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making sure you don't hurt yourself and can continue to play for a long time


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Posted

i thought would start a thread about playing guitar and making sure you don't hurt youself and can continue to play for a long time. I've many bad habit that I've aquired over the years and i'm trying to correct many including:

 

standing up straight

not tensing up / using a lighter touch

keeping my wrist straight

not playing guitar lower than my knees

stop playing when it hurts, too much..

 

feel free to add, you may help someone else not get hurt...

  • Members
Posted

When sitting down, I put something under my foot so my guitar's not too low, I sit up straight, in a chair that has back support(A back, but not a recliner)

 

When standing, I set my strap so my guitar is not too low or high, but at a comfortable level for both my hands, meaning there is no tension or straining in either of my arms/shoulders, or any other part of my body to hold the guitar there.

 

Definetly do warm ups, slowly, depending on how long it takes, I normally do 10-15 minutes the first time I pick up a guitar each day.

 

There is a whole system of practice/playing, Which an author has done a book on, called "The Principles of Correct Practice for Guitar"... or something like that. Anyway it was my first introduction to playing without tension, and a worthy book to own. Even if you don't want to buy, the newsletter and forums are very helpfull. The author writes a lot of good essays about practice..etc...

  • Members
Posted

 

standing up straight

not tensing up / using a lighter touch

keeping my wrist straight

not playing guitar lower than my knees

stop playing when it hurts, too much..

 

 

I look down a lot when I play = neck ache

I tense/hard touch = hand ache

I grab hard when trying to do 16th note rhythm stuff = bone ache

Right elbow aches inside from strumming 16th note stuff.

 

I didn't start "playing" until I was 42. It took me 4 months of

not playing for my body to stop hurting from it.

 

I started up a few months ago and the aches and pains

are starting to return again.

 

When you are young nothing bothers you much but as you age,

all hell breaks lose on your body.

 

I've started playing/practicing for shorter durations at a time.

When I start aching I quit for a bit--I stopped playing for the

last two weeks to give my hands a rest.

 

Any other ideas to try and keep healthy?

  • Members
Posted

to expand my earlier comment

I started playing in the nineteen eighties.

biggest problem for me is wear and tear on finger joints - some people are more prone to it than others but it is a common condition - effecting people from their mid 30s - especially if you are prone to it. basically it means for me that long practice sessions or a heavy schedule lead to some pain (which for me distracts rather than prevent playing)

my problem is mild but I want to ensure that it does not get worse

my solution has been to use slightly lighter strings and to reduce pressure from fretting - its easy once you have buildt up finger strength to get into a habit of pressing too hard. you need to apply just enough pressure to prevent buzz

(problem for me is almost entirely when fretting)

used to practice scales in all positions up the neck but now wonder about the practical benefits of fretting the 1st string (bass) above the 10th fret when playing scales (who uses the high frets on the thickest strings)

I also put slightly lighter strings on my acoustic than I used to and use my backpacker less (backpackers invariably use a heavy guauge string and those are recommended for the instrument)

however it is also important to keep playing regularly - muscle strength helps

fortunately if you have been playing for some years - you probably have a certain amount of finger memory and a certain motor skills

hope someonme finds that helpful

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Posted

 

 

Try yoga.

 

There are people who started at 60+ and are currently masters. There is no age requirement to start yoga, and it gives benefits to every age. It certainly improves posture and balance, and this should give you some benefit. But then I am also quite positive that it could be successfully applied to playing the guitar, specifically. A similar thing can be probably done from Alexander technique.

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