OUCH!! I'm An Idiot ...

mudbean · June 30th, 2008, 11:26 PM

... because I hadn't touched my bass in, like, three weeks (only playing at all in that time was a minute or five of Tele noodling here & there, 'cause she lives on a stand by my desk.) and then had to play in the house rhythm section for a blues jam nite at a local bar - 8 til 12, and bass players rarely come out. Well, the first set was fine, but halfway through the second set, my hands - both of 'em - started cramping. I'd just be playin along and WHAM, they'd just lockup. Not too painful, but I'd suddenly have two clubs with which to lamely attempt to play.

Fortunately, one of my guitar buddies gave me a spell a bit, so I was able to limp through. I'm bogus.

Ga'head ... lemme have it.

mud

boneyguy · June 30th, 2008, 11:33 PM

All those bad notes, all those dead notes, all the missed notes....Hey man that's just your style....that's what I tell people anyway.

I also like to tell people ,"You should have heard what I was trying to play".

Jakedog · June 30th, 2008, 11:34 PM

I feel your pain Mud. I used to play a bunch of bass. Played bass in bands for years before I was confident enough on guitar to make a solid go of it. Even did two national tours as a bassist. There was a time, when I was actually a rather "in demand" bassist. Fast forward many years.

I had not even touched a bass in about ten years until last week. I'd been wanting to buy one for demo recording and such. I stumbled onto a really sweet deal, bought the bass, brought it home, and proceeded to suck like the dickens, and be in lots of pain.

I've been soldiering through, and I am starting to see that my chops will eventually come back. But holy cow. It hurts to go full bore back into it, and it's really hard to back off, because I used to be so good at it. Sucking at it now just makes me mad, and makes me want to play harder to get it back.

Tim Bowen · July 1st, 2008, 12:25 AM

...flock together! Hey brother, I hear you, and you're definitely not an idiot!

Playing bass is a contact sport. The last time I was "the full time bass player" in a project was with a pop rock band in the early-mid 90's; I did regular shows with them for a couple of years, felt pretty decent about my bass work in general, and was in really good physical shape, as to the specific mechanics involved with that instrument.

I did a pickup gig on bass about two years ago. It was a very spirited, high octane blues/blues rock/R&B sort of thing, about an hour and fifteen minute closing set at a club. No rehearsals other than talking through stuff over the phone in advance of the date, and the band was sort of thrown together at the midnight hour to honor a commitment that couldn't be met by one of the musician's regular projects. The drummer happened to be the touring drummer at the time for the band Arrested Development. Trying to keep up with that man's superhuman foot nearly friggin' killed me. Seriously, it took every bit of physicality I had to get through that set. All's well that ends well, I suppose, as the show fortunately came off quite well, but I was seriously hurting the next day.

These days, I do an odd session on bass now and then. I do a couple of covers live with my duo on an Epiphone "El Capitan" acoustic-electric bass. One of the covers is "It's Your Thing" by the Isley Brothers, and I segue into the synth bass lines on P-Funk's "Flashlight" and any other funk riffs that pop into my head over the course of the number. The rub(s): I've always been sort of a snob about playing fingerstyle; none of those bass lines would kick me around if I were working regularly as a bassist; I've had chronic hand and arm health issues for a long time. Long story short - I keep a thick Dunlop tortex pick in my jeans pocket whenever I'm playing bass live. It's a security blanket. I prefer to play fingerstyle, but if the hands are tensing up, screw the fingers, I'll grab that purple pick in a heartbeat.

mudbean · July 1st, 2008, 01:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim Bowen

...flock together! Hey brother, I hear you, and you're definitely not an idiot!

Playing bass is a contact sport.

... I keep a thick Dunlop tortex pick in my jeans pocket whenever I'm playing bass live. It's a security blanket. I prefer to play fingerstyle, but if the hands are tensing up, screw the fingers, I'll grab that purple pick in a heartbeat.

Thanks, man - nice analogy!!

Yeah, since I made the jump to fingerstyle, I've been loathe to go back ... not a bad idea to keep a pick handy, just in case.

It's Your Thing - great song! Used to do that one years ago - Shotgun, too.

I really should make it a point to play at least a bit a few times a week if I'm going to continue this sporadic gigging thing I've allowed myself to slip into.

