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  • Still Strangling

    Even though I've been playing for some time now, I still can't get completely past the problem of strangling the neck of my bass. Try as I might, I can't stop my grip from getting tighter and tighter as I progress through a practice session or song. I think it might be partially due to practicing at too quick a tempo. In an effort to keep proper time, I start gripping harder and harder, until I feel like something's going to break - either the neck or the bones in my hand!

    True, it demonstrates I have hand strength, but it's not hand strength in a GOOD way.

    Anybody else have problems with strangling the neck of your bass? What do you do to relax your muscles? Play more slowly in your practice sessions? Pay more attention to the hand tension with every song? Focus more on technique instead of perfect timing?

    I know, I know. Practice MORE, right?
    Comments 7 Comments
    1. TobiasMan's Avatar
      TobiasMan -
      When you find your fretting hand getting tight, stop, flex your fingers and relax before proceeding. Try playing a bit without your thumb on the back of the neck. You'll discover that it doesn't take a lot of pressure to fret the strings at all. Much of your fretting pressure should actually come from the large muscles in your upper arm/back because you simply apply gentle pulling pressure against the fretboard. The thumb is there basically for pivoting and anchouring your hand. Those large muscles do not tire nearly as quickly as do the muscles in your hand and when you learn to use them, you'll find you can play for more extended periods without tiring.
    1. line6bassman's Avatar
      line6bassman -
      It's called arthritis.... Heeeee!!!! Heeee!!! Lol!! I know not funny...
    1. Elmeaux's Avatar
      Elmeaux -
      Quote Originally Posted by line6bassman View Post
      It's called arthritis.... Heeeee!!!! Heeee!!! Lol!! I know not funny...
      Creek, crack, pop...

      Who, me?

      Snap, pop... Groan...
    1. Elmeaux's Avatar
      Elmeaux -
      Quote Originally Posted by TobiasMan View Post
      When you find your fretting hand getting tight, stop, flex your fingers and relax before proceeding. Try playing a bit without your thumb on the back of the neck. You'll discover that it doesn't take a lot of pressure to fret the strings at all. Much of your fretting pressure should actually come from the large muscles in your upper arm/back because you simply apply gentle pulling pressure against the fretboard. The thumb is there basically for pivoting and anchouring your hand. Those large muscles do not tire nearly as quickly as do the muscles in your hand and when you learn to use them, you'll find you can play for more extended periods without tiring.
      Pretty good ideas here... I also want to make sure to use Lane's suggestion of washing/soaking my hands in hot water before playing. He says it limbers things up big time.
    1. DaveB's Avatar
      DaveB -
      If you're tensing up, just remember to breath.
    1. brian_primrose's Avatar
      brian_primrose -
      Good morning, Elmeaux. +1 to what TM and the others have said.

      I have been thinking about your post for a bit, and I wonder if two key phrases are “too quick a tempo” and “perfect time”. I wonder if the combination of the two is not causing a certain level of performance anxiety. The result, at least in me, is an automatic stiffening up. After a point, it is all downhill as the tense muscles start to accumulate lactic acid and cramp up even more.

      I suggest that you stretch the muscles both before and after your sessions. Then, start slowly, whatever the piece is. When it is up to your liking, (how good is good enough is an endless debate), then increase the speed in small increments. Before you do though, check you fretting hand. Are all the fingers relaxed? Are the fingers starting to fly off the fret board? If things are not all OK, then relax and try a bit slower. I leave the metronome out at this stage as the anticipation of the click can, on a piece that I thing is a bit beyond me, cause me to tense up. Hmm..Maybe I should start drinking before practice sessions??? But I digress. Once things are going well, all nice and relaxed, then go to getting it in time. One trick I read is to turn the volume of you metronome down to the point that you can only hear it if you are off slightly.

      Good luck. Brian.
    1. Elmeaux's Avatar
      Elmeaux -
      Thanks, Dave and Brian. Every bit of advice helps! I agree that the desire to perform well is a big part of things. It creates emotional tension which creates physical tension. One of the reasons I wouldn't do well performing for others.

      I'm working on my relaxation!
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