Preventing the "claw"

[pkstone]

We had a wonderful gig on Friday night at a winery in the Sierra foothills. The backdrop was spectacular, the temperature was perfect, the crowd was happy and dancing their butts off, and we sounded pretty damn good.

About 3/4 of the way through, we played a song with a relentless bassline by an obscure little band called "War". (Hint: it was "Low Rider"). I got through it just fine, despite the extended "jam" my guitarist likes to take on it, but on the next song, I got the dreaded "claw". I not only got it in my fretting hand, but later on, I got in in my plucking fingers, too.

I've had this debilitating cramp before, so I've learned to stay hydrated, and in fact, drink Gatorade, because I've heard that lack of potassium can strongly contribute to cramps. I think that maybe in a gig situation, I may squeeze harder when fretting, and pluck a little stronger, too. But are there any other technique-related things, or perhaps strengthening exercises I can do to avoid this?

There's little worse than feeling like an alien has control of your hand when you're on stage.

 

[RoadRanger]

Dilute that Gatoraid 50% or alternate it with water - it's too strong otherwise. Eat a banana morning of. If a capo would let you use more open notes on that song, do it. Make sure your nut slots are cut deep enough. Learn the floating thumb technique. Use lighter strings. Turn up and play lighter. In no particular order .

 

[pkstone]

Thanks for the excellent suggestions, RoadRanger. I'm good on at least two of them (floating thumb, banana) but will work on the others. I'm also thinking maybe we should put "Low Rider" at the end of a set!

 

[walterw]

do you have either wrist bent, like left wrist folded up chuck berry-style or right wrist folded down over the side of the bass (AKA the "chicken wing")?

that's a big source of physical issues, along with just using too much force with either hand.

 

[Bodeanly]

Turn up and play lighter.

This.

As you've described the backdrop, I'm assuming it was an outdoor gig? One thing I've noticed is that, unless using IEM, playing outdoors requires more volume than indoors, thus requiring you to play harder if you do not turn up, thus resulting in cramps.

 

[thewildest]

Turn up and play lighter. In no particular order .

+1, the right advice, right here.

A follow up note, is how to get to control a lighter touch; while a by-product of the idea, bringing the action very low and using a ramp has on itself helped me taking it easier....If you were to pluck the strings too energetically, you'd sound like crap. The solution then is to place your hands perpendicularly to the strings and pluck more efficiently, so the strings vibrate alongside the fretboard (instead of against it and buzzing all over the place).

 

[pkstone]

This.

As you've described the backdrop, I'm assuming it was an outdoor gig? One thing I've noticed is that, unless using IEM, playing outdoors requires more volume than indoors, thus requiring you to play harder if you do not turn up, thus resulting in cramps.

You're right, it tends to be an outdoors gig when it happens, but I always just attributed that to the extra heat we deal with outdoors around here.

The problem with all the "turn up" suggestions is that I'm always at loggerheads with my drummer about my volume. He sings as well as drums, so he finds the bass distracting (great, huh? Most drummers *want* to hear the bass). I'll try putting some extra in my monitor to see if that helps.

 

[electracoyote]

When my hands start to get tired and at risk for cramping, I have developed a way of intentionally relaxing my hands between notes every chance I can. Those tiny rests between notes help a lot.

 

[pkstone]

do you have either wrist bent, like left wrist folded up chuck berry-style or right wrist folded down over the side of the bass (AKA the "chicken wing")?

that's a big source of physical issues, along with just using too much force with either hand.

I think I've got pretty good technique with no real bad habits. It's just that practice doesn't match the intensity (or longevity, generally) of a gig, so I wonder if it's just an endurance issue. I'm 56, so I also worry about all that getting old stuff. My nightmare is having something happen to my hands where I can't play anymore.

 

[pkstone]

When my hands start to get tired and at risk for cramping, I have developed a way of intentionally relaxing my hands between notes every chance I can. Those tiny rests between notes help a lot.

