Pain

I've only been playing a few months, and I can play a few things. But when it comes to Chords, when i'm streching to hold all the strings its really painful on my hand and arm. Any suggestions?

When your hand starts to hurt take a break, it will stop hurting you after a while. I have the same problem at times, I think it also stems from not warming up before you start playing.

You are stretching and using muscles you don't use often. Take it slow, stop if it hurts, work on something else, then come back to it.

Originally Posted by: HakuraeI've only been playing a few months, and I can play a few things. But when it comes to Chords, when i'm streching to hold all the strings its really painful on my hand and arm. Any suggestions?

Definately if you are feeling pain take a break. you really don't want a stressed tenden :)

When I first started playin 7 years ago I got pains after 20 - 30 minutes of playing barchords. now I can play for hours and have no probs

when your a beginner, pain in your hands is implyed. it must be done, or you wont get those calluses on your fingers. but if your talking about a pain as in your hands and arms are cramping up etc...then stop. but pain on your finger tips- keep going.

tis the only way.

Originally Posted by: bigbudaI think it also stems from not warming up before you start playing.

Chords can be a nightmare at first - but bigbuda's right, there's a lot of "pain" that can be avoided by warming up correctly.

As said elsewhere, don't confuse pain in the "oh, my fingers are sore from playing" sense, with pain in the "holy $^"£! I can't feel my hand/arm/wrist"...if it's just an aching pain in the fingers, relax, take it slow and after time and practice it'll fade and altogether disappear; if it's the second, stop and go and see a doctor - that sort of pain can cause all kinds of problems down the line, trust me...

what is a good way to warm up?

Originally Posted by: markc2005what is a good way to warm up?

I'd say it very much depends on what you want to be playing, but the main things I try and do when warming up are:

A) Start slow - it's a warm up, not the gig.
B) Take your time - "An older athelete will take more time warming up; this may be down to their need to take longer, but it may also be down to the wisdom gained from experience" - Bruce Lee, Tao Of Jeet Kune Do
C) Stay relaxed - the whole point of warming up is to loosen the muscles and tendons so that they can easily achieve what you want them to; tensing up because you've hit the wrong note is counter productive to your warm-up - again it's the warm-up, not the gig, you can afford the odd mistake here and there until you're on form.

There's many other things I try and do whilst warming up, but these are the things I try and keep in mind when picking up my guitar for the first time that day.

Anyone else care to share they approach?

I usually do some chromatic runs and excerisizes for warmup...just start slow...and slowly work it up...much like you would during your real practice session...just much slower...then just mess with a few chord shapes...just get your fingers moving a bit...but always stay on the slow side for a few minutes.

Originally Posted by: markc2005what is a good way to warm up?

i give myself a good "tug" with my left hand :D

Originally Posted by: z0s0_jpi give myself a good "tug" with my left hand :D

way to put it. haha

Originally Posted by: z0s0_jpi give myself a good "tug" with my left hand :D

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