Q&A: Pain In Thumb When Playing Bass Guitar

[@OnlineBassCourses]

If you have any questions, let me know and I'll try and help!

[@sneaks2368]

Thank you for this! Started practicing my bass regularly again after not touching it for a while. These thumb cramps have been cutting my practice short lately. Good to know I've started fretting it too hard, and now I know how to adjust.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Glad it helped!

[@ajtheult7055]

I started playing the bass and always had pain in my thumb while playing not knowing now that I've been putting unnecessary pressure on it. Thank you this video helped a lot.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Glad to hear that. Keep up the practice!

[@banmaganma]

I knew that pressing too hard would cause pain, but thanks to your lesson I realized that my neck was too horizontal instead of ascending and that it was "parallel to the wall", as you call it instead of going a bit away from my body as you go up the fretboard. Especially changing the position of the bass helped a lot! Thank you!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Glad to hear that! It’s a simple thing but learning to hold the bass properly can really change your technique for the better. 🙏👍

[@ColeHulden]

Very helpful, thank you!! ❤

[@jonwis2183]

Thank you very much for this video!

[@stavrosbrainstorm3509]

Thanks 👍

[@ley6748]

this helped me so much!! thank you:)

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Great!

[@fastphilosophy1511]

this is amazing! I want to thank you so much for helping me! I used to train a lot to not get a buzz sound but I didn't know that I was pushing to hard; thank you so much!

[@OnlineBassCourses]

That’s really cool - nice one!

[@barichello_]

Nice, it's good to focus on healthy playing.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Absolutely! Thanks for watching.

[@deanc.5984]

I'm kinda new to bass, my thumb cramps up after 10min! Maybe to much pressure trying to get a clear tone. Sometimes my thumb us pointing straight up, Sometimes angled depending on the chord. Ill have to work it out.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

You will work it out. Try not to apply too much pressure. You'll get it.

[@richgarza4518]

Lookin cool in black

[@OnlineBassCourses]

🙏

[@ChrisPauX]

Do you have tips for small hands? I strain my thumb and fingers reaching large spaces

[@OnlineBassCourses]

It’s tricky. You might just need to shift or jump around a little more. You can work on your stretch though. Try to relax even though you won’t want to! Adapt your technique to your way.

[@Bass.Player]

I don't use my thumb this way, the middle of my thumb takes the pressure and not the end of my thumb. Been playing since 1964 with no problems. However I do have some arthritis in my lower thumb joint but it does not bother me playing the Bass (5 string)

[@OnlineBassCourses]

I should have mentioned that there are, as ever, a few ways of doing this. As long as it works and there's no pain, it's all good! Thanks for watching!

[@bassismath9118]

I had this issue while I was trying to master the bass lines of cowboys from hell main riff in my six string bass...the main riff troubled me for a long time n still does....

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Hope it's better now. It'll be tougher on a 6.

[@mundy_en]

I think my issue is that my pinky finger is just terribly weak. Any time I push my pinky down, i have to fight my thumb for leverage against the back of the fret board and it cramps my thumb out horribly. I'm sure with time my pinky will get stronger and it will go away, but it makes it really hard to want to practice when it causes that much discomfort.

[@OnlineBassCourses]

I hear you. It can be frustrating but, you’re right. Practice will strengthen it.

[@matthewdagnan3396]

Thump pain is greatly affecting my ability! Hope this helps

[@OnlineBassCourses]

I hope so! Good luck.

[@ДараШијаковић]

Am I the only one that has pain in the thumb in the hand where Im strumming? 😅

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Definitely not. Take it easy though!

[@durpyislost6212]

Loosen up your picking hand!! Not good to have it stiff especially playing faster. Do u play with thumb anchored on the pickup

[@redachraibi5993]

“If it’s arthritis or a medical condition, go see a doctor” priceless advice

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Thanks for the sarcastic comment. What I’m trying to say is, don’t listen to bass players for medical advice!

[@redimimgvm]

Im feeling pain at my thumb when i slap my bass

[@OnlineBassCourses]

Don’t play through it. Relax, do a little each day and build up slowly, making sure your mechanics are correct (hand position etc).