 the gauge as the one on my 4) and I don't feel nearly the amount of stress on my hands on that as I do on my Jazz.

Precisely. You have issues because you're hitting things hard. You need to figure out how to do things so you don't have to hit so hard - softer strings, lower action, and proper technique (making sure you hand isn't twisted in an unnatural position) are where you need to focus. Some string manufacturers publish tension charts for their strings - study these, and look for combinations that give you even low, but tension across strings - you want all the strings to be as light as you can and still control things. You will probably need to adjust to lighter strings - you may be clumsier for a while. Don't give up - it's worth a period of adjustment to be able to play when you're older.

 

[mmmmmmmmm]

Precisely. You have issues because you're hitting things hard. You need to figure out how to do things so you don't have to hit so hard - softer strings, lower action, and proper technique (making sure you hand isn't twisted in an unnatural position) are where you need to focus. Some string manufacturers publish tension charts for their strings - study these, and look for combinations that give you even low, but tension across strings - you want all the strings to be as light as you can and still control things. You will probably need to adjust to lighter strings - you may be clumsier for a while. Don't give up - it's worth a period of adjustment to be able to play when you're older.

Thanks for the advice! This is why I love TB- everyone I've encountered, for the most part, is really nice and helpful

 

[micguy]

Thanks for the advice! This is why I love TB- everyone I've encountered, for the most part, is really nice and helpful

You're welcome. Hope you have a long healthy musical career!

 

[mmmmmmmmm]

You're welcome. Hope you have a long healthy musical career!

Thank you!

 

[Lobster11]

I agree with all the suggestions about ways to avoid hitting so hard, but I think it would be a good idea to give your thumb a month or two off and let it heal first. That is, work on your floating-thumb fingerstyle technique for a while, and when you eventually go back to slapping you can work on doing it more "gently" from the get-go.

 

[onosson]

My suggestion is to get yourself some much lighter strings. I had a decade off from playing due to an issue in my Carpal Tunnel, and can't really get around the fact that some of my style is (at times) bouncing strings off frets. Through a combination of low action, and very light strings (35/50/70/95 - a well balanced set of gauges), I can get my sound without nearly as much stress on my joints. Yes, you have to buy individual strings to do this, and they're a bit more expensive, but compared to hand surgery and being crippled with arthritis when you're old, they're cheap.
I hear that a lot of slappers adopt light gauges for this very reason - you wouldn't be the first, or a wimp for doing this.

The thumb joints you're having issues with are the first ones to wear out in humans - apparently the fact that the thumb is outnumbered 4 to 1 by the fingers on the hand puts it at a distinct disadvantage. Add to that thumb texting and bass slapping, and you really need to think about how to protect those joints, so you can have usable hands when you get older.

I'll second this recommendation. I've gone to an even lighter set of custom strings than this: 30/40/65/75. I use a set of "Super Light Gauge" Chromes (40/65/75/90), add a separate high C 30 gauge, eliminate the E string and then tune everything down 5 frets - if you have a neck that can be set up very straight, this works and the Chromes are not excessively floppy.

I started getting sensations that felt like carpal tunnel in the 1990s when I was touring heavily, and dedicated myself to changing my technique to prevent it. I deliberately play with an extremely light touch, turn my amp up, and use a compressor (with pretty light settings) to smooth things out.

I will just finish by saying that while changing your equipment and settings absolutely help, the key to dealing with this is totally in your hands, no pun intended! Change your playing style first and foremost - the changes you make to your gear are just to accommodate that new style and get the sound that you want.