Good exercises for the left hand

[Stuart Collidge]

Dear Bass players,

This is my first post to the group, so let me introduce myself. I am
primarily a brass player, but love dabbling on the bass. Recently, I had an
accident in the kitchen where I have sliced the main muscle in my thumb.
It's healing nicely (waiting for the nerve to grow back to get sensation on
the inside of my thumb), but I don't have a lot of strength or flexibility
in the thumb. I haven't put any serious time into my bass playing since the
accident, but I find that I have little endurance with my left thumb, and
don't want to push it too far yet.

While I realise that the best therapy advice will come from the doctor,
perhaps some of you guys have some insights to share or advice to give?

Cheers,
Stu

[Jimbo]

On Mar 31, 3:59 am, "Stuart Collidge" <scollid...@optusnet.com.au>
wrote:
> Dear Bass players,
>
> This is my first post to the group, so let me introduce myself. I am
> primarily a brass player, but love dabbling on the bass. Recently, I had an
> accident in the kitchen where I have sliced the main muscle in my thumb.
> It's healing nicely (waiting for the nerve to grow back to get sensation on
> the inside of my thumb), but I don't have a lot of strength or flexibility
> in the thumb. I haven't put any serious time into my bass playing since the
> accident, but I find that I have little endurance with my left thumb, and
> don't want to push it too far yet.
>
> While I realise that the best therapy advice will come from the doctor,
> perhaps some of you guys have some insights to share or advice to give?
>
> Cheers,
> Stu

Hey Stu,
Why not try practicing without using your left thumb at all? I
understand that this will sound odd, but in fact I've seen the same
advice in a few books.
The theory behind this is that you should only be applying light
pressure to the fingerboard when playing efficiently and you should be
able to do this
with very light pressure from the left thumb - or none at all.
I incorporate it into my practice routine and find it very helpful.
You may find (as with so many of these things) that what appears to be
an obstacle actually turns out to be an opportunity....

Regards
Jim

[david teague]

Stu

Different problem, but I have had surgery on my left hand. Here's my story,
and a suggestion.

In the Spring of 2004, I fell, ripping the tendon sheath of the middle
finger of my left hand. I asked the surgeon if he played a string
instrument, he said, "Mandolin" I said, "I'm a bass player and I will have a
cheering section in the operating room."

The surgeon repaired it on May 18, 2004. I followed the advice of the
surgeon and his hand therapist as closely as I was able. As I mended I
talked with the hand therapist about playing and about extra exercises. I
ran everything by her before trying it. Some things she approved and some
she didn't.

I won: I played the full fall Symphony season and I have never had a minute
of trouble attributable to the injury. I was fortunate.

The bottom line is talk to both the surgeon and the hand therapist about
playing. On your own, find several exercises to do, and get the hand
therapist's prior approval for everything. Then do the exercises and playing
on the schedule she suggests. Do not push it. You will back in the pink in
good time.

I wish you much luck in mending.

David Teague
Double Bass Tuned in Fifths, CGDA


"Jimbo" <pjames_uk@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1177604258.003010.263340@s33g2000prh.googlegr oups.com...
> On Mar 31, 3:59 am, "Stuart Collidge" <scollid...@optusnet.com.au>
> wrote:
>> Dear Bass players,
>>
>> This is my first post to the group, so let me introduce myself. I am
>> primarily a brass player, but love dabbling on the bass. Recently, I had
>> an
>> accident in the kitchen where I have sliced the main muscle in my thumb.
>> It's healing nicely (waiting for the nerve to grow back to get sensation
>> on
>> the inside of my thumb), but I don't have a lot of strength or
>> flexibility
>> in the thumb. I haven't put any serious time into my bass playing since
>> the
>> accident, but I find that I have little endurance with my left thumb, and
>> don't want to push it too far yet.
>>
>> While I realise that the best therapy advice will come from the doctor,
>> perhaps some of you guys have some insights to share or advice to give?
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Stu
>
> Hey Stu,
> Why not try practicing without using your left thumb at all? I
> understand that this will sound odd, but in fact I've seen the same
> advice in a few books.
> The theory behind this is that you should only be applying light
> pressure to the fingerboard when playing efficiently and you should be
> able to do this
> with very light pressure from the left thumb - or none at all.
> I incorporate it into my practice routine and find it very helpful.
> You may find (as with so many of these things) that what appears to be
> an obstacle actually turns out to be an opportunity....
>
> Regards
> Jim
>