Wow, Jake! The more I learn about your career, the more impressed I am!

mud

mudbean · July 1st, 2008, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boneyguy

All those bad notes, all those dead notes, all the missed notes....Hey man that's just your style....that's what I tell people anyway.

I also like to tell people ,"You should have heard what I was trying to play".

Hee hee, fortunately, all my buds already know I'm a hack!!

mud

Telenator · July 1st, 2008, 05:36 AM

Have another listen to your sound. Playing bass is often like singing. If the monitors are good, and you don't have to push hard, you can sing well all night. The bass is no different. If you're putting out a good sound with enough presence and volume to fill your spot easily, you can relax when you play instead of spankin' the thing real hard just to be heard in the mix. There's a lot to be said for "relaxing" when you play, especially if you're getting a little older like some of us. Besides, I find that most people play better when they're relaxed. Hope it works out for you.

Tim Armstrong · July 1st, 2008, 05:45 AM

+1 on relaxing! Makes a huge difference!

My worst night, painwise, was one of the few times I tried to play a whole gig on upright bass. Of course, I hadn't been practicing, and I'm sure my technique was probably pretty bad. Talk about PAIN!!! At one point, my right hand went dead on me, seriously just got paralyzed. The experience was so unpleasant that I quit playing upright bass and ended up selling it!

I kinda miss it now...

Cheers, Tim

HoodieMcFoodie · July 1st, 2008, 07:16 AM

Relaxing is a good thing to do! It really helps if the PA you're going through is powerful enough and the sound guy knows what he's doing. We did a gig recently and at the end of the night everyone in the band commented on how fresh they all felt. Even the drummer, who's normally a dripping mess by night's end was relaxed.

I played bass from the early 80's to the mid 90's in cover bands, then gave it away for about six or seven years. The stuff we play these days isn't as technically demanding as stuff I used to play in the old days, but man I miss the chops I used to have.

My nemesis song for hand cramping is "Play That Funky Music, White Boy".

I think we play it a bit fast.

mudbean · July 1st, 2008, 06:32 PM

In the fairly small bars we play at, the only thing in the PA is vox. I play a GK 1001RBII through an SWR Son of Bertha cab - never turn the amp above 3, and if I dime my bass it can blow out the whole room ... I just like to dig in when I play.

Besides, you're all gettin' to know me ... do I sound like a guy that likes to relax?

mud

pengipete · July 1st, 2008, 06:39 PM

You've obviously missed your calling - you were born to be a drummer.

three barrel · July 1st, 2008, 08:53 PM

Yea, a drummer... then he could have cramps in both calves as well!

pengipete · July 1st, 2008, 09:03 PM

"...I'd suddenly have two clubs with which to lamely attempt to play."

Sounds like Ringo to me.

mudbean · July 1st, 2008, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by three barrel

Yea, a drummer... then he could have cramps in both calves as well!

HAR!! That's not a pretty thought (mud pictures himself as a pretzel).

mud

Tim Bowen · July 2nd, 2008, 11:30 PM

Having some headroom to work with, as well as being "relaxed", are indeed factors. However, I don't think either is the panacea for the "sometimes bassist" that will cover you when the material calls for a lot of stamina over the course of a long, physically taxing show, particularly when playing fingerstyle. The only way that I ever felt truly comfortable - all things considered; groove, mechanics, variety of tempos and styles - was to be the working bassist in a regularly working band. I have to be in shape to play bass properly - the way I want to hear and feel it - and much of this has to do with mechanics and stamina.

studebaker hawk · July 3rd, 2008, 01:24 AM

Maybe you weren't playing enough rests?!

CatfishStudios · July 3rd, 2008, 01:47 AM

I went through the same thing... I started on bass at 13..it was my main instrument untill around 23 ... I played basically daily for 4 years in a funk band. Band broke up...I had children and played guitar more and more...few years ago, I picked up the bass again, as I ran into the drummer from the old band...set up a weekly jam..and the second night the index and middle fingers of my right hand were tore up pretty bad from poppin, my right thumb was blistered from slappin, and my left hand was cramped up and useless. Since then, I went out and got a J-bass again, and play it at least every three days or so. Rebuilt those right finger calluses..Guitar is my main instrument now, but bass will always have a place in my heart.

