Hey guys. I just started playing the guitar a month ago, and seeing how there really isn't a music forum at soompi, I just decided to post here. Well, my left wrist (fretting hand) has been hurting a little after practice, but I didn't think much of it. But just the other night, it hurt like CRAZY! It could have been the fact that I overdid it and practiced for an hour instead of 30 minutes, and I was going crazy with the chords. Or it just might be the technique? I'm just afraid of getting tendonitis or what not and not being able to play again.

So today morning, I practiced for just 15 minutes, and changed my technique a little...(keeping my wrist straight as much as possible) and there was no pain while playing, but it was still a little sore. I'm thinking it's from yesterday.

Meanwhile, my right arm (strumming arm) gets sore while I play. I think it's because the width (does that make sense) of my guitar's a little too thick for me. I'm only about 5'2, and I still have baby hands. --;;

But so my real question is...are there ways to ease or completely eliminate the pain while playing, and after playing? Is it a technique problem? Or is it just because I'm new to this? Thanks. Sorry for the long read.

Meanwhile, my right arm (strumming arm) gets sore while I play. I think it's because the width (does that make sense) of my guitar's a little too thick for me. I'm only about 5'2, and I still have baby hands. --;;

But so my real question is...are there ways to ease or completely eliminate the pain while playing, and after playing? Is it a technique problem? Or is it just because I'm new to this? Thanks. Sorry for the long read.
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First (I haven't checked so if you've done this forgive me), if you have not already, please introduce yourself in the pinned thread.

As far as your hands:
It's because you are new to it. However, your comfort level is also based upon your technique. A sloppy hand will create problems not just physically but musically as well. It's a skill that requires attention. Since you just started learning, of course it's going to feel awkward and perhaps hurt, your hands aren't used to playing the guitar.

If you want to get serious with it, outside of playing the guitar do hand and finger exercises. Rotate your hand (slowly), move your fingers rapidly, generally losing it up a little, treat it like warming up for a nice run. Don't crack the wrist or knuckles, it'll only create problems later in life.

And you aren't experiencing tendonitis, if anything it's carpal tunnel syndrome, or just discomfort from your hand being in a continual state for long periods. Play a song, take a break, play a song, take a break. Espically since you are new at it, don't dive in. You must first learn to crawl before you can walk or run.

About the guitar width, I'm assuming you're playing on a acoustic guitar rather than an electric one. Off the top of my head I can't recall if they make skinnier guitars. So find a sweet spot: a spot where you can rest the guitar in your arm well without it being a discomfort for long periods.

I've been self-teaching myself to play the guitar for a year and a bit. So far so bad. Aside from a few cheesy tunes, i can pretty much play nothing. Chords are hard to play as i'm a bit older and my fingers are not as fluent and intiutively quick as they were in my younger days. It's so messed up. I find it nearly impossible to move from one chord to the next without taking 5 seconds to re-adjust myself.

Tips appreciated!

Repetitions and lots of them. Also do an incredible amount of scales. The very first lessons in guitar should focus on technique, transitions, and comprehension. Uncomfortable playing different chords? Hammer it out. Before attempting to play a song, do lots and lots of scales. Start with single note scales to full out chord scales. The point is, driving home the idea that it becomes familiar, it becomes natural for you to move from one chord to the next, fast, easy and fluid.

Hone those skills.

These are the fundamentals of guitar. Grasp these and the rest of it comes easier(those still difficult). Look at how little kids are taught how to play the piano: the first is where notes are, the scale, chords, more chords, rythm, accents, sharps and flats, majors and minors, tone, and combining it all together. Do the same with the guitar. When you get frustrated take a break, relax, calm yourself, and try again.

I'm getting this weird creepy feeling in my left hand. That's not good...is it? =/

Great! The voodoo powers of Jimi Hendrix are working on you!

Man, I wish I had the talent to play guitar. Even at an air band contest back in high school, I was so bad that my friends complained that my air guitar sounded out of tune.

I've been playing guitar for a year and 3 months now and I'm still not all that good, but I don't have long enough hands for the fretboard so it makes it harder for me to play, give or take I don't practice all that often as well. What I did that really helped me out was buying a guitar strap so I wouldn't be straining my left hand while playing.

takes time to get used to. your fingertips will harden as you keep playing. you just have to fight through it for now. later on, you wont feel it much

I'm trying not to think too much about it. But I remember my instructor telling me that getting those sensations isn't good, something about tendonitis/carpal tunnel syndrome. I am such a hypochondriac. lol.

but yeah...my wrist is hurting a bit and my hand feels a bit tingly and stuff. I guess if it gets worse after a week I'll go see my physician.