Sounds like a really good idea. Now I just have to insert some rests into "Low Rider".

 

[electracoyote]

Sounds like a really good idea. Now I just have to insert some rests into "Low Rider".

There are spaces between the notes on "Low Rider." And it does work better on some songs than others. The point is, conserve energy when you can, don't stay flexed up throughout entire songs. Then when something more demanding comes along you'll be relatively fresh.

 

[Robroy]

Thanks for the excellent suggestions, RoadRanger. I'm good on at least two of them (floating thumb, banana) but will work on the others. I'm also thinking maybe we should put "Low Rider" at the end of a set!

I really hate playing that song. It's actually a workout and an endurance test to see how steady and constant you can be for 5-8 minutes.

I don't get the claw often, but I had no idea you could do something about it. For me it is my fretting pinky that simply stops functioning. I'll try the banana and more water.

 

[Bodeanly]

You're right, it tends to be an outdoors gig when it happens, but I always just attributed that to the extra heat we deal with outdoors around here.

The problem with all the "turn up" suggestions is that I'm always at loggerheads with my drummer about my volume. He sings as well as drums, so he finds the bass distracting (great, huh? Most drummers *want* to hear the bass). I'll try putting some extra in my monitor to see if that helps.

If you're turning up and playing lighter, the drummer shouldn't notice any difference in volume.

 

[pkstone]

If you're turning up and playing lighter, the drummer shouldn't notice any difference in volume.

Yes, in theory. In reality, I'm suddenly enjoying a little extra dynamic range.

 

[electracoyote]

I used to play "Low Rider" a lot, but it's been awhile. So just for you OP I dug a bass out and played it to refresh my memory.

I found I could play that minor walk in at least three distinctly different patterns, one of which utilized open strings. In doing so, it forced the fingers of both hands to pluck and fret differently.

Point being, finding variations in the pattern that requires different approaches might also alleviate the repetitive motion that can bring on cramps.

 

[pkstone]

I used to play "Low Rider" a lot, but it's been awhile. So just for you OP I dug a bass out and played it to refresh my memory.

I found I could play that minor walk in three distinctly different patterns, one of which utilized open strings. In doing so, it forced the fingers of both hands to pluck and fret differently.

Point being, finding variations in the pattern that requires different approaches might also alleviate the repetitive motion that can bring on cramps.

Thanks for the extra effort, ec! I started out playing the line with open strings, but found I didn't articulate it as well as I liked -- tended to not lock as well with the drummer. That song is so much about the lock, too. I will reconsider alternate fingerings, though, thanks.

 

[electracoyote]

Thanks for the extra effort, ec! I started out playing the line with open strings, but found I didn't articulate it as well as I liked -- tended to not lock as well with the drummer. That song is so much about the lock, too. I will reconsider alternate patterns, though, thanks.

Right, it can affect the tonal output. But even if you use it sparingly it could alleviate cramps. Worth a try.

I've definitely been where you were and hit the wall a few times. Changing the pattern was the only way I got through it.

 

[lz4005]

Make sure your nut slots are cut deep enough.

This is a huge, but way too often overlooked, factor.
Most basses have way too much clearance over the 1st fret from the factory. Getting the nut slots down so there's no more clearance over the 1st fret when playing an open note than there is over the 2nd when fretting at the 1st is part of good setup.
It makes a massive difference in how hard you have to press down when playing the money notes in the first 3 frets.

 

[DavC]

magnesium helps muscles relax also ...

when watching some piano finger exercises with Jordan Rudess ... gotta relax and shake things out when cramp up ... breath

 

[Susqmike]

I used to get crippling leg cramps (as i used to play synth with a Roland MIDI foot controller). Potassium alone didn't help. Neither did Gatorade. The biggest thing that helped me was a magnesium supplement. I'd check that out...especially if you smoke any funny stuff... Also-I'm a big advocate of warming up!!...