Playing with pain!

[Jmz5]

First I want to thank JKanter for making such an incredible web site. I cannot express enough how much your tabs have helped me play (the right way). There are alot of tabs out there, yours are the only that can be held credible.
WIth that said, I have been playing for a little over a year now and had experinced pain in my fingers (joints) when I first started and was advised to play through it. I did and havn't had any problems. I am now begining to play 41, cry freedom,etc.... all songs that are chord stretch intensive and my wrist is F@#&ing killing me . Anyone who has gone through this or has advice, please enlighten me.

[firedancer86]

I had the hardest time (usually from playing for hours) getting my wrist to bend like Dave. I pretty much played through it and worked those joints and muscles to get em' to work smoothly. There is one thing that I believe helps me a a guitarist; whenever I stretch or play barr chords or even have to press hard to eliminate the disstorted buzz sound (that comes from pressing too gently), I always use my "hitch-hikers thumb" (when you can turn your thumb back to yourself) to get more leverage...playing stuff like the nature intro to trippin billies is hard to play unless you can get your wrist to turn round' that neck.


Hope this helps...
FIREDANCER86

[firedancer86]

I had the hardest time (usually from playing for hours) getting my wrist to bend like Dave. I pretty much played through it and worked those joints and muscles to get em' to work smoothly. There is one thing that I believe helps me a a guitarist; whenever I stretch or play barr chords or even have to press hard to eliminate the disstorted buzz sound (that comes from pressing too gently), I always use my "hitch-hikers thumb" (when you can turn your thumb back to yourself) to get more leverage...playing stuff like the nature intro to trippin billies is hard to play unless you can get your wrist to turn round' that neck. Instead of wrapping your thumb over top, slip it as close to the high e string as you can (hard to build a visual here...)


Hope this helps...
FIREDANCER86

[chrisnewman]

Playing guitar is a lot like working out. Before you start to play, you should stretch your fingers. You should also work out your fingers when you're not playing.

Basically, you're going to have pain whenever you do anything that's more challenging than you're used to. It will go away, though, as you're tendons stretch. And Dave's shit is definately challenging, as far as stretches go.

Good luck.
Chris

[Jonny B Good]

Playing guitar is a lot like working out. Before you start to play, you should stretch your fingers. You should also work out your fingers when you're not playing.

Basically, you're going to have pain whenever you do anything that's more challenging than you're used to. It will go away, though, as you're tendons stretch. And Dave's shit is definately challenging, as far as stretches go.

Good luck.
Chris

Couldn't agree more...i remember teaching friends at random times how to play certain songs...they are trying to mimic the chord's I'm making and their wrists and fingers were just NOT cooperating..

it takes time...and you won't see the change from day to day...but practice will get you there!

[dmfollower]

hi. on the topic of a sore wrist, i feel the pain too. the only guitar music i really bothered to learn was dmb and after playing some other(easier) stuff i've found that dave is the only guy out there that play's the really intense chords(kinda like classical music). some people have said that the sore wrist is just part of playing but i've got some dave bootlegs where he actually talks about "his" sore wrist. if you've ever seen him play live you'll notice sometimes he wears a wrist strap. dave said that he's got bad carpul-tunnel in his left wrist. i think its from the long stretched out chords, not a matter not stretching. i guess it just comes along with playing such pimp ass shit.

[DmBillies41]

My wrists still get sore when playing some songs...Crash, Satellite and others...just keep playing tho