Upright (bass)--yike!

Subject: RE: Upright (bass)--yike!
From: Melissa
Date: 14 Nov 10 - 03:03 PM

I have the back edge of the side leaning against my left-front and have found a sturdy balance position. I don't imagine I'll manage to get it turned so I'm more behind than beside because I will not want my right forearm banging against the front edge. I do not like damaged ulnar nerves at all.
I'm not sure the arm clamping thing was an entirely bad idea..it taught my right hand to stay where I wanted it instead of flapping around, and I outgrew needing the security of holding it that way fairly quickly.

Peg Adjustment
If I have the bass laying in front of me with the spike pointing toward my body, which way do I need to turn the wingnut thingy (it's not a wing but I can't think of the right word) to loosen it? Mine is very tight and I don't want to turn it wrong.
It's pretty short already but could go down a little bit more.

So far, I'm having a hard time coordinating my hands. Dancing will come when my partner isn't such a stranger to me.

Barbara,
Is there any place I should NOT feel my muscles getting a workout?
My fingers are in good shape (only managed about 1.5h yesterday) but the rest of me can tell I've been doing something unexpected. My neck doesn't hurt, but from there to my seat cushion I can tell that I'm glad my arm didn't have enough stamina to play longer.

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Upright (bass)--yike!
From: Barbara Shaw
Date: 14 Nov 10 - 04:17 PM

I stand more around to the side so I can sometimes look at the strings I'm playing. And I often hunch over the neck with my ear closer to the strings so I can get into the groove better or something, not planned but I often find myself there.

With the peg pointing to you, the thingy (I don't know what it's called either) should turn away from you. If the bass is on it's side with the peg pointing to your right and the neck pointing to your left, it would be RIGHTY TIGHTY and LEFTY LOOSEY.

An hour and a half is a long time for a beginner. Play for awhile until you start to get achey then rest for awhile then play again. My left hand is usually the first thing to feel the pain because I don't play enough to develop any strength in my left arm or hand. I have had it cramp up on me during a song when the key requires everything in closed position (pressing down on a string with the left hand). Those are the times when (in the key of E for e.g. I just hit the open E string rather than play E closed on the D string and pray for an A to come along!

I don't know about anything else hurting, although I do know bass players (mostly women) who have had left shoulder surgery. Rest and short, frequent practices will gradually develop the strength and stamina to go longer. This is all theory for me because I jump into a jam when we're desperate for a bass and play until it hurts, and then don't play bass for months! (If you want to know about guitar or fiddle pains, see me again...)

Subject: RE: Upright (bass)--yike!
From: Melissa
Date: 14 Nov 10 - 07:27 PM

My weasel-arm didn't allow more than 5-10 minutes at a time until around bednight when I didn't have any problem doing about 40m. I imagine I'll be doing short episodes for a while.
Taking care of an aggravatingly wimpy arm ought to keep my from overworking any other body part.

Now I won't be nervous about putting a little more strength to that screw thingy! I had myself horrified at the idea that I might tighten it enough to spin the wingy-part off and if I did that, I know I'd never admit it..which would mean it would never get shortened.

I bet I am going to get really tired of Soldier's Joy before long...