Oh no - I'm beginning to get pain in my rhomboids!

[julietgreen]

That's the muscle that lies between the shoulder blade and the spine, in case you weren't sure!

 

I've been playing dB for a couple of years now and this is new. I'm playing more than I used to, because I'm now in a band and am practising more! I don't think I'm doing anything particularly wrong -though I must be. It seems to be just the action of the left hand is causing this. I'm as relaxed as I can be. I don't hold up my elbow to play. I use the weight of the arm. I'm not holding the bass tightly etc. I don't want this to become a thing that stops me from playing.

 

Anyone had this and overcome it?

 

J

[Beedster]

Yes! Mine was the result of keeping amplification volume low to avoid feedback and therefore having to dig in with both hands - increasing muscle tension around the shoulders as I did - just to be heard. The fact that you're now in a band sounds awfully familiar. Advice, make sure you are able to hear yourself and to be heard without you having to do anything different from what you'd do practicing at home. Plenty of folks on here will advise re how that can be done 👍

[Burns-bass]

I don’t want to patronise you, but a lesson can help if you’re worried abkht technique 

 

The other thing that has helped me is going to the gym. Working on my core has improved my posture which has, to a great extent, eliminated strain from my back.

[Owen]

Are you sitting or standing to play?

[julietgreen]

15 minutes ago, Owen said:

Are you sitting or standing to play?

Standing. I haven't tried sitting yet. 

[julietgreen]

4 hours ago, Burns-bass said:

I don’t want to patronise you, but a lesson can help if you’re worried abkht technique 

 

The other thing that has helped me is going to the gym. Working on my core has improved my posture which has, to a great extent, eliminated strain from my back.

I guess it's always a good idea to have some lessons. I do also work on core strength. It's weird that this is a new thing. 

[julietgreen]

4 hours ago, Beedster said:

Yes! Mine was the result of keeping amplification volume low to avoid feedback and therefore having to dig in with both hands - increasing muscle tension around the shoulders as I did - just to be heard. The fact that you're now in a band sounds awfully familiar. Advice, make sure you are able to hear yourself and to be heard without you having to do anything different from what you'd do practicing at home. Plenty of folks on here will advise re how that can be done 👍

You could be on to something here. I'm getting it practising at home so no amp. I'll try some amplification and see if it helps. 

[Owen]

I must admit, I am all for an elbow that is up when playing standing. I could show you lots of pictures of me being too lazy to do it, but if I am doing any kind of "proper" playing requiring dexterity, then a dropped elbow (for me) puts all sorts of strain on my wrist and forearm. I know you are experiencing pain elsewhere but bodies are funny things and will telegraph pain from different places while they try and compensate. Keeping things in balance is imperative (maaan!). I would reccomend standing in a room with an experienced teacher. It is entirely possible that you have zero interest in playing the Bach unaccompanied 'cello suites at pitch so do not need to be paying top whack for years to come. One or maybe two lessons will give you the physical pointers you need. 

[NickA]

May not be the bass playing. I had a right hand issue that only appeared when playing a 5 string electric bass.  Turned out to be a ulna nerve problem from the way I used a computer track pad 😂.

 

Does it go away if you take a few days break from playing?

 

But yes I did have that rhomboid pain thing ( along with pins and needles in my fingering hand) .  Maybe not from bass playing, maybe more from too low a work desk... Many hours of "postural realignment" with a variety of physios, none of which worked much till one of them found a single exercise that did the trick. ( Lie on front arms by sides, raise arms, still parallel to your body, pushing shoulder blades together, relax, repeat) it tenses all the muscle fibres then allows them all to relax together and also strengthens the rhomboid muscles so they're not over stressed by whatever you were doing to annoy them.

[ezbass]

I’ve had tight rhomboids for ages, it’s a chronic condition. Don’t know what started it. I maintain mobility and comfort by rolling on a foam yoga roller and visits to an osteopath. Go see a physio or osteopath.

[julietgreen]

19 hours ago, NickA said:

May not be the bass playing. I had a right hand issue that only appeared when playing a 5 string electric bass.  Turned out to be a ulna nerve problem from the way I used a computer track pad 😂.

 

Does it go away if you take a few days break from playing?

 

But yes I did have that rhomboid pain thing ( along with pins and needles in my fingering hand) .  Maybe not from bass playing, maybe more from too low a work desk... Many hours of "postural realignment" with a variety of physios, none of which worked much till one of them found a single exercise that did the trick. ( Lie on front arms by sides, raise arms, still parallel to your body, pushing shoulder blades together, relax, repeat) it tenses all the muscle fibres then allows them all to relax together and also strengthens the rhomboid muscles so they're not over stressed by whatever you were doing to annoy them.

This is true. It hurts when I start playing bass, but it could be typing at the computer or even looking at the phone too much that has triggered it!

[julietgreen]

Thanks people for the advice. I followed some of it and I also started consciously working on pulling my shoulders back and making sure I don't drop my chin down whilst doing the things - typing, looking at screens etc. And whilst playing. I just ran through a set with minimal discomfort, so I think I might be on the right lines. I also booked a physio. I 'sledded' down the stairs about a year ago on my back (unintentionally) and that can't have helped!