June 30th, 2008, 11:26 PM	#1 (permalink)
mudbean Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal Semi-Desert Semi-Paradise Age: 49 Posts: 1,445	OUCH!! I'm An Idiot ... ... because I hadn't touched my bass in, like, three weeks (only playing at all in that time was a minute or five of Tele noodling here & there, 'cause she lives on a stand by my desk.) and then had to play in the house rhythm section for a blues jam nite at a local bar - 8 til 12, and bass players rarely come out. Well, the first set was fine, but halfway through the second set, my hands - both of 'em - started cramping. I'd just be playin along and WHAM, they'd just lockup. Not too painful, but I'd suddenly have two clubs with which to lamely attempt to play. Fortunately, one of my guitar buddies gave me a spell a bit, so I was able to limp through. I'm bogus. Ga'head ... lemme have it. mud __________________ www.mudbean.com "Do ya want it to be interesting, or do ya want it to be true?" "So far, it's neither."

June 30th, 2008, 11:33 PM	#2 (permalink)
boneyguy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: victoria b.c. Age: 50 Posts: 2,730	All those bad notes, all those dead notes, all the missed notes....Hey man that's just your style....that's what I tell people anyway. I also like to tell people ,"You should have heard what I was trying to play". __________________ "Shut up n' play yer guitar"

June 30th, 2008, 11:34 PM	#3 (permalink)
Jakedog Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Cleveland,OH But my heart's still in TE Posts: 2,985	I feel your pain Mud. I used to play a bunch of bass. Played bass in bands for years before I was confident enough on guitar to make a solid go of it. Even did two national tours as a bassist. There was a time, when I was actually a rather "in demand" bassist. Fast forward many years. I had not even touched a bass in about ten years until last week. I'd been wanting to buy one for demo recording and such. I stumbled onto a really sweet deal, bought the bass, brought it home, and proceeded to suck like the dickens, and be in lots of pain. I've been soldiering through, and I am starting to see that my chops will eventually come back. But holy cow. It hurts to go full bore back into it, and it's really hard to back off, because I used to be so good at it. Sucking at it now just makes me mad, and makes me want to play harder to get it back. __________________ "Them that don't know him won't like him, and them that do sometimes won't know how to take him..."

July 1st, 2008, 12:25 AM	#4 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 47 Posts: 3,232	Idiots of a feather... ...flock together! Hey brother, I hear you, and you're definitely not an idiot! Playing bass is a contact sport. The last time I was "the full time bass player" in a project was with a pop rock band in the early-mid 90's; I did regular shows with them for a couple of years, felt pretty decent about my bass work in general, and was in really good physical shape, as to the specific mechanics involved with that instrument. I did a pickup gig on bass about two years ago. It was a very spirited, high octane blues/blues rock/R&B sort of thing, about an hour and fifteen minute closing set at a club. No rehearsals other than talking through stuff over the phone in advance of the date, and the band was sort of thrown together at the midnight hour to honor a commitment that couldn't be met by one of the musician's regular projects. The drummer happened to be the touring drummer at the time for the band Arrested Development. Trying to keep up with that man's superhuman foot nearly friggin' killed me. Seriously, it took every bit of physicality I had to get through that set. All's well that ends well, I suppose, as the show fortunately came off quite well, but I was seriously hurting the next day. These days, I do an odd session on bass now and then. I do a couple of covers live with my duo on an Epiphone "El Capitan" acoustic-electric bass. One of the covers is "It's Your Thing" by the Isley Brothers, and I segue into the synth bass lines on P-Funk's "Flashlight" and any other funk riffs that pop into my head over the course of the number. The rub(s): I've always been sort of a snob about playing fingerstyle; none of those bass lines would kick me around if I were working regularly as a bassist; I've had chronic hand and arm health issues for a long time. Long story short - I keep a thick Dunlop tortex pick in my jeans pocket whenever I'm playing bass live. It's a security blanket. I prefer to play fingerstyle, but if the hands are tensing up, screw the fingers, I'll grab that purple pick in a heartbeat. __________________ "Everyone is different in how they learn, but for me, it's turning the pegs and just playing." - BB

July 1st, 2008, 05:36 AM	#7 (permalink)
Telenator Friend of Leo's Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Connecticut Posts: 4,478	Have another listen to your sound. Playing bass is often like singing. If the monitors are good, and you don't have to push hard, you can sing well all night. The bass is no different. If you're putting out a good sound with enough presence and volume to fill your spot easily, you can relax when you play instead of spankin' the thing real hard just to be heard in the mix. There's a lot to be said for "relaxing" when you play, especially if you're getting a little older like some of us. Besides, I find that most people play better when they're relaxed. Hope it works out for you. __________________ Dogs have the right idea!

