Another "Ouch"

[oggiesnr]

Whilst merrily cutting names on my saw on Sunday I had a freak accident which resulted in driving part of a broken fretsaw blade into the flesh of the top joint of my second finger where it only stopped on impact with the bone. Whilst there's no long term damage it does mean that applying pressure with that finger is out of the question which sort of limits double bass playing.

As a result I've dug out my copy of Neil Tarlton'sBeginning Scales on the Double Bass where, most helpfully, he has a whole page of exercises based round B Harmonic Minor so open strings, first and fourth fingers only. Nine different ways of bowing the scale so crotchets, quavers and triplets on every part of the bow plus another page of exercises using different dynamics. Should keep me out of mischief whilst this heals and means that I will have to concentrate on bow work without being distracted.

It's only a short book (really a coda to his Sevcik book) but well worth looking at if, like me, you're near the start of your DB career.

Steve

[Bilbo]

Agreed. I bought the Tarlton book early on and, short though it is, it gave me a solid grounding in position playing and intonation. Now I sound like DAve Holland (he's a plumber from Cardiff, by the way).

[iiipopes]

You could also try the Italian method for awhile, which involves 1-3-4 instead of 1-2-4; the downside is that the tendons of the 3rd and 4th fingers tend to work together, so it will difficult at first. Also, with the sliding or rocking involved with the Rabbath method, that might also be something to tide you over until your finger heals. Good luck!

[url="http://earlybass.com/articles-bibliographies/eighteenth-century-method-for-double-bass-found-in-italy-in-2005/"]http://earlybass.com/articles-bibliographies/eighteenth-century-method-for-double-bass-found-in-italy-in-2005/[/url]

[oggiesnr]

It now transpires that there is long term damage, I have scar tissue throughout the muscle above the joint. It means that I have to finger any instrument with my finger tip otherwise it gets very swollen and painful.

A side effect from this is that the neck on my current bass is too chunky (I have small hands). I can't yet afford an upgrade to the next level of bass so the bass has gone back to Peter at Beverley Music to re-profile the neck. Hopefully this will help sort the problem.

Steve

[TPJ]

Can they not break up the scar tissue with physio and laser/ultrasound?

[oggiesnr]

[quote name='TPJ' timestamp='1363598525' post='2014405']
Can they not break up the scar tissue with physio and laser/ultrasound?
[/quote]

Yes, but it's a long wait as it's non-urgent.

Steve

[TPJ]

[quote name='oggiesnr' timestamp='1363611672' post='2014667']
Yes, but it's a long wait as it's non-urgent.

Steve
[/quote]

I got pissed off waiting for nhs and just went private, well worth the ££

[4-string-thing]

[quote name='Bilbo' timestamp='1348567069' post='1815180']
Agreed. I bought the Tarlton book early on and, short though it is, it gave me a solid grounding in position playing and intonation. Now I sound like DAve Holland (he's a plumber from Cardiff, by the way).
[/quote]

I actually know 2 Dave Hollands, neither of them are plumbers, or Welsh.....