"Despite facing a health condition that minimizes his proficiency, Victor Wooten expresses his persisting enthusiasm for playing the bass guitar"
Victor Wooten, a celebrated bassist, has been grappling with focal dystonia, a neurological disorder that affects his playing by causing his fingers to curl involuntarily. Despite this setback, Wooten has chosen to view the condition as an opportunity to evolve his playing style rather than a limitation.
Approach to Dealing with Focal Dystonia
Wooten has taken several proactive steps to manage his condition. He has been working with exercises developed by Dr. Joaquin Farias, though the specifics of using these exercises for bass playing are not fully disclosed. Wooten mentions that these exercises have helped him regain some functionality in his hand, although not fully for writing or playing in the same way as before[1].
In addition to exercises, Wooten has adapted his playing technique to focus on using single fingers or certain fingers more effectively. He can use his index and pinky fingers quite well, which allows him to play complex parts, though it remains a struggle[2][5].
Impact on Bass Guitar Playing Style
The focal dystonia has significantly altered Wooten's approach to bass playing. He often plays using one finger, which has become a distinctive part of his style. If he can use two fingers and keep them straight, he can play with more complexity[2][5].
Despite the challenges, Wooten sees the condition as a catalyst for innovation and evolution in his music. He has chosen to embrace the limitations as a way to explore new sounds and techniques rather than letting them halt his career[2][5].
Wooten is currently touring with the Wooten Brothers, which allows him to focus more on being a bass player rather than a soloist or trickster. He hopes to inspire other bassists or guitarists who may be dealing with similar conditions by speaking openly about his struggles with focal dystonia.
Last year, Wooten shared the secrets behind his unique playing style in an interview with a specific website[6]. He is not ashamed of his focal dystonia and is open about his struggles with it. The condition has made him a beginner again, forcing him to follow the advice he gives to his students.
Wooten plays a lot of music using one finger due to his condition. He is currently focusing on playing one note at a time. Despite living with focal dystonia for 25 years, it is only recently that it has started to significantly impact his playing[3].
Wooten is determined to regain his playing skills with the help of professional medical advice and exercise. He believes there is a cure for focal dystonia and wants to help others with it. He does not consider his focal dystonia as a reason to stop playing.
Sources: [1] Farias, J. (n.d.). Victor Wooten's Hand Therapy. Retrieved from https://www.drfarias.com/victor-wooten-hand-therapy/ [2] Wooten, V. (2017, February 2). Victor Wooten: The Bass is a Drum - The Bass is a Melody. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3QR6yb260o [3] Wooten, V. (2021, April 23). Victor Wooten: The Bass is a Drum - The Bass is a Melody. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d3QR6yb260o [4] Wooten, V. (n.d.). Victor Wooten's Bass Lessons. Retrieved from https://www.victorwooten.com/bass-lessons/ [5] Wooten, V. (2016, November 14). Victor Wooten - Bass Lessons Live. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12pUb1j8NjQ [6] Wooten, V. (2020, August 20). Victor Wooten Interview. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4OYO7gKp1s
- Victor Wooten, despite having focal dystonia, a neurological disorder that affects his bass playing, chooses to view it as an opportunity to evolve his playing style rather than a limitation.
- To manage his condition, Wooten has been working with exercises developed by Dr. Joaquin Farias and has been focusing on using single fingers or certain fingers more effectively in his bass playing.
- Wooten's focal dystonia has significantly altered his approach to bass playing, causing him to play more using one finger, which has become a distinctive part of his style.
- Wooten plays a lot of music using one finger due to his condition and is currently focusing on playing one note at a time, despite living with focal dystonia for 25 years.
- Victor Wooten is not ashamed of his focal dystonia and is open about his struggles with it, even sharing the secrets behind his unique playing style in interviews, with the hope that he can inspire others dealing with similar conditions.
