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Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.banjohangout.org/archive/73841
Beacon - Posted - 02/03/2007: 17:11:02
Hello again everyone. Sorry for all of my topics lately, but you guys are an invaluable resource! :D
I find that when after playing for a while, my left hand begins to have some pain in between the middle and ring fingers. I don't want to cause any damage to my hand, so wanted to know I could be doing wrong.
I have my thumb against the neck, but the rest of my hand does not touch it. Any ideas?
spiritwolf7 - Posted - 02/03/2007: 18:00:10
When I first started I found that my hands would cramp up too. What I've found is that the cramping has deminished as I have gone on. I believe that in my case it was the finger, hand & wrist muscles being used in new ways. I continued practicing somewhat byond when I started to feel the discomfort and in a relatively brief time I quit noticing the pain. I wouldn't recommend forcing yourself to play much byond the onset of pain though.
SpiritWolf
tombrien - Posted - 02/03/2007: 19:42:37
Each time I do anything new with my muscles, there has been some pain from using my muscles in a different way than I was before. I agree with spirit, the pain will subside as your muscles become more accustomed to what you are using them for. And also I agree that as a beginner, you should try not to overdo it, as this could cause permenant damage. Just do what you are capable of for now, and as you progress, you will be able to play longer before the pain sets in. Most importantly of all, just have fun, and keep pickin' away,
Tom Brien
Pickin' my life away
NINJO - Posted - 02/03/2007: 21:33:04
Be very careful. Be sure to stretch and warm up before you pick. In the first two years I picked I developed tendonitis and had to stop for six months. Don't play through any pain you feel is too much. Give yourself 10-15 minutes to shake out your hands and stretch them before picking.
The best picker is the one having the most fun.
pmcnamara - Posted - 02/03/2007: 23:11:32
Warm up with some licks that you know without thinking about what song/lick you are working on..The fact that you have pain means something is wrong with the way you are fretting, or using your left hand. You mentioned that you have your thumb against the neck, most of the time I have it wrapped aroung the neck, this depends on the notes being fretted. What ever is the easiest for me is the best, this is something you have to figure out by yourself. This pain you are having is not "normal", nor unsurmountable to solve. You need to figure out what is causing the pain..fretting is not a brute force required thing, that might be part of your problem; maybe you are trying to over fret and causing excessive work...I can only guess. Step back and honestly analyze what your fretting hand is doing, but above all else, if it hurts, stop. Pain means something ain't right.
rwkuta - Posted - 02/03/2007: 23:37:26
Ive been playing the banjer for 2 years.
The guitar for almost 30. My left hand still cramps up but always during the first 10 minutes or so. Mine are between the thumb and first finger. Just fight thru it. Thats what I do.
"Obsession is a great subsitute for talent" Steve Martin
http://www.nowhereradio.com/artists...5033&alid=-1
Edited by - rwkuta on 02/04/2007 14:34:40
bobbimcmillin - Posted - 02/04/2007: 06:52:58
When you fret the notes are you clamping down like a vice grip or just pressing the string down just enough to touch the fret? If you're exerting a lot of pressure, either with your thumb on the back of the neck or with your fingers fretting the strings, you will end up with cramps in your hand. Also make sure that you use a strap, so you're not having to support the neck of the banjo with your left hand.
Bobbi McMillin, CMT
Banjo pickin' is a good stress reliever.
What I play: Piano (since 1981), Fiddle and mando-banjo (since 2003) Deering GT2 (since May 2005)
http://bobbimcmillin.bravehost.com/
http://www.myspace.com/banjopicker_bobbi
http://www.livejournal.com/~bobbimcmillin/
http://www.ourmedia.org/user/27003
AD3AD3AD3 - Posted - 02/05/2007: 09:10:28
I find that cramping happens when our hand gets tired or when we've been learning a new chord or sequence of notes that requires a forced stretch. Taking a break helps, as does using a lighter touch on the fingerboard.
Ad3
crowestyle - Posted - 02/05/2007: 09:27:45
A little discomfort is normal whenever you try something new. Pain is not. If you are getting a little muscle discomfort it is perfectly normal. If it is causing you actual pain you may want to get someone to take a look at what you're doing and correct the problem.
"I don't have a girlfriend, I just know a girl who would get really mad if she heard me say that."- Mitch Hedberg
www.myspace.com/crowestyle
Mr. Disco - Posted - 02/05/2007: 15:57:16
Beacon --
You're probably cramping working on the 3- and 4-finger shapes. You need to do that, yeah. But when it's been hurting for a minute or two I back off and work on 2- or 3- finger exercises -- Janet Davis Scales book is good for this -- or get off chords and scales and hop into some tunes. I relax, my hand relaxed and it's all good. If the problem is a constant, I'll try to work up my endurance to running the chord drills I'm doing one or two more times or a couple clicks on metro-gnome faster than the day before.
Shalom.
-- Mr. Disco