Tips for hand cramp?

Hey all,

I stopped playing bass for a couple of years and am now getting back into it. One problem I had when playing before was my right hand would cramp up completely on me sometimes. Once this happened at a gig and I had the worst time.

Have you guys any tips on preventing said cramp? I tend to play very fast and very rocky.

Ta.

artvandulet

maybe?

Demeyes

Your right hand cramping up is probably due to technique. You won't cramp up if you keep your hand relaxed, try to keep it from tensing up as much as possible. When practising, if you feel it tensing up then stop and try and relax your hand and maybe make little adjustments to your technique. I'm guessing you play with a pick? You don't need a death grip on it, some people will hold it too hard when they play faster and that will make your hand cramp a little more too.
It might help too if you do some warm up exercises and stretch your hand out before you play.

Rigsby

Demeyes wrote: »

It might help too if you do some warm up exercises and stretch your hand out before you play.

+ 100.

Before and after you play, take about five minutes to do gentle stretches ( check You Tube for clips on this). Also make sure you are taking in plenty of fluids, as dehydration can be a factor. More info here, and even more if you search the site.



http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=634078&highlight=stretching+exercises

Sandvich

Your hand should always be inclined very slightly upwards from your wrist. Try to make it go "Limp" and it'll feel uncomfortable.

It's bad for your wrist to play wide necks for this reason. I had to quit playing my 7 string.

Stretch your arm out to the side before playing with your wrist up as far as it'll go.

gotBass

1. warm up - if you are in a hurry to a gig and don't have a lot of time, one trick is to put the car heater on hot and get hands moving in the warm air - this works great.
2. relax the hands - common mistake for people is that the brace themselves to go faster but in effect just press harder on the strings than is neccessary.
3. Strap height, most players I know have strap at an unsuitable height for the style of music they are playing. rocker types can "get away" with low slung bass a plec ( depending of course on the specific rock type music). if you are playing something a bit more demanding where you stretch across more frets etc. low strap can cause excessive stresses across the back of your hands.
4. you are only getting back into it so build up to playing faster, if there is a tune in your set that is very demanding , then perhaps push it to later in the setlist.

zafo

Already mentioned but I;d second both dehydration and holding the pick too tight. They both seem to be the main causes of hand cramp for me.