I´m new to this site. Hi everybody! I have a problem which someone may be able to help me with.

I´ve been playing an 18" bod for 25 years. Made it myself. It´s been brill. Recently I have been playing it in a Trad. band (for money!!) every week and have developed pain/tightness in my left shoulder/neck (I play right handed)and at the top of my right arm.

Maybe I need a smaller bod, maybe I am holding tension before I even play (there is an audience and I am getting paid!), maybe it´s the type/height of chair, or maybe it´s my playing position. Help!

My question is: does anyone have any tips for me to reduce the pain or does it go with the job?

Hi there and welcome to bodojo,

Playing or 25 years with no problem suggests it may be the added tension of playing for pay.

Had you been playing out before being paid to do so, i.e. have you been playing sessions with other musicians in a pub or club? If not the added tension of playing to an audience may be contributing to the problem. It could be exactly as you mentioned "holding tension before you play". It could also be the seating arrangement. A number of things could be the issue here, it sounds as though there are a number of "firsts" going on but certainly it isn't the first time you've played your Bodhrán, so it may not be that.

Try loosening up before playing gentle neck roles, shoulder shrugs, slight flexing of the playing and non playing arms hands and fingers, wrist roles. This may alleviate some of the tension.

Review where and how you are sitting, too high, too low, is there a draft.

Also, play to the music not the audience if the tension is as a result of playing out then tune out the crowd and here only the tunes soon enough you'' ease into the gig and forget all about he crowd.

It could also be your bodies way of telling that you are not getting paid enough!! So approach the landlord ask for more cash and see if that helps.

If none of the above work try your G.P.

Good luck and welcome again

Newdeafman

Many thanks for that. And thank you for your kind welcome. Yes I have played in many, many sessions and in front of large audiences at festivals etc.

Having asked the question and thought about possible causes I think you are right and that the 1st´s here are to be looked at again. 1. seating, 2. limbering up to release tension, 3. tune out from the audience, 4. conciously relax, 5. consider a smaller drum and lastly 6. get paid more!

I recently taught three students the bodhrán here in Spain. Result: One very competent player, one able to play a reel and a jig time (just, if he listened to the music!), and one whose wrist was too tight and she couldn´t adjust her hold. When I was asked to teach my immediate thought was - what do I do? I couldn´t teach if I ´couldn´t break it down to understandable, easy directions. Well I managed and two people were happy that their objectives were achieved.

Anyway, many thanks for your kind advice, which I will look at carefully.

Rosie

I ran into a similar issue with tension picking up in my neck and upper sholder area. Especially after playing with accomplished players for extended periods. For example when I played late at an advanced session with no other drummers present. I found that it was because I was hunkered over the top of my drum. Listening as much to it as I was the other player and being melded with the music. I wasn't paying attention to posture or much of anything else just the drum and tune.

I found a solution. It came from my experience as a quitar player. I purchased a guitar footstool for my left foot to rest on; cost about $10.00. This raised the drum relative to my aa... ummm er I mean my buuu ... humm er ? aahhh my belt line. This in turned straightened my back as I played and got rid of the neck and sholder ache.

I also decided to loosen up my upper body a little when I played, I know tend to sway a little back and forth and move around; it keeps every thing a little looser and let me put more of me into the drum. Here's a link to the stand I picked up. It folds up easy and fits in the side pocket of my Bodhran case.

ProLine FreRest Delux Guitar Footstool



Hope this helps so you can ...

Enjoy Your Music,
Lee Marsh