Thoughts on switching to lefty? (Arthritis in left wrist)

[Ville Basse]

Hello,
So, the X-rays confirm I have arthritis in my left wrist (old skiing injury). It hurts to play so I'm thinking of switching to lefty. I'm not very far into the bass journey so it's not like I would be leaving behind years of practicing and playing. I normally play in the beginner group of a local amateur concert band.
Ideally, I'd find a way to manage the pain or work around so it doesn't hurt. The pain comes from flexing the wrist to play further up the neck (past the 5th fret). I booked an assessment with a physiotherapist. In the meantime, I'm open to suggestions.

As an experiment, I rented a lefty Fender Player P and at first it was a complete brain cramp. Now plucking with the left isn't so bad but it's not unconscious and automatic. The right hand, that's another story. I don't have a feel for the position of my hand on the neck and where my fingers land w.r.t. the frets, and coordinating the fretting with the plucking requires serious concentration. My ring finger and pinkie need to get stronger to eliminate buzzing.

Thanks in advance

 

[Dadum]

Bummer. Sorry to hear about it. You are though answering the question on why right handers don’t fret with their right hand. Your long term progress will answer that question.

On fretting, some teachers probably know better but have you tried to position the neck almost vertically and then tried to move your forearm to move your hand? If you add a support post like double basses have, it may help you get into a good position. Then your wrist doesn’t move so much. Just guessing…

Maybe ask the question in the DB side of the forum. They may have insight.

For an experiment, wear a wrist brace so your wrist is straight, put the bass in a regular guitar stand (so it’s vertical) and use your left knee to support it.

 

[Groove Doctor]

There’s several ways to play with a straight wrist:

Neck at 45° is good.
Wear the bass higher.
I keep a straight wrist, and curl my fingers.
You can mute with straight fingers bend 90° at the knuckles.

Play around with modifying the strap to have the bass in non-standard positions.

 

[Dadum]

I think people have in the past recommended lower action, thinner strings and practicing using the minimum pressure to fret a note.

 

[Ville Basse]

Good suggestions, all. I feel a bit foolish for asking medical advice on the internet, but this is a good forum.
I'll keep experimenting. Another suggestion I read somewhere is to position it like a classical guitar, more vertical. I really like the basses I have and would hate to let them go. Also, lefties are hard to find!

 

[Zooberwerx]

Would you do better with a more ergonomic "righty" like a 30" scale instrument?

Riis

 

[Ville Basse]

I think people have in the past recommended lower action, thinner strings and practicing using the minimum pressure to fret a note.

Very practical approach!

Would you do better with a more ergonomic "righty" like a 30" scale instrument?

Not sure, the problem is worse when my hand is further toward the bridge, past the 5th fret.

 

[Ville Basse]

There’s several ways to play with a straight wrist:

Neck at 45° is good.
Wear the bass higher.
I keep a straight wrist, and curl my fingers.
You can mute with straight fingers bend 90° at the knuckles.

Play around with modifying the strap to have the bass in non-standard positions.

Also very practical! Thanks

 

[chris_b]

Smaller, short scale bass. Better position, more upright.

Maybe one of the Gruv Gear double straps DuoStrap Signature

 

[Zooberwerx]

Very practical approach!


Not sure, the problem is worse when my hand is further toward the bridge, past the 5th fret.

Well, that challenges conventional wisdom. Silly as it sounds, take your bass to the appt. This will also garner additional sympathy and compassion when he / she realizes you're a bass player. I always ask my clients "show me what's right...show me what's wrong".

Riis

 

[g-dude]

I’d work on adapting your style so that you do not bend your wrist - throw a brace on and see how you adapt to that.

Also, if you go to a six string, then you don’t necessarily need to go high as often.

 

[Ville Basse]

Silly as it sounds, take your bass to the appt. This will also garner additional sympathy and compassion when he / she realizes you're a bass player.

I'm not too proud to play the sympathy card.

 

[Groove Doctor]

Well, that challenges conventional wisdom. Silly as it sounds, take your bass to the appt. This will also garner additional sympathy and compassion when he / she realizes you're a bass player. I always ask my clients "show me what's right...show me what's wrong".

Riis

+1. I’ve had patients bring in all sorts of musical instruments, sports equipment, etc.

I’d work on adapting your style so that you do not bend your wrist - throw a brace on and see how you adapt to that..

+1. A tight bandage might also work. You just need enough pressure to remind you to keep the wrist straight.

Also - try magnets in a wrist strap/brace for extra pain relief. I used to wear one off-stage when I was doing 2-3 gigs each weekend. Neoprene brace helps keep the area warm & supports the joint. It really helped.
Also used Menthol spray to soothe the wrist/shoulder when sore.

 

[Bobb Nagel]

I have arthritis in my left hand too. After an injection (that the doc said might last 6 months) and a few weeks with a physical therapist, I have very little noticeable pain when playing. This was about a year and a half ago now. If it starts to get painful I refer back to what I learned from the PT. Squeezing a tennis ball between the thumb and middle finger helps a lot. It exercises the muscles surrounding/supporting the arthritic joint. Good luck with this.

 

[porterbass]

My S.O. had terrible arthritis in her thumb joints. She's been taking this for at least 8-10 years and it has helped enormously to the point where she has very little pain now. She's a fantastic tennis player so she needed this to grip the racket without pain.

Link Removed

 

[Slevage]

I’ve always worn my bass very high.
In my earlier days, chest high.
Now, my belt buckle can barely scratch the bottom of my instrument.
I never felt at home with a bent wrist. This transferred nicely to EUB and DB.
I suggest repositioning your bass, rather than leaning lefty.

 

[thewildest]

Excellent advice from everyone here; on the other hand (no pun intended) I’ve always believed that switching hands to write, or play an instrument, would be an excellent brain exercise. I also think one would play differently even mastering both ways equally.

If ever you take this route, I’d be very curious about the outcome on the long run.

 

[11-11]

right [or left lol]
guitar is my main instrument and on the face of it 99% of the time i play bass right handed and guitar left handed
[weird i know] I'm probably planning to swap bass over to 99% left handed as well as soon as funds allow me to get a suitable lefty.
i did the swap on guitar in the mid 90s and wish i had done so on bass at the same time
although to a degree im glad ive retained a small amount of playing both ways ocassionally [by well doing it ocassionaly]
ive got serious coordination issues with both hands due to autistic spectrum dissorder
but with enough effort some people can make the swap
i do know a few people who play lefty but are right handed due to various injuries
so you wouldnt be the first
i think someone above suggested classical position and maybe researching neck profiles

 

[DavidG]

Learning to play lefty seems like a big hill to climb.
I'm not a rheumatologist but all the advice to try a short scale bass and hold it higher to change your wrist angle makes sense. Steve Swallow almost holds his bass at his chin!
Bringing a bass to your next therapy appointment makes sense as well. You and your therapist can adjust your mechanics to see if it alleviates your pain.

 

[wysiwyg248]

Lefty who plays right handed here, my recommendation is to work with your Dr. on alleviating the arthritis, PT should help as playing with your bass in a higher position. This will alleviate the efforts you need to put in your wrist muscles and nerves. Learning to play left handed requires a lot of dedication.