Victor Wooten on His Focal Dystonia: “I Can’t Play Like I Used To, But I Still Enjoy Playing”
Victor Wooten has been a leading figure in the bass world for decades, first turning heads with Bela Fleck & the Flecktones and then changing the game with his 1996 solo debut, A Show of Hands. His unstoppable groove, technical virtuosity, and willingness to share his wisdom have made him a hero not just for bassists, but for musicians across the board.
It’s surprising, then, for fans to find out that for much of that time, he’s been dealing with a neurological disorder affecting his hands. He has been open about his focal dystonia for several years (see our 2020 interview), but he shared a more personal side to the story while sitting down with Charles Berthoud.
What Is Focal Dystonia and How Does It Affect Bass Players?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, focal dystonia is a neurological disorder that causes involuntary muscle contractions in one body part. For musicians, that body part is most commonly the hands and wrists. It affects your fine motor skills, making it difficult to play the bass with all your facility, which makes something Wooten said in the interview quite shocking.
“[I now know] I’ve had dystonia for twenty-five years, minimum,” he told Berthoud. “I just knew when I was getting with the Flecktones, my fingers were getting sluggish. I just thought I needed to practice. I would practice more and it got worse, which was the worst thing.”
Wooten is not the only bassist to have the affliction. YouTube icon Scott Devine wears gloves to combat it and has a deep video on the subject. Cannibal Corpse’s Alex Webster has also opened up about his diagnosis.
How Victor Wooten Is Managing Focal Dystonia and Staying Inspired
If you know Victor Wooten, you know that he’s not letting focal dystonia stop him. He’s been doing exercises and working with author Ruth Chiles, who wrote The Focal Dystonia Cure, but most importantly, he’s talking about it.
“People tell me there’s no cure, and I know there is. If it can go wrong, it can go right,” he says. “There have been a lot of people reaching out about dystonia. I say don’t let it stop you from playing. No, I can’t play like I used to. But if I hurt my leg and couldn’t walk like I used to, I’d still walk. I still enjoy playing.”
Watch: Victor Wooten Opens Up About Focal Dystonia
Check out the informative and inspiring talk, as well as Berthoud’s full interview with Victor Wooten:
Victor Wooten 2025 Tour Dates with the Flecktones
Wooten is gearing up for a tour with the Flecktones in August, and they’ve just announced a holiday tour with Jeff Coffin and Alash. See below for his 2025 performance schedule.
Victor Wooten 2025 Tour Dates
| Date | Location | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 24 | The Magnolia | El Cajon, CA |
| Aug 25 | The Ford | Los Angeles, CA |
| Aug 26 | The UC Theatre | Berkeley, CA |
| Aug 28 | The Shedd Institute | Eugene, OR |
| Aug 29 | Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall | Portland, OR |
| Aug 30 | The Gorge Amphitheatre | George, WA |
| Sep 1 | Argyros Performing Arts Center | Ketchum, ID |
| Nov 26 | Nashville, TN | The Ryman Auditorium |
| Nov 28 | Nashville, TN | The Ryman Auditorium |
| Nov 29 | Cincinnati, OH | Taft Theatre |
| Nov 30 | Ann Arbor, MI | Hill Auditorium |
| Dec 1 | Champaign, IL | Virginia Theatre |
| Dec 2 | Grand Rapids, MI | Devos Performance Hall |
| Dec 3 | Chicago, IL | Salt Shed |
| Dec 5 | Ithaca, NY | State Theatre |
| Dec 6 | Boston, MA | Shubert Theatre |
| Dec 7 | Portland, ME | State Theatre |
| Dec 9 | Burlington, VT | Flynn Center for the Performing Arts |
| Dec 10 | New York, NY | Beacon Theatre |
| Dec 11 | Rochester, NY | Kodak Hall at the Eastman Theatre |
| Dec 12 | Philadelphia, PA | Miller Theater |
| Dec 13 | Stony Brook, NY | Staller Center |
| Dec 14 | North Bethesda, MD | Music Center at Strathmore |
| Dec 16 | Charlottesville, VA | Paramount Theater |
| Dec 17 | Durham, NC | Carolina Theatre |
| Dec 18 | Athens, GA | Hodgson Concert Hall |
| Dec 19 | Atlanta, GA | The Easter |
| Dec 20 | New Orleans, LA | Joy Theater |
In his time with No Treble, Kevin has met hundreds of amazing bassists and interviewed icons like Jack Casady, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool, Marcus Miller, and more. He's a gigging bassist performing jazz in Northern Virginia and bluegrass with The Plate Scrapers up and down the East Coast. Kevin appreciates all genres of music, from R&B to metal and everything in between. Connect with Kevin on Facebook and check his performance schedule on his website.
I don’t know how to better get this information out there, but focal dystonia is something you can overcome. I did it. I couldn’t play guitar, write, and when it got really bad, I couldn’t use my right hand for practically anything.
I found the work of Dr. Joaquin Farias, who spent his life investigating dystonia, and developing a rehabilitation plan based on neuroplasticity. It took me over three years of practicing his exercises, but I can now use my right hand again, as well as play guitar. Writing is the only thing that still gives me any trouble, and it’s mild. I mostly write left-handed now, which I had to learn to do.
It was an incredibly challenging experience, and a lot of work doing all the exercises. It took an incredible amount of patience.
To anyone reading who is experiencing dystonia (even Mr. Wooten), know that there is hope, even if you don’t recover 100%. Just look up Dr. Joaquin Farias and his work on dystonia.
Hope it helps someone!