Is this normal?


Hjorvard
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Hjorvard
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11/14/2008 6:32 am
I've been practicing pretty rigidly as far as routine goes for the passed week or so. Tonight as I was practicing, my picking hand tensed up real bad and I am unable to keep and even rythm no matter how much I've stretched or tried to relax. Is there a such thing as overuse? Because if this isn't a normal thing with guitarists I should probably visit a hospital. If it is normal, what should I do to fix the problem? Just back off of guitar for a few days?
# 1
enochthestrange
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enochthestrange
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11/16/2008 5:30 pm
o.o i go about 5 or 6 hours a day not counting weekends,

ive never had that kind of hand cramp, try soaking it ain hot in cold water, rotating every 5 minutes
# 2
Kevin Taylor
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Kevin Taylor
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11/16/2008 7:48 pm
Be careful, is about the best advice I can think of.

Try reading up on Carpel Tunnel Syndrome:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome

...and see if your symptoms are similar to this. If so, it's time to make a Dr. Appoint before it gets any worse.

If it's simply a matter of overdoing it or muscle strain, a couple of days rest will probably fix everything.

Just don't overdo it and don't rush yourself. It's sort of like weightlifting.
You need to do repetitions in stages to build up your muscles and finger strength. You can't just go all out and expect to be a Schwarzenegger in the space of a week. :)
# 3
Hjorvard
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Hjorvard
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11/16/2008 9:52 pm
Originally Posted by: Kevin TaylorBe careful, is about the best advice I can think of.

Try reading up on Carpel Tunnel Syndrome:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carpal_tunnel_syndrome

...and see if your symptoms are similar to this. If so, it's time to make a Dr. Appoint before it gets any worse.

If it's simply a matter of overdoing it or muscle strain, a couple of days rest will probably fix everything.

Just don't overdo it and don't rush yourself. It's sort of like weightlifting.
You need to do repetitions in stages to build up your muscles and finger strength. You can't just go all out and expect to be a Schwarzenegger in the space of a week. :)



That is very very true. I took the weekend off, and my hand is fine now but I still think I'm gonna talk to a doctor on my next appointment to be sure. I realy need to sloooow down. I treat practice like I'm a machine with a certain quota I need to reach a night, and I suppose that isn't good in the least bit.
# 4
MikeFairbrother
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MikeFairbrother
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11/17/2008 10:45 pm
Using a quote from the Wiki article on Carpal Tunnel: "Reduce your force and relax your grip." My picking hand used to cramp up on me frequently the first year I started playing. Then, a fellow guitarist adviced me to consciously remember to relax my picking hand while playing every few minutes... there should be no tension. I have had no problems since.
# 5
JeffS65
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JeffS65
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11/23/2008 4:07 pm
Originally Posted by: MikeFairbrotherUsing a quote from the Wiki article on Carpal Tunnel: "Reduce your force and relax your grip." My picking hand used to cramp up on me frequently the first year I started playing. Then, a fellow guitarist adviced me to consciously remember to relax my picking hand while playing every few minutes... there should be no tension. I have had no problems since.


New guy, first post...long time player. I'm teaching my wife to play from absolute zero beginner. One thing I told her about playing after she was talking about how difficult it was to fret chords and notes; playing should never be uncomfortable...ever.

If a person is a newer player and trying to master advanced techniques or techniques requiring stamina (ie - speed), you, the person in the OP, need to look at how you're approaching your picking.

If your picking 'wrong', you'll likely feel that you're squeezing the pick and feel the muscles contracting in your upper forearm. You'd also likely be using more wrist movement with picking strokes.

I'd told my wife that the more you use larger muscle group in picking, the easier it is. Less fatigue.

If you've studied up on circular alternate picking, you notice that lots of players tend to use the slight movement of the whole arm in a very slight 'sawing' motion and using the pinky as an 'anchor' of sorts on the pickguard area under the string to manage the movement, picking and muting of the sawing motion. In using the slight movement of larger muscle group, you will have less, if no, fatigue since the small amount of movement is easily handled.

Don't know that this helps but thought I'd jump in and share from a good few years of playing and as a one time shredder.
# 6
soclydez85
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soclydez85
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12/08/2008 3:05 am
think of practicing guitar as the same thing as hitting the gym. ur doing the same thing, working the connection between your muscles and the central nervous system, and increasing the fitness of those muscles, the only different is that your hand muscles are smaller than your chest muscles.

you always want to warm up and loosen the joints in your hand before your play. not only will you find yourself to be playing better and more fluid, but it will also help prevent these cramp problems. i know it sounds crazy, but for about 5 mins before i play i stretch most of the muscles in my upper body (yes even ab and back muscles all the way down my arms to my fingers). it helps overall bloodflow to your hand before you play. follow that up with some fingering exercises on the guitar, go from slow to fast (i apologize if for reiterating this if this is already something you do)

go easy with playing for a bit, but dont completely stop. try massaging the muscle thats getting tense, also try expose it to warm-hot water for about 10 mins a few times a day.

hope this helps, ive had things like that happen b4 its a total bummer
# 7
warriorpoet
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warriorpoet
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12/12/2008 9:40 pm
Hello everyone!!! New to the site. I've been playing for 30 years now, practice at least 3 hours a day. My ring finger and pinky (on my left hand) go numb after awhile. To say the least, I was very worried. I went to a specialist, turns out i have a pinched nerve near my elbow. I think the discomfort that you are experiancing could be caused by lack of warming up before you practice. I had to warm up every time before i went on stage, or else i couldnt play our intire set whithout having to take a rest. Thank God for drum solos!!!! It is VERY important to warm up both hands, even before practice. Im sure if you search the web, you can find some very cool warm up exercises. I use scales to warm up, and vary them up and down the entire length of the fretboard. It also helps in learning different scales and modes.
-Shawn Smith
# 8
Kevin Taylor
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Kevin Taylor
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12/12/2008 10:33 pm
Just wanted to post this because it's definitely relevant.

I bought a Sony PS3 about 6 months ago and started playing Grand Theft Auto almost daily.
About a month ago I noticed my first finger and thumb were starting to go numb.

It's kinda off topic I guess, but I suppose luckily, the unit malfunctioned and doesn't work anymore and even now after several weeks of not playing, my fingers are still feeling the effects of using it.

I guess the moral of the story is that even after playing the guitar for over 30 years, this is the first time that I've ever had anything affect my fingers in such a way as to cause discomfort enough that it was noticeable in my guitar playing.

Needless to say, even though I finally figured out how to fly the helicopter into the Empire States building and go under the city... I've put the PS3 away for good.
Even now while I'm typing I can feel the numbness in my first finger so I guess the major advice I can give here is, if you feel something wrong...stop what you're doing before you do permanent damage.

(bums me out btw:.... I finally figured out how those guys were firing rocket grenades from inside the airplane hangar and I was dying to get even :)
# 9

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