Take your time to become aware of the risks of playing the bass guitar, or... start avoiding them now. Develop a consistent technique that fits your physical possibilities. Start a few elementary habits that should become like brushing your teeth or doing the dishes... or suddenly get hit by pain, inability to play, doctor's orders, annoyingly slow recovery, boring exercises to relearn, desperate attemps to reach the level you once played on...
Musicians hardly get interested in health issues before trouble starts. Instrument related health problems take their time to arise. Bad habits may be no problem for younger players, but cut off careers suddenly after years of neglect. Many of those problems are easily avoided by adopting correct routines. Stretching, warming up and warming down, relaxing, bass cleaning and hand washing should be daily routine.
Knowledge about the health risks of playing the bass guitar is rather sparse all over the internet. Some of that info is of high value, but is hardly noticed. Some of it is immersed in studies with a more general scope and therefore not easy to find. Other stuff, especially quite a few instructional video's, keep setting bad examples, give dubious advice or encourage dangerous habits. My goal is to bring the correct info together in a comprehensible whole. No doubt the insights presented here might differ from what others believe to be right. I hope they will take the time to write to me: info@chriskeuken.nl. Mistakes will be corrected immediately. Alternatives will be presented on an equal basis with my own views. All comments and suggestions will be most welcome.
I hope teachers will not only want to know about correct technique, but also about ‘wrong’ ways of playing. They should improve their assessment of their students’ condition to help them develop a technique that fits their physical possibilities.
Bass guitar players should be able enjoy their instrument for years and into old age without problems or worries. I hope thes pages will contribute to that fine prospect.
Choice was between three approaches:
Players and teachers will have to develop ways of playing that fit their specific physical possibilities. They have a wide variety of jobs, of hobby's, of sports, all of which may contribute to health problems. If you combine a computer job with playing tennis and hitting the stages with a rock band, problems might just pile up. Consequently, only the holistic approach holds a promise for a full understanding of the health risks of playing the bass guitar.
The bass guitar is a hybrid of guitar and double bass, but neither of these two offers a satisfactory technique for the bass guitar. Debates on proper technique keep going on. Even experienced players do not agree on many issues. In the following pages, both ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ ways to play are explained. Teachers should investigate and try both ‘right’ and ‘wrong’ ways of playing for themselves to improve the monitoring of their students’ technique.
A special warning is for the assumption that only one proper technique can save you from injuries. The physical proportions and capacities of people differ a lot. Many players cannot apply ‘proper’ technique without compromising. It is one of my objectives to point out where compromise maybe forced or necessary, and where it may be risky.
Please note that I am neither a doctor nor a professional bass player. Both medical specialists and professional players kindly reviewed my pages, but the responsibility for the content is mine and mine only. Monitoring your technique can be done only by a qualified bass guitar teacher. If in doubt about your health, see a doctor right away.