July 1st, 2008, 05:45 AM	#8 (permalink)
Tim Armstrong Moderator Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Berlin, Maryland, USA Age: 49 Posts: 8,915	+1 on relaxing! Makes a huge difference! My worst night, painwise, was one of the few times I tried to play a whole gig on upright bass. Of course, I hadn't been practicing, and I'm sure my technique was probably pretty bad. Talk about PAIN!!! At one point, my right hand went dead on me, seriously just got paralyzed. The experience was so unpleasant that I quit playing upright bass and ended up selling it! I kinda miss it now... Cheers, Tim __________________ http://www.moodswingers.org

July 1st, 2008, 07:16 AM	#9 (permalink)
HoodieMcFoodie Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sydney, Australia Age: 46 Posts: 147	Relaxing is a good thing to do! It really helps if the PA you're going through is powerful enough and the sound guy knows what he's doing. We did a gig recently and at the end of the night everyone in the band commented on how fresh they all felt. Even the drummer, who's normally a dripping mess by night's end was relaxed. I played bass from the early 80's to the mid 90's in cover bands, then gave it away for about six or seven years. The stuff we play these days isn't as technically demanding as stuff I used to play in the old days, but man I miss the chops I used to have. My nemesis song for hand cramping is "Play That Funky Music, White Boy". I think we play it a bit fast.

July 1st, 2008, 06:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
mudbean Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: SoCal Semi-Desert Semi-Paradise Age: 49 Posts: 1,445	In the fairly small bars we play at, the only thing in the PA is vox. I play a GK 1001RBII through an SWR Son of Bertha cab - never turn the amp above 3, and if I dime my bass it can blow out the whole room ... I just like to dig in when I play. Besides, you're all gettin' to know me ... do I sound like a guy that likes to relax? mud __________________ www.mudbean.com "Do ya want it to be interesting, or do ya want it to be true?" "So far, it's neither."

July 1st, 2008, 06:39 PM	#11 (permalink)
pengipete Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gloucester U.K. Age: 47 Posts: 1,131	You've obviously missed your calling - you were born to be a drummer.

July 1st, 2008, 08:53 PM	#12 (permalink)
three barrel Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2007 Location: Wichita, KS Age: 53 Posts: 119	Yea, a drummer... then he could have cramps in both calves as well!

July 1st, 2008, 09:03 PM	#13 (permalink)
pengipete Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Gloucester U.K. Age: 47 Posts: 1,131	"...I'd suddenly have two clubs with which to lamely attempt to play." Sounds like Ringo to me.

July 2nd, 2008, 11:30 PM	#15 (permalink)
Tim Bowen Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Atlanta, Georgia Age: 47 Posts: 3,232	Having some headroom to work with, as well as being "relaxed", are indeed factors. However, I don't think either is the panacea for the "sometimes bassist" that will cover you when the material calls for a lot of stamina over the course of a long, physically taxing show, particularly when playing fingerstyle. The only way that I ever felt truly comfortable - all things considered; groove, mechanics, variety of tempos and styles - was to be the working bassist in a regularly working band. I have to be in shape to play bass properly - the way I want to hear and feel it - and much of this has to do with mechanics and stamina. __________________ "Everyone is different in how they learn, but for me, it's turning the pegs and just playing." - BB

July 3rd, 2008, 01:24 AM	#16 (permalink)
studebaker hawk Tele-Meister Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 165	Maybe you weren't playing enough rests?!

July 3rd, 2008, 01:47 AM	#17 (permalink)
CatfishStudios Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Portland, Oregon , United States Age: 33 Posts: 727	I went through the same thing... I started on bass at 13..it was my main instrument untill around 23 ... I played basically daily for 4 years in a funk band. Band broke up...I had children and played guitar more and more...few years ago, I picked up the bass again, as I ran into the drummer from the old band...set up a weekly jam..and the second night the index and middle fingers of my right hand were tore up pretty bad from poppin, my right thumb was blistered from slappin, and my left hand was cramped up and useless. Since then, I went out and got a J-bass again, and play it at least every three days or so. Rebuilt those right finger calluses..Guitar is my main instrument now, but bass will always have a place in my heart.