ubit Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 It’s been a couple of years since we last played but I remember vividly our last gig. Towards the end my fingers cramped up terribly. I was finding it impossible to keep a constant bassline and was searching for a pic. I see players like Chris Wolstenholme who has amazing stamina. Does anyone else suffer from this and how do you get around it? Is it just constant practice to build up the stamina? Is it lack of salt? Id like to find a way round this. It happened more than once. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lozz196 Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 May well be due to lack of salt, I used to get really bad cramp in my feet and calves, started having a banana and a pack of ready salted crisps every day, plus drinking more water and adding salt into my cooking and it rarely happens nowadays. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BreadBin Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 I get pain across the back of my fretting hand on certain songs, but nothing from my plucking hand. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
la bam Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 (edited) Keeping taking deep breaths. Get some oxygen to your hands. I used to get that and conscious deep breathing really helped. Also, amend the set list so you're not going flat out for 20 mins. But yes, you do need constant practice to build up the stamina as well. Edited February 9, 2019 by la bam 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassfan Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 I’ve had cramp twice in the past couple of years where my forefinger locks up on the neck, very odd, it’s not overly painful but I can’t move or use it.. both times towards the end of a gig about 18months apart. Very odd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 I found my plucking fingers would spasm and it was like I had my fingers crossed 🤞 I physically couldn’t spread them apart. Wierd feeling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted February 9, 2019 Author Share Posted February 9, 2019 45 minutes ago, Lozz196 said: May well be due to lack of salt, I used to get really bad cramp in my feet and calves, started having a banana and a pack of ready salted crisps every day, plus drinking more water and adding salt into my cooking and it rarely happens nowadays. I’m a bit wary of adding more salt to my diet as I’m on medication to lower my blood pressure. I do try to drink as much water as I can. We are not playing at the moment, so it’s all ifs and buts until I can find a job with more regular free time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 We cramp up when we are trying to play faster than our muscles can manage. Practice until you can play without cramping. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikay Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 Bananas! https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/ss/slideshow-muscle-cramps-foods Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
walshy Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 30 minutes ago, ikay said: Bananas! https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/ss/slideshow-muscle-cramps-foods Yep that’s what I do and lots of water, especially before the gig. Helps loads 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coilte Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 I agree with all the suggestions so far. I would add that gentle stretching before you pick up the bass can help to prevent cramp. Three to four minutes is usually enough. A minute or two spent doing the same stretches after playing is a good idea too. Search Youtube for "hand stretches for bas/guitar". 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGreek Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 2 hours ago, ubit said: I’m a bit wary of adding more salt to my diet... I thought that we were supposed to reduce our salt intake??? I don't add salt to my food...In regards cramp I get it if I play for more than an hour or so. I need to read the article above about 'nanas... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-Bay Posted February 9, 2019 Share Posted February 9, 2019 Another vote for Bananas, it has become a bit of an in joke in the band but I never get cramp unlike rehearsals if I am banana free. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinnyman Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 7 hours ago, ikay said: Bananas! https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/ss/slideshow-muscle-cramps-foods I can’t play with a pick so I’d be useless with a banana.... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricky 4000 Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 1 hour ago, Skinnyman said: I can’t play with a pick so I’d be useless with a banana.... Have to tried Brian May's "thrupenny bits"? 😁 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spencer.b Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Make an effort to dig in when you practice and play soft and relax when you gig, you'll still probably play harder on the gig than at home but thinking of it like this helps me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 2 hours ago, spencer.b said: Make an effort to dig in when you practice and play soft and relax when you gig, you'll still probably play harder on the gig than at home but thinking of it like this helps me I always dig in anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 About 15 years ago I had a year's break from playing. When I eventually joined a band, I found my plucking hand regularly cramped up. I bought one of those hand strenthener gizmos, from a sports shop, which i used to build up the muscles in my hands. That did the trick and I've not had any cramps since (although I did end up with carpal tunnel but that's another story). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nikon F Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 (edited) 36 minutes ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said: I thought you'd just shot the pooch ,,,,,,,, Edited February 10, 2019 by nikon F 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bilbo Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I had gig once where I was playing loads of 16th note grooves and, wham, the hand literally seized up. I had to walk across the stage and get a pick of the guitarists amp while it sorted itself out. Not happened since. I guess I hadn't warmed up enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJpullchord Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 Take up classical guitar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubit Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share Posted February 10, 2019 5 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said: A couple of years ago I suffered from cramp like symptoms and ignored them for quite a while. It began effecting my playing significantly as I couldn’t release my fretting hand fast enough to progress through the song. It came to a head at a gig when I found myself having to stop mid song as it was impossible to carry on unless I massaged my hand. The day after the gig my hand locked completely with my ring finger at 90 degrees to my hand. The photo below was one I took at the time. The upshot of this was a referral to a specialist who diagnosed that the hoops that the tendons pass through at each knuckle of each digit had become inflamed and were restricting the tendons from releasing. Cue a load of steroid injections deep into my hand where the finger joins it and a custom splint to prevent that digit flexing. The injections were repeated a few times before a course of physio which thankfully resolved it. If it hadn’t, it would have been surgery to snip the hoop at the base of my finger. @NancyJohnson has been through this several times and I believe it’s more common than you would think Thankfully, contrary to expection, I haven’t suffered a full recurrence, but one thing I have learnt is that wearing a wedding ring on that finger aggravates it immensely. In fact, I haven’t worn it or any other finger bands since. I sincerely hope this has nothing to do with what you’re suffering, but I just thought it worth mentioning for the information of all. That has happened to me too. After the gig it cleared right enough. Only troubled me when playing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger2611 Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 One suggestion that none of the above has covered is stage volume, if I can hear myself properly on stage then I am fine, but on a stage where the monitors are not so good or the acoustics of the stage play havoc with my normal setup then I find myself playing harder, digging in more which soon leads to a feeling that fingers are going to cramp. Another scenario is the dreaded sticky neck syndrome where your hand feels like it is sticking to the back of the neck so you are forced to completely change the way you usually play, this again for me will quickly lead to a feeling that my fingers will cramp....thankfully a quick wipe over the back of the neck with a bit of silicon spray has solved that issue for those lovely midsummer sweaty gigs. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danbowskill Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 I think stage nerves can also effect cramping up 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rogerstodge Posted February 10, 2019 Share Posted February 10, 2019 5 hours ago, nikon F said: I thought you'd just shot the pooch ,,,,,,,, Brilliant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.thumb.jpg.442740a10eb54fffc761a1fbe4286d1d.jpg)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.