my hands are sore as #*%@

[ccrnnr9]

Okay I don't mean this to come off as a complaint as I am having fun, but is it normal that my hands (especially my fretting hand) are sore as sh*t after playing a lot today? I am on my second week of playing and had my first lesson today and my teacher basically corrected all my "technique" noting that almost nothing I was doing my with fretting hand was right.

I have been practicing and really trying to do everything as he says (he was recomended by many locals here as the best in the state and many TDPRIer's say the same) however I find my hands/wrist so sore/weak. Again, not complaining, just trying to make sure his method isn't outdated or something. All the talk I hear around here about the ease of injuring your fretting hand or doing some long term damage in terms of tendons or the fear carpal tunnels syndrome makes me a bit apprehensive...but for now I continue to practice as I wait for a response.
~Nick

[edhead]

I would say if your hand were not sore, you weren't doing it right.

I still feel it if I take a week off of playing bass.

[morroben]

Seeing as it's only your second week, I'd expect it's okay. Probably just working some new muscles and stretching some new joints, not to mention the skin wear. Carpel tunnel and the tendon issues are repetitive motion issues that usually take a long time to develop. What you're dealing with is probably more akin to being sore after starting a new workout routine after not exercising for a while.

[geoff_in_nc]

Where in your hands is it sore? Fingertips? Carpal tunnel area? Palm? That differentiation could make a big difference as to whether or not you're potentially doing yourself damage.

[bingy]

Playing the bass is a lot of work.
If you are just learning, don't over do it.

[broadcaster]

I remember the first two weeks of Army basic training, my muscles where very sore. Your brain is saying - go, but your body - no. Take it a bit slower and you will get use to it.

[ccrnnr9]

Originally Posted by geoff_in_nc

Where in your hands is it sore? Fingertips? Carpal tunnel area? Palm? That differentiation could make a big difference as to whether or not you're potentially doing yourself damage.

I guess most of the soreness is in my left (fretting) hand. If you were to look at my palm it would be most of the palm near my thumb where that muscle (whatever it is called) is located. I'm also sore in between every finger. My teacher has me use all 4 fingers which I am not used to. I am used to avoiding the use of the ring finger (which seems to be a hot topic I know!). There is a little bit of wrist soreness although I am trying to stay conscious of having no more than a 45* bend at the wrist...any more than that and he says I am causing trouble for myself.

I think it is more just discomfort from being new to things. I mean yesterday was my first day practicing with this COMPLETELY new technique to me and I did so for close to 2 hours (with occasional breaks). Hopefully that is the only cause. Maybe if after 2 weeks of daily practice for an hour or more I'm still having "pain" I'll check back. I still am a bit worried that i shouldn't be using my ring finger and that my wrist is too bent at times.

I agree with the comment above. I think bass is a lot more physical work than guitar in that it takes a lot more strength (I mean this purely physically not meant as a bash on the guitar or guitarists).
~Nick

[tom grossheider]

You're young, but still take it easy and don't over do it. Stretch your hands and forearm muscles before you start playing. It won't take long to get used to it. After playing for a while I no longer have trouble operating the clutch lever on my old Harley in traffic jams.....

[mattdean4130]

You are probly just getting used to stretching your hand. It will come, just don't overdo it at the start!

[Tim Armstrong]

I've had occasional hand soreness from gripping too hard. It really doesn't take that much pressure to cleanly fret the strings on most basses. Try relaxing your fretting hand a little bit and see if that doesn't help a little bit.

Tim

[marshman]

It's a focus of your new technique, and you're really working on that, and the concentration is probably making you grip really hard...relaxation will come with experience.

There's also the reality of doing new things with old muscles--again, your body should adjust to the new actions just fine.

[ccrnnr9]

Ya that's what I hope. I just find my pinky and thumb especially weak after an hour or less of practice. I have to sit down and shake it out, take a drink, and start again. It is nice how much faster I am picking this up than I ever did with guitar. I also find that I hear the bass lines so much better now that Ive been playing for just two weeks than I did before.
~Nick

[Bluesbob]

Originally Posted by ccrnnr9

I also find that I hear the bass lines so much better now that Ive been playing for just two weeks than I did before.
~Nick

Well then, you must be a bass player!