Most probably, your hand positions are incorrect. That would explain the tension you're feeling in your hand during and after you play.

You mentioned an instructor...he should correct you on this stuff. Because if you develop bad habits now in terms of positions and posture, it may take a long time to unlearn.

Off the top of my head, I do know that different guitar makers have different neck sizes. I've come to realise that my Washburn is kind of thick, but it always felt right to me. My Les Paul is much much thinner.

>_< nope!
but i do play the drums & piano!
im okay with mixing music too usin turntables..
well not all that okay....kinda sucky.

im gonna agree with the above poster and say you're holding it wrong. (or your hands are too big/small to comfortably hold the chords).

Long post ahoy. I've been playing bass, bass guitar, viola, and guitar for quite some time, thought I'd chip in what I could.



Your hand/wrist area most likely hurts because it's not used to the amount of stress you're having to put on it when you're fretting your notes. This is much more pronounced and such when you're doing barre chords, so if you're doing that now (which, quite frankly, after a month you should!), that may be it. How are you holding your guitar? A lot of people use force to hold up the head of their guitars via the gap between the thumb and the pointer finger. This not only increases stress on your hand, but limits movement of your hand, and thus movement of your fingers. You should actually try to have your fingers "up" if you will, above the fretboard as much as possible.

As for your strumming arm, it really depends on what you're doing with it. First, you shouldn't be strumming with your arm - your movement is supposed to come from your forearm and wrist. That may be the problem. If the pain is coming from resting your arm on the side of the body, then invest in a guitar strap. Quite truthfully, you're more likely than not to end up getting one anyways. Learn to fit it to your body so that it stays put comfortably with minimal support from your hands/arms.



Electric guitars are much skinnier, and some electric guitars are much skinnier than others, but more than that she should focus on a guitar body that fits, as the reach from bridge to where she has to place her arm is more important.



Quite simply, you're not practicing enough! Chords aren't easy to really do at first, but the more you practice transitions, the better your muscle memory becomes. Pick about three chords a week, and focus on moving back and forth between them. I swear to you that by the end of the week, you'll be able to do it quickly, and probably even would be able to do it in the dark.



Anyone can play the guitar.



If you're playing on an acoustic or classical guitar, the fretboard is much wider due to the better sound it produces. Electrics have pickup systems which eliminate that need to a degree, think about getting one of those. Also, try rotating your entire hand around the fretboard so your palm isn't under the neck, but almost right next to it. It'll give you more reach and better dexterity.



Again, don't press the neck too hard into your wrist. That's really the only reason you'd be getting all of those sensations.



This guy is correct!

Any other questions? What kind of music do you guys play? What got you all started?

So just wondering...any of you guys heard of "daisy rock" guitars? I'm thinking they might be a better fit for me, but how's the quality, the sound, the price? etc etc

More of a gimmick than a real guitar.

I've tried rotating my entire hand around the fretboard, but it still didn't help, i've even gone to professional guitarist and they've told me that because my hand is so small and short that because i'm playing an acoustic guitar anyway I try to play will be uncomfortable for me unless I get a specially made acoustic guitar. I have to have an acoustic guitar for when I play the piano my stupid piano teacher told me that I need to learn how to sync playing a piano with a guitar.

I'm not new at playing the piano i've been playing it for 18 years, but my parents signed me up for a piano teacher and that's what she's making me do and treating me like i've never played a piano before.

I picked up a guitar watching live dvd's of my favorite bands and I wanted to learn to play guitar exactly like them because it would be fun.

Hm... well, what problems are you having specifically? Trouble reaching across the six strings or trouble moving up and down the neck? A lot of piano players who move to guitar tend to have a "home" position (sort of like middle c/whatever), but there is a lot of movement in guitar.

Why is a piano teacher teaching you to play guitar?

So I had my lesson today and told my instructor about the pain/funny feeling I've been having. He said that my technique was fine, so he really couldn't tell what was wrong.

Do you guys think I should still go see a doctor...?

Just go see a doctor, it'll be like 20$. If he finds nothing wrong, think about a different teacher.

i was thinking about picking up on playing the guitar.
i've been having a lot of free time lately just at home...
but this thread makes it sound soooooo hard, and i'm a little discouraged.
i mean..i know everything is hard at first...but guitar seems super hard.


anyways...if i do start playing...any buying suggestions?
decent brands...what to do look for. the do's and don'ts.
i'm not looking for super good quality...i have a tendency to pick up hobbies then quit. xP
so something that's not super crap...but doesn't have to be the investment of a lifetime.

