Issue with watching my fretting fingers cause neck pain

Hi all,

I'm still very new at guitar, I have a Taylor Big Baby with electronics. When I started to play I was finding myself always watching both hands to place fingers on the proper strings. Now I'm getting - a little better - where I'm going by feel while using my strumming hand but my fretting hand/fingers are still a problem which I feel will be awhile before I'm able to not watch my finger placement, I'm far from being able to fret by feel. 

But while watching my fretting finger placement after about 30-45 minutes I must stop due to my neck and back stiffness.

I know this is an issue I have that hopefully will be resolved but in the meantime does anyone have recommendations? I do not play with a strap. I always play sitting which will be my preference going forward. Does anyone feel a strap will help, maybe to have the neck up a bit higher so not much looking down ? If yes to a strap --- any recommendations/brands for comfort, usability will be appreciated.

Thanks,

Bob

I vote for the strap.  Personally, I always play with a strap, and it no doubt helps keep the guitar in position and therefore mitigates the need for arms to control the instrument's position and movement.  

Fingering notes and chords without looking at the neck is a standard, and desirable goal.  You can try exercises in which you bounce back and forth making chords... over and over again without looking until the muscle memory sets in.  If that doesn't float your boat, try using a mirror.  You can find relatively inexpensive narrow 4' tall mirrors at the discount stores (mine came from Walmart).  Set it up in front of you and look at it rather than the guitar neck.  That should keep your head up.

Good luck and keep playing.

Than you for your vote on a strap. And the mirror is an excellent idea, I never thought of that. Thanks again.

Hi BP9,

I second what john of MT advised, regarding the strap and the mirror.

With the strap, you want to make sure and adjust the length of it so that it is giving your upper body some help in stabilizing and supporting the weight and position of the guitar.

Sometimes finding the "sweet spot" in terms of strap-length may come down to an adjustment of an inch or two in length, this way or that. 

The more that the strap is doing the job of supporting your guitar, the more you can afford to bring more relaxation to your shoulders and arms. 

In terms of your left-hand fingers getting more confident of their placement on the neck to make various notes or chords, see if you can pick out two chords that are relatively easy for you (let's say, D7 and A7, for starters). Practice going back and forth between those 2 chords until they feel pretty solid, THEN, CLOSE YOUR EYES and keep it up!

Your hands are in the process of getting the "feel" of the layout of strings and frets on the guitar, so they won't need so much supervision from your eyes further on down the line.

There will come a day when you say, "I can't believe I used to have such trouble with this - it feels easy to me now!"

Best of luck, and have fun! - Lisa

Thank you Lisa !

Bob