Fat Fingers

[Greydad]

In my 8 weeks so far of playing double bass my right index (plucking finger) has become noticeably larger than my left index finger

Is this normal for a double bass player? Or is something going horribly wrong?

Callouses I expected: physical enlargement of my limbs and extremities as a consequence of the move from electric bass has never been mentioned here.

What else can I expect? Will my right arm lengthen until my knuckle scrape along the ground? Do I have to switch to playing lefty for a while to even things up?



Neil

[ZMech]

look on the bright side, your finger is probably now strong enough to kill someone with a flick.

[fretmeister]

You married?

[bassace]

Yes, mine is, but that's a few decades later.

[Greydad]

[quote name='bassace' post='826586' date='May 3 2010, 04:30 PM']Yes, mine is, but that's a few decades later.[/quote]

Mine will be about the size of me arm in a few decades at this rate...

[marvin spangles]

[quote name='Greydad' post='825629' date='May 2 2010, 04:46 PM']In my 8 weeks so far of playing double bass my right index (plucking finger) has become noticeably larger than my left index finger

Is this normal for a double bass player? Or is something going horribly wrong?

Callouses I expected: physical enlargement of my limbs and extremities as a consequence of the move from electric bass has never been mentioned here.

What else can I expect? Will my right arm lengthen until my knuckle scrape along the ground? Do I have to switch to playing lefty for a while to even things up?



Neil[/quote]

doesn't sound right to me. Do you suffer any pain when you pluck the strings.

[Greydad]

[quote name='marvin spangles' post='826613' date='May 3 2010, 05:10 PM']doesn't sound right to me. Do you suffer any pain when you pluck the strings.[/quote]

Nope, not at all - it's just become pretty beefy. Feels like muscle, just a bit surprised it's so noticeable. I have been playing a lot though.

[Greydad]

[quote name='fretmeister' post='826201' date='May 3 2010, 09:07 AM']You married?[/quote]

Yes. She does seem to have become unusually cheerful since I took up double bass, but I put that down to the fact I'm now out of the house playing most nights...

[Paul_C]

[quote name='Greydad' post='826632' date='May 3 2010, 05:25 PM']Nope, not at all - it's just become pretty beefy. Feels like muscle, just a bit surprised it's so noticeable. I have been playing a lot though.[/quote]

you don't have muscles in your fingers

[fretmeister]

[quote name='Paul_C' post='826682' date='May 3 2010, 06:23 PM']you don't have muscles in your fingers

[/quote]



+1


If there is a bulking up then it is swelling / inflamation related. Get it checked.

[Greydad]

I appreciate that, but none of the things I've diligently researched so far describes it - there's no movement restriction, pain or tenderness. I have played a lot this last three days so I may well have just overcooked it. I'll be resting it for a few days anyway so I'll see how it goes - if it stays the same I'll pop in and see the doc.

[TPJ]

I have sausages for fingers anyway so I didn't notice any enlargement except for the tip of my little finger on my left hand.

It sometimes resembles a chupa chup after a long gig

My girlfriend did remark on the strength of my hands though, I guess I sqeeze harder than I realise when we hold hands.

Edited May 3, 2010 by TPJ