What's your budget? Do you want an electric or acoustic?

I can move my hand up and down the neck easily, but I can't reach across the fretboard without straining my hand. I don't have a home position on the piano anymore I start where I want to and end where I want to.

My piano teacher (which I don't need since i've been playing the piano for 17 years) is also a guitar teacher. She's been playing guitar for 28 years and piano for 10.

i took lessons for a month. i haven't really played since school started though =/
i'm mostly having trouble with switching between chords and trying to press multiple strings with 1 finger. overall, guitar doesn't seem that difficult(especially after playing piano for 10 years), i just don't practice enough. also, i want an electric guitar someday.

i guess my question would be: how do you play without the pick? and is there any reason to do that?

i'd like an acoustic. the cheaper the better.

Ah, I see. What kind of guitar are you using? If you're using a classical guitar (nylon strings), then I could def. see that being a problem. Acoustics have a sort of wide range of neck widths, and electrics are usually thinnest because they don't need the proper acoustic properties that a wider neck gives. Think about buying a different guitar if it's a bit too wide, but keep in mind that your hand/fingers will stretch out a bit... when i first started i could barely do a G chord, let alone a barre, but yeah... practice will make things easier.


You play without the pick by fingerpicking or simply strumming with the thumb, it gives it a more "mellow" sound... and yeah, it doesn't seem very difficult, but without practice, anything is.


How cheap? For a decent sounding acoustic that will last you at least a few years, you would be looking to spend around 200$.

my brother is getting me a bass guitar for my birthday. i'm a lefty. should i get a left-handed bass or a regular?

Go ahead and try both, but I'd recommend the left-hand bass. The difference in cost should only be like 20-50$ MAX.

if you have small hands - i would definitely go for a smaller-scale guitar, especially if you're a beginner! unless you're going to perform professionally somewhere, it's ok if you don't have a $3000 guitar, though if you reach that level, you'll probably invest in some more guitars. plus, as you progress, your hands will get used to the unnatural positions and you'll be able to play larger guitars more easily.

even some pros use daisy's cuz they are easy to play and just plain fun to look at. i own a daisy bass myself, and though i haven't played it publicly in over a year, anytime i meet someone new, they're like - YOU'RE THE ONE WITH THE FLOWER BASS!!

squier (by fender) also makes very affordable small-scale guitars with all sorts of cool designs, like hello kitty (maybe i have one of those too ;P), obey, probably other stuff

anyhow - keep at it, as long as you enjoy it

good luck!
-s


i concur! no point in making it any harder for yourself!
mel - since you're so tiny, you may want to consider a smaller-scale bass as well (~30" neck) - daisy, squier bronco or hello kitty series, fender jaguar ... though i dunno if these small guys come in lefty

you can always learn to play it upside down.. hehehe - good luck!
let us know what you end up getting!


-- also - this is slightly off-topic, but if you guys have PS2, you should definitely check out GUITAR HERO - it's a lot of fun

Bass guitarists are always in high demand when people want to form a band...now add in the fact that it's a hot asian female bass guitarist...I think my head might implode

^ hehe... "asian female," yes... "hot" and "bass guitarist," not so much. but i would love to join a band! how fun would that be?

i think given my size, i could definitely use a smaller instrument. and i just googled the hello kitty squier and IT IS SO SO SO CUTE. but i emailed my brother the link and he replied "hello kitty goodbye self-respect." i'm pretty sure he's going to veto it and any other small pink guitar just on principle when he chooses.

i'm told more precision is required from the hand that strums or picks or whatever it's called, but what i would think is that you'd want your more dominant hand on the neck of the guitar because that's the hand that needs to move around and find the positions. i'm really really really left-handed... i might just stop by a music store and hold them and see how they feel... but i kinda think it shouldn't matter much either way.

PSH. but you'll be the one playing it. It's all about YOOOOUUU

You DO realize that you could buy a good guitar and make custom decals for it, right?

*sigh*

=p

haha i'm not actually thinking of buying a small pink guitar. i actually would prefer a good basic instrument, not too extravagant for a beginner but decent enough in quality that i could sell it if it doesn't work out (if i decide i hate the bass or if the handedness thing bothers me). i stopped at a guitar center today to test out left-handed and right-handed bass guitars. maybe it was just me, but they felt exactly the same. since the employee helping me was also left-handed and told me how he spent five years looking for a suitable left-handed guitar and wishes he'd learned the normal kind, i decided i should try right-handed. if it pans out and i notice i'm having problems, i'll make the switch.

