I have played the cello for 2 years, currently taking grade 5,(but i am not up to that standard), whenever i hold my cow, my thumb just kept on "falling in", or bending, and I can`t play for a long time because of the pain and tiredness, Can somebody help me on the problem? I really need more practice, is thumb pain just normal, or is it just me?
I might be holding the bow the wrong way......
OUCH!

HELP!HELP!

You might be holding the bow too tight ,which could be the problemwith your thumb but i dont know what to tell you because i dont know how you hold it. Anyways i dont think that that is normal because it has never happened to me in the 5 1/2 years i have been playing so i cant be sure how to fix it.

i don`t know wether am I holding the bow too tight or not, but it still hurts, and i tried loosening my grip on the bow, the bow just kept falling off, bah!

Also if your thumb is "caved in" it might also hurt. Try to keep it curved out if it is caved in.

The problem is is that it is very very tiring to get your thumb curved out, and sometimes painful somewhere near the root" of my thumb. Maybe I am not used to it or simething else, but thanks anyway.

Are you using your thumb to keep the bow from falling? It should be your other fingers that keep the bow up and your thumb to keep the bow against the other fingers.

Do you have your own chair? Maybe you`re sitting too high.

Nah, it doesn`t work when I use my fingers t keep the bow up, and "Use the thumb to keep the fingers against the bow", well, I tried using a natural curve on my thumb(what I no always do), my thumb gets REALLY tired. Pity me, must stop playing after the pain and suffering, and no, I am not sitting too high.

OUCH

Is yr finger 5 up on the bow, or off the bow? Keep the finger 5 on tip and on the bow. The fingers 1 and 3 is yr center grip ( form a ring ), and the tiny 5 keeps it in balance. Make sure onlt the side of yr thumb touches the bow, dun oush it in all the way. And curve the thumb. Place the bow on the 1st fret of finger 3...so, there is yr ring! The ring is imp(finger 1,3)..dun use too much force on it. A good bow hold is one that is correct , secure, yet flexible. No point using all the strength to stabalize it. It doesn`t work that way. If yr hold is incorrect, then it ain`t gonna be any better juz by holding it tighter. Hope u understand.

I`ve had exactly the same problem at about the same standard! Basically it`s a posture problem and actually something to do with nerves running down your arm (related to RSI and stuff) I got physio on it but it still took months to clear up! Also i did alexander technique which is brilliant as it loosens the tension in your body! Also i recomend you got some blocks to stick under the back legs of your chair, then your posture improves. hope that helps and im not too late