that muscley fat area between your thumb and index finger.

  • Thread starter Thread starter kristian
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kristian

kristian

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i've been playing guitar for years and thi area has never given me trouble since i finished that beginning stage of "my hand muscles can't do this". But recently a song im working on atrying to record has been messing with my hand msucles. I can't finish recording the last verse because of the way im trying to play. basically the last 4 phrases (very sloooow looong phrases) im using my index finger as a capo on the 2nd fret barred all acroos 6 strings. then i play what would be a uhh.. Gbm(using middle and ring finger), and pull of on high E string a Ab.

2 2 2 4 5
4 4 2 5 4
4 4 2 2 2
2 2 2 2 2
2 2 2 x x
2 4 2 x x

with sort of finger picking. and my hand can't take it. and i can't just throw a capo on in the middle of the song. will repeatedly playing this (as i've been doing for months) make my hand stronger? or is it futile, can hands jsut NOT do that without cramping up?
 
Well in theory your hand should gather more strength over time but I don't know about enough for what you are playing.

-What guitar is it acoustic/electric?
-Lower action would be more suitable.
-Ligther guage strings would help
-If your recording it you can do it in a few takes (though doesn't solve the problem of not being able to play the song live (or throughout)).
-I'd personally look for other chord voicings (remember you don't need to cover all 6 strings, 3 notes will most likely cover the chord).

I'd say record the song complete with these voices even if it's a bit at a time and then when playing it live (or to yourself) use different voicings.

Or buy a double necked guitar and place a capo on teh second fret of one of them for this last 4 measures, LOL.
 
From what I remember... Training on that one thing untill you get it right will give you ALOT of cramps. And the strength will come with time, you might be training for a while before you get that right...
Exercising alot of different chord voicings is a nice way to get strength and coordination right. I got alot of my strength and coordination from studying classical guitar. Your left hand gets in the most odd positions when playing classical...

Just remember: pain is NOT good. It means your hurting yourself, and not that you are gaining strength/training real hard. If you practice hard on this kinda thing, make sure you know about tendonitis and such before you start.
 
i agree, since i've been playing classical guitar i've become much bettter with hand positions. This is on a nylon classical guitar. So it has a wider neck but string action is pretty low. I've kinda looked at voicings but it doesn't work. The whole point is its a key change where i move from open tuning, to as if i have a capo on the 2nd fret. Hmm.. i will try more practice and more voicings.
 
The first chord is F#minor right? I'm not sure, the way you wrote it there looks upside down to me, its certainly difficult to play that way! But yeah, any positions like that on the lower frets where your barring all the strings is going to cramp your hand to hell, especially on a nylon.

I didn't find it too hard on electric, I think you just have to practice it... not the most helpful advice...

capo it and punch in?
 
"capo it and punch in?"

hehehe, i thought about that, but i still need to play it live :). Yea i'm pretty sure i wrote it upside down, whoops, too late at night. I think its just a case of more practice. but damn, i've been practicing the whole song, which involves some weird hand positions, since june. hot damn, oh well, i'll get it up in the clinic when i get it done. hope its soon enough.
 
Medical News

I had a simular problem with my left hand after starting playing again and trying some new cord configs.

My doc said to keep working on it and once my hand was stronger it would go away.......QUACK !!

the pain got worse the more i played and the more it hurt the less i played..... Visious circle.

I went to a friend of mine who does " REIKI " and after one visit i never had the pain again.

Reiki is (in my febal atempt to explain) used to manipulate and re allign your energy field ( ora). She ran her hands over my body staying about 1-2 inches above my clothes and she was able to sence my ora and find the areas to go and realign.

I know some might think it strange but the proof is in the pudding so they say....might want to look into somthing like this if it presists, and i agree with Roel..." Pain is not Good" if it hurts there is somthing wrong.

Howlin' Dog
 
Re: Medical News

howlin'dog said:

I went to a friend of mine who does " REIKI " and after one visit i never had the pain again.

Reiki is (in my febal atempt to explain) used to manipulate and re allign your energy field ( ora). She ran her hands over my body staying about 1-2 inches above my clothes and she was able to sence my ora and find the areas to go and realign.
Click to expand...

Oh man... are you serious? A chiropractor I can accept as valid.... but this aura stuff? Mind over matter maybe :)

I'd stick with the practice Kristian. Could always pop a couple tylenol 3's, that has a good numbing effect.

You got to play to a certain pain threshold, I mean don't play till your hand and wrist are paralysed but a bit of pain is necessary for building up tolerance. Not to the pain, but getting your hand/wrist more accustomed to those torturous positions.
 
this is the sort of pain i associate with not being strong enough, not the strain pain. oh im ryhming(sp?). i can tell the difference, its like the post hard soccer game cramp.
 
Re: Re: Medical News

Emeric said:
Could always pop a couple tylenol 3's, that has a good numbing effect.
Click to expand...

Yeah... Sure! That's what I've been doing for about 3 years now. I'm still alive, mentally healthy, and occasionally, I can play for more than an hour without pain!! :rolleyes:
 
Rock N Roll Man !!!!

Hey man it's Rock and Roll.....Pass the Drugs and to h*ll with the pain.

COOOOOL.


Kristian,

If the pain is still there and you have been practicing this song alot for at least 5 months than i would be thinking that there is more to the pain than just muscle cramps. If you played any type of guitar before, than there would have already been some muscle tone to build on. get a second opinion from somone other than us.

Howlin' Dog
 
If it hurts when playing, it's cramps. Give your muscles some rest when you have cramps. If it hurts a while AFTER playing, then you don't have cramps. Then, you have a problem, and should probably see a doc. If it hurts BEFORE playing. :confused: Well euh. Alcohol. Yup.
 
I wouldn't do the T3 all the time Roel, especially with alcohol.. killer on the liver.
 
I knew someone who did Reiki a while back. She worked on my ankle when I broke it. It was an interesting experience and I think it might be worth a try. I have moderate-severe nerve pain in my left hand sometimes and what I do is take vitamin B6. I used to take 100mg everyday and never had a problem while I was taking it. Now I can never remember to take it until my hands starts to hurt again.
 
mikeyc222 said:
I knew someone who did Reiki a while back. She worked on my ankle when I broke it. It was an interesting experience and I think it might be worth a try.
Click to expand...

Did it work or was it interesting?
 
kristian,

You have probably looked into this but since I don't see it suggested I'm gonna ask anyway:

Have you considered alternate tuning?

Cy
 
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