I have an acoustic guitar, but i've been looking at other kinds of guitars it's just with my guitar now my fingers just barely get the strings. I've wanted an electric guitar, but i'm not sure what kind to get and if I should get a left or right handed one because i'm left handed, but do mostly everything with my right hand. I do believe that practice does make it easier, but how long of practicing a day does it usually take before it gets easier or does it just vary by person?

Wow Ive been waiting forever for a guitar thread somewhere. I just started playing this summer and am learning by myself.

I have a Epiphone Black Beauty Imitation and I put on some heavier strings on it (11s) and now the high notes on my high E string wont play (like around the 17-19 frets). I think my bridge is bent a bit or something because it seems the string around that area touch the metal columns separating the frets. Otherwise it plays fine so I havent gotten around to bringing it in to a shop to see if ti can be fix, but I was wondering if you guys know if there is a way it can be fixed first and will it cause problems in the future.

Like everything else in life, it's going to vary by person based mostly on things such as musical inclinations, previous work with instruments, learning adaptiveness, etc., but practice is what really makes someone good. I would recommend at least an hour a day at first to just mess around with chords/scales and stuff. The more you practice, the more nimble your hands and fingers will become, so don't worry about that!


Could you post a picture of the guitar's head/bridge/affected part of the neck?

i played guitar for 3 1/2 years and i have a Takamine G Series, right now im kind of interested in buying a electric since im learning how to solo now, but man since when were elixir strings so expensive??? $30 for the whole set, i used to buy them for $15

http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?act...t&p=3621592

Haha, I think your brother's response was great. That was actually what went through my head when I read about Hello Kitty guitars for the first time. But then again, picking your own guitar is about expressing your own personal tastes as well. So if that's something you like, then go for it.

As for choosing which hand to use...I think it's a toss up. From a learning standpoint, it might be easier to learn if your teacher played with the same hand as you did, but if a teacher is good, it really shouldn't matter. I think if you are just learning to play, either hand can be trained, it doesn't really matter as long as you learn correctly. If it were true that it's easier for a dominant hand to find the chords on the neck, then you would see most right handed people strumming with their left hands, which isn't the case




Just sight your neck, like you would do with a pool cue. It does sound like the neck might be slightly warped. If that's the case, that kinda sucks, but you could probably adjust the bridge a bit to raise the strings more, if you're willing to tolerate the slight change in tone and feel.

Now that I read over his post again, I see that he'd bought an Epiphone.

That's why.

this is probably not a question any of you can answer, but i just received the guitar this evening and i still can't open the case. i think it's locked. there's no key but there is this bendable metal stick but that might've just been junk accidentally packed away along with the padding.

edit: actually that wasn't a question was it

Post a picture. Many cases come with a lock. Do one of the folding tabs on your case have a hole in the middle?

hahahaha...
my first guitar was an epiphone...sounded like strings on a slab of plaster...
now i'm living large with my tacoma dred (NOT the truck)
ahndee, got 10 packs of elixers for 50 bucks...musicians friend had a clearance
but apparently you can't find them at guitar center, which kinda sucks, cause if you popped a pack and you need another one, you kinda have to sit and wait. Ditch the tac, move up to taylor or martin. The G series sounds like a toy imo.
http://www.wildwoodguitars.com/ the BEST place to get your gear.

hahahaha i spent like how many days trying to pry open the case with that dumb stick and it turned out to be just some random stick accidentally packed away. my brother emailed the guy he bought it from and it turns out the case was really really really easy to open yay

well well! you should post a pic of your new friend!

I remember the first time I saw you, I was surprised that you could play the guitar. Do you know a Dr Umfu? he told me he was your best man and your drummer

heehee



fender standard jazz bass guitar with arctic white finish and tortoise pickguard... yes, i decided not to go the lefty route. now i need to buy a CHEAP amp. any suggestions?

Mel...that's beautiful!

i bought a guitar a year or so ago and took lesson but with school and everything i forgot all of it
my hand became soft again... ><

and i have small hands for a guy and my pinky is really bent... i wish i can show you cuz it's really weird ahaha... anyway, everytime i practice my pinky gets in the way of my ring finger... i dont think my hands are meant to play guitar

but im still trying