Right, I power chord occasionally, I like more complex chords more. I weAr my bass high too, and my wrist bends a lot, it's never hurt or anything, but I'm worried about the long run
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Question about chords
- Thread starter I Need a six...
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Everyone's hand physiology is a little different, and partly, I think a player has to listen to what your hands tell you, as far as comfort. My fingers aren't sausages, so I tend to lean toward my finger pads more than my tips. That alone, for me, tends to kink my wrist less for some chords, but it's not good finger position for more complex chords like you're doing. I tend to steer clear of big bass chords, mostly just the 1-5-8 power chords, the 10ths with finger tips more so, and major, minor thirds, fourths on my D & G strings. So you're aiming at something more complex that probably demands more of your wrist in general.
One thing that you're probably already aware of is not applying more finger pressure than you need. I think over doing it can take more of a toll over time. -- Another thing that I've learned from classical guitar is to often not fret notes that you're not using. If you're not just doing full strums with your chords, and maybe arpeggiating, you can consider letting up a little on the notes you don't need as you play to give your tendons a break in between the notes. --- I also, like most everybody, let my thumb migrate around and behind the neck, not sticking to what I've read as being "proper" with the thumb perpendicular to the back of the neck all the time. That just doesn't work for my hand build or size. Your milage may vary.
Take the time to listen to your hands, there's a lot to be said for being relaxed when playing, and not being any more aggressive than necessary. Over playing WILL kill your hands.
Case in point: I was playing for a music video, miming to the album track, bass unamplified. We must've run the track 20 times on the first day of shoot and (it was a metal tune) I started the "performance" with a lot of physical energy for the metal vibe (leaping about, minor head bangs, exaggerating playing for the visual effect) - keeping that up had me playing really hard unplugged to hear and keep my parts in sync to the track. The next day, my wrist was shot, couldn't even pick up a quart of milk. We had another day of shoot, and fortunately, the videographer's assistant knew trigger point therapy and fixed me - (it was a minor miracle). Point being, over playing to hear some bass - spurred on by miming to the track, was a case in point for economy of movement and only playing as hard as you need to, something much easier when amplified, of course. (I don't play hard like that normally, it was all for the video theatrics only.)
Be sure you're not over doing it in general, and that will likely add to your longevity. Low action and a lighter touch might help. Otherwise, I think it's probably impossible to chord with a lot of diversity and not bend your wrist. As long as you're not hyper-extending anything too aggressively. Maybe think of your hands and fingers like your heart - it beats your whole life, non-stop - but always rests between beats
One thing that you're probably already aware of is not applying more finger pressure than you need. I think over doing it can take more of a toll over time. -- Another thing that I've learned from classical guitar is to often not fret notes that you're not using. If you're not just doing full strums with your chords, and maybe arpeggiating, you can consider letting up a little on the notes you don't need as you play to give your tendons a break in between the notes. --- I also, like most everybody, let my thumb migrate around and behind the neck, not sticking to what I've read as being "proper" with the thumb perpendicular to the back of the neck all the time. That just doesn't work for my hand build or size. Your milage may vary.
Take the time to listen to your hands, there's a lot to be said for being relaxed when playing, and not being any more aggressive than necessary. Over playing WILL kill your hands.
Case in point: I was playing for a music video, miming to the album track, bass unamplified. We must've run the track 20 times on the first day of shoot and (it was a metal tune) I started the "performance" with a lot of physical energy for the metal vibe (leaping about, minor head bangs, exaggerating playing for the visual effect) - keeping that up had me playing really hard unplugged to hear and keep my parts in sync to the track. The next day, my wrist was shot, couldn't even pick up a quart of milk. We had another day of shoot, and fortunately, the videographer's assistant knew trigger point therapy and fixed me - (it was a minor miracle). Point being, over playing to hear some bass - spurred on by miming to the track, was a case in point for economy of movement and only playing as hard as you need to, something much easier when amplified, of course. (I don't play hard like that normally, it was all for the video theatrics only.)
