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shredding my fingers and wrists!

M

Mikeee

Aug 29, 2009
1
0
Australia
#1
Hey guys, I've played bass for years but been taking it a little more seriously the last 6 months. I tried out with this funk band and it seemed to work really well, they asked me to play with them.

However in playing with them, my fingers are pretty ****ed up. We were playing longer (and also I was playing harder than usual? I think I need more volume so i dont have to play the strings as hard or something) than I usually do. My callouses on my right hand have turned a bit jelly. Just on my middle finger actually.

Also, I was playing some pretty fast moving funk for like 10 minutes straight, and my right hand fingers and wrist were ****ing killing from fatigue.

Does anyone have some advice for me around callouses and how to build hand stamina in my hand/wrist?

ta!
 
#3
Marty Forrer said:
Stop playing so damn hard! Most top players play with a low action and play quite softly. Not only is this easier on your hands but yeilds a better tone and enables the use of dynamics in your playing, eg: digging in a little for a fill you want to stand out a bit.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Turn up the amp, lower your action (if necessary), and allow the amp to do the bulk of the work.

Also, if you're not absolutely certain of the following, consult a local pro and make sure you're playing with the best possible technique. And if you're not, then fix it!

The goal is to be as physically relaxed as possible while playing. It makes everything sound better. And if feels so much better too.

Anytime there is stress, fatigue and/or pain, it means your technique is off the mark. And that you're probably overworking your hands and/or forearms in order to compensate... :eyebrow:

MM

P.S. Don't worry about building callouses. They will develop as quickly and extensively as necessary in order to cope with the frequency and intensity of your playing...
 

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