Musician Victor Wooten shares his struggle with a health condition that has left him feeling like a novice bass player once more, despite his ongoing passion for music.
Renowned bass guitar player Victor Wooten is currently battling a neurological movement disorder called focal dystonia. This condition, which has been present for 25 years, is now significantly impacting his playing.
Despite the challenges, Wooten has adapted his playing style to accommodate the involuntary curling of three fingers on his fretting hand caused by the condition. He largely plays using one finger, and when possible, two fingers that he can keep straight - typically the index and pinky. This approach allows him to maintain control and play many passages with just one finger.
The affected fingers tend to curl and pull strings off the fretboard, making traditional fingering difficult. However, Wooten views the condition with a positive attitude and considers it a challenge that has forced him to rethink and reinvent his playing technique rather than giving up.
Wooten's wife helped him find specialized therapy from a woman in Spain, suggesting he is also exploring therapeutic or rehabilitative options to manage the dystonia.
During his tour with the Wooten Brothers, Wooten is focusing on being a bass player, not a soloist or trickster. He has revealed the secrets behind his unique playing style in a deep-dive on a website last year.
Wooten's struggle with focal dystonia has forced him to re-focus on the fundamentals of playing one note at a time. He is determined to use his struggle to inspire other bassists or guitarists facing similar challenges.
Despite the difficulties, Wooten is not ashamed of his condition and continues to play. In fact, he can play songs like Uptown Funk with just one finger. Wooten teaches at Berklee College of Music and gives clinics, and writes books about music.
Wooten believes there is a cure for focal dystonia and hopes to help others with it. He has been receiving outreach from people dealing with dystonia, and he is using his condition as an opportunity to focus on foundational aspects of his playing.
Wooten's fingers curl into a ball when he picks up the bass, making it difficult for him to play. However, he is not letting this stop him. Instead, he is using his struggle to inspire others and continues to share his love for music with the world.
[1] [Link to Source 1] [2] [Link to Source 2] [3] [Link to Source 3] [4] [Link to Source 4] [5] [Link to Source 5]
- Victor Wooten, renowned for his bass guitar skills, has had to adapt his playing technique due to a 25-year-long neurological movement disorder called focal dystonia.
- Wooten's unique playing style, once a mystery, was revealed in a deep-dive on a website last year.
- Despite his condition causing his fingers to curl and making traditional fingering difficult, Wooten views this as an opportunity to reinvent his technique.
- Wooten's determination to overcome focal dystonia has led him to explore therapeutic options and specialized therapy in Spain.
- Wooten's struggle with focal dystonia has not deterred him from teaching at Berklee College of Music, giving clinics, writing books, or sharing his love for music with the world.
- Wooten is optimistic about finding a cure for focal dystonia and uses his condition as an opportunity to inspire others, especially bassists and guitarists facing similar challenges. [Link to a health-and-wellness article about focal dystonia treatment (Source 1), Link to a fitness-and-exercise article about managing stress through music (Source 2), Link to an entertainment news article about Wooten's unique playing style (Source 3), Link to a mental-health article about the benefits of music therapy (Source 4), Link to a music magazine article discussing Wooten's teaching methods (Source 5)]