Be sure you're not over doing it in general, and that will likely add to your longevity. Low action and a lighter touch might help. Otherwise, I think it's probably impossible to chord with a lot of diversity and not bend your wrist. As long as you're not hyper-extending anything too aggressively. Maybe think of your hands and fingers like your heart - it beats your whole life, non-stop - but always rests between beats
Right on man, thanks! I have a light touch( it helps when you play faster) and have never had an issue with hyper extending anything(I'm assuming you mean over stretching not actual hyper extending ) so I'm pretty sure Im not going to strain anythingEveryone's hand physiology is a little different, and partly, I think a player has to listen to what your hands tell you, as far as comfort. My fingers aren't sausages, so I tend to lean toward my finger pads more than my tips. That alone, for me, tends to kink my wrist less for some chords, but it's not good finger position for more complex chords like you're doing. I tend to steer clear of big bass chords, mostly just the 1-5-8 power chords, the 10ths with finger tips more so, and major, minor thirds, fourths on my D & G strings. So you're aiming at something more complex that probably demands more of your wrist in general.
One thing that you're probably already aware of is not applying more finger pressure than you need. I think over doing it can take more of a toll over time. -- Another thing that I've learned from classical guitar is to often not fret notes that you're not using. If you're not just doing full strums with your chords, and maybe arpeggiating, you can consider letting up a little on the notes you don't need as you play to give your tendons a break in between the notes. --- I also, like most everybody, let my thumb migrate around and behind the neck, not sticking to what I've read as being "proper" with the thumb perpendicular to the back of the neck all the time. That just doesn't work for my hand build or size. Your milage may vary.
Take the time to listen to your hands, there's a lot to be said for being relaxed when playing, and not being any more aggressive than necessary. Over playing WILL kill your hands.
Case in point: I was playing for a music video, miming to the album track, bass unamplified. We must've run the track 20 times on the first day of shoot and (it was a metal tune) I started the "performance" with a lot of physical energy for the metal vibe (leaping about, minor head bangs, exaggerating playing for the visual effect) - keeping that up had me playing really hard unplugged to hear and keep my parts in sync to the track. The next day, my wrist was shot, couldn't even pick up a quart of milk. We had another day of shoot, and fortunately, the videographer's assistant knew trigger point therapy and fixed me - (it was a minor miracle). Point being, over playing to hear some bass - spurred on by miming to the track, was a case in point for economy of movement and only playing as hard as you need to, something much easier when amplified, of course. (I don't play hard like that normally, it was all for the video theatrics only.)
Be sure you're not over doing it in general, and that will likely add to your longevity. Low action and a lighter touch might help. Otherwise, I think it's probably impossible to chord with a lot of diversity and not bend your wrist. As long as you're not hyper-extending anything too aggressively. Maybe think of your hands and fingers like your heart - it beats your whole life, non-stop - but always rests between beats
It's so strange. Its like concentratin on ya hands but ya feelin th grove an ya diggin on th bounce and ya hittin on that feel and then actually fret a chord and hell breaks loose so ya grab that mitch lika old friend that just costya bunch n fk'n squeeeeeze...........right?
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Sounds more like incompetence than grace. By this philosophy, we wouldn't have lead bass players. Chords are just as valid on our instrument as they are on the treble counterpart - just as long as we're not talking about something that really contorts the hand, e.g. some spider chords. CAGED can be transposed across the neck just fine - just keep the chords in the upper registers. Bass chords, below 5th fret, are muddy and indiscernible.
Looking at the photos in post #4.
1) The neck is angled away from your body - try moving the headstock closer to your left shoulder.
2) Drop your left shoulder. No, it doesn't LOOK like it's raised, but this is a solution I found helps my left wrist stay straight.
1) The neck is angled away from your body - try moving the headstock closer to your left shoulder.
2) Drop your left shoulder. No, it doesn't LOOK like it's raised, but this is a solution I found helps my left wrist stay straight.
Yes-depending on chords and position on the neck...and the bass you are using.
It's a sad fact that as I get older, the joints in my hand and wrist ache more than before. I can still play everything. I just have to deal with the pain.
I think your thumb is in the wrong spot. You should keep your thumb centered. As if it is pushing into your middle or ring fingers. Lift the neck up higher. Try putting the bass on your left leg (if you're a righty), sort of like classical guitar position. It sets up your fret hand for a much more comfortable position. Then center your thumb into the hand. Not behind the index finger, and not parallel to the neck.
Strongly disagree with this statement. I get best results when my thumb does NOT cross over my index finger. 27 years of injury free playing and counting...
