arm hurting :(

Grachi · Unread post by **Grachi** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 12:49 am

lately my left arm (holds the frets) has been really bugging me playing guitar. I gave it a break for awhile and tried to get back into it and just after playing one song I feel like I can't play anymore for another 20 minutes or so. Think I just kinda totally stressed my arm out with guitar and I need to give it a longer break?

I was afraid that it was because of my new guitar, that somehow playing for prolonged periods on it wasn't agreeing with my arm just because of the feel of it, but it honestly doesn't feel much different then my old guitar.

The same arm hurting would happen on the old guitar, but only after playing like for 2 hours.

I don't know maybe I've just been practicing harder songs (warehouse, #41) where there are stretches that just kinda speeds up the straining process.

Think it could be how I'm positioning my left arm/ pressure on the fretboard? Just another thought...

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 1:10 am

you could possibly have improper technique, thats usually the cause of these sort of things

a1075dd63aa12 · Unread post by **a1075dd63aa12** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 3:49 am

fatjack wrote:you could possibly have improper technique, thats usually the cause of these sort of things

proper form is often overlooked, but really is one of the most important things

gravesRR7 · Unread post by **gravesRR7** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 8:11 am

where exactly does it hurt. describe it. and what kind of pain is it? (sharp, shooting, achy, throbbing)

is it only when you play guitar?

did it happen all of a sudden one day when playing guitar. or has it gotten progressively worse over time?

lemme know, i might be able to help

Grachi · Unread post by **Grachi** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 11:36 am

well if you turn your left arm over so your palm is facing up, it hurts on the right side of my forearm like 2 to 4 inches above the elbow like on the side/in the middle of the arm. It's like a sore pain, not really throbbing or sharp but consistent pain unless I just let my arm go limp. If I like try to take a position with it to play guitar it starts to hurt.

I would say it is shooting pain once it starts then it just like a sore pain until I let it relax like by my side or on an arm rest

It seems like only when I play guitar, or if it is right after playing guitar and it starts to feel better and then I use the arm for typing on the computer or golfing or something. It's not really progressively worse as it just seems to do it after I play guitar. It always hurts the same but doesn't get worse day by day or anything

edit: before it starts hurting, my arm feels warm or like a light burning before it becomes sore and has pain

StarSlight · Unread post by **StarSlight** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 3:47 pm

do you stretch before you start playing? warm up?

it's a good idea to stretch out your arms, wrists, fingers, and back before you start playing. even if you think it's silly, it might make you a lot more comfortable. i know i am.

another thing is, especially with dave tunes (those massive chords!), is to make sure your fingers are warmed up before you really start going for it. just start with some simple single note exercises, strum some simple open chords for a little while.

one thing that plagued me for a while was pressing too hard on the fretboard. i never even realized until my guitar teacher pointed it out. next time you play, try and see how little pressure you can apply and still have the note ring out clearly.

sorry if i insulted your intelligence at any point, the internet is crazy.

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Sat Jun 25, 2005 5:54 pm

StarSlight wrote:do you stretch before you start playing? warm up?

it's a good idea to stretch out your arms, wrists, fingers, and back before you start playing. even if you think it's silly, it might make you a lot more comfortable. i know i am.

another thing is, especially with dave tunes (those massive chords!), is to make sure your fingers are warmed up before you really start going for it. just start with some simple single note exercises, strum some simple open chords for a little while.

one thing that plagued me for a while was pressing too hard on the fretboard. i never even realized until my guitar teacher pointed it out. next time you play, try and see how little pressure you can apply and still have the note ring out clearly.

sorry if i insulted your intelligence at any point, the internet is crazy.

excellent point. the most common reason for the pain you are experience is misuse of strength, or more specifically, using the wrong muscles to play guitar.

being too tense way be whats causing this. if you feel like your entire arm has to be used to fret, then you have improper technique. the force for fretting should come ONLY from your fingers. not your shoulder, not your bicep, and most certainly not your wrist

HCHaikuWarrior · Unread post by **HCHaikuWarrior** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 11:08 am

definitely warm up, i usually start by playing watchtower and song that jane likes....little chords, little stretches

Grachi · Unread post by **Grachi** » Sun Jun 26, 2005 11:26 pm

thanks guys. This has definately helped. I started playing out smaller, easier stuff like proudest monkey and typical situation today just to warm up and every thing, and just played around a bit with chords, then I played some of the harder stretching stuff that I was practicing and my arms felt A LOT better.

I also tried out different pressures on the frets and everything to see how light I could go and I found out I was pressing a bit harder then I really needed to.

But thanks again. I played today for a long time and my arm was only slightly tired, and it was for like an hour and a half. I'm sure a combination of not really loosening up and pressing too hard just caught up with me eventually. Now I think it's improved my technique and is less stressful on my arm.

edit: I will definately try the stretching my arm/wrist/fingers out before I even hold the guitar next time. I'm sure that could definately part of it. Doing anything with tense muscles is just asking for pain. thanks for that too.

The Scarlet Pimpernel · Unread post by **The Scarlet Pimpernel** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:38 pm

fatjack wrote:you could possibly have improper technique, thats usually the cause of these sort of things

proper technique...what the hell is that....i've never used "proper technique" in my life and my arm has never had a problem, or my fingers, or anything else...

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:57 pm

The Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:
fatjack wrote:you could possibly have improper technique, thats usually the cause of these sort of things
proper technique...what the hell is that....i've never used "proper technique" in my life and my arm has never had a problem, or my fingers, or anything else...

looks like we have ourselves another rebel :roll:

a1075dd63aa12 · Unread post by **a1075dd63aa12** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:57 pm

fatjack wrote:
The Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:
fatjack wrote:you could possibly have improper technique, thats usually the cause of these sort of things
proper technique...what the hell is that....i've never used "proper technique" in my life and my arm has never had a problem, or my fingers, or anything else...
looks like we have ourselves another rebel

my thoughts exactly

The Scarlet Pimpernel · Unread post by **The Scarlet Pimpernel** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 10:58 pm

hahahaha...rebel....yeah, thats me.... :twisted:

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 11:00 pm

The Scarlet Pimpernel wrote:hahahaha...rebel....yeah, thats me....

regardless, you dont have to attempt to rebuke advice that could actually help just because you dont follow orthodox guitar techniques

The Scarlet Pimpernel · Unread post by **The Scarlet Pimpernel** » Mon Jun 27, 2005 11:05 pm

hey buddy, don't use big words when i'm concerned (:P)

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arm hurting :(

arm hurting :(

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