Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers

Subject: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: GUEST,Wil R.
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 06:51 PM

I'm 44, and have been teaching myself guitar for 2 1/2 years. I've noticed that most mornings when I wake up, my left hand fretting fingers ache (sp?). My right hand is fine (I'm a fingerpicker.) I practice at least 2 and 1/2 hours a day (with breaks in between.) When I wake up and feel the "slight ache" in my fretting fingers, I bend my fingers a few times and the pain slowly goes away. I now try to do some simple finger exercises in the first 3 frets each time I practice (I don't play barre chords often.) To my knowledge, I don't have arthiritis (sp.) Any suggestions? Also, this problem started in the last 2 months.

Wil

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: Louie Roy
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 07:25 PM

It sound to me like the begining of carpal tunnel,but only a doctor can determine this

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: GUEST,Wil
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 08:02 PM

I play a 3/4 size acoustic guitar. I wonder if I should start using my auditorium style guitar? My 3/4 guitar has a slightly shorter fret board.

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 08:23 PM

Sounds to me like standard guitar player ache....

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: Ebbie
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 08:27 PM

The last few years I've had a lot of trouble with the frettin' fingers. They got really bad for awhile.

A few things that helped:

* I switched to light strings. I still prefer the sound of mediums but the luthier showed me on paper who much more psi it takes to press the mediums down. Couldn't argue with that.

* I started concentrated on not pressing as hard. Press down only as hard as you have to to get a clean tone. I had to practice that a lot- and I'm still not cured of that bad habit.

* I stretch my fingers and hand before and during when I do any serious playing. One of the easily controlled methods is to straddle the fingers over the left leg, easing them apart. A few minutes of that gains me added mobility and flexibility.

* I simply don't play as hard as I did. I've discovered that I don't have to play every single song or tune that someone is playing. Nowadays I get a lot more fun out of just listening. Sometimes when there are people in the circle who are used to watching hands to see what chords I use, I will make the chords (air guitar!) with the hand but not even touch the strings.

Oh- I also consulted Doctor Guitar! Most helpful.

Good luck, Wil R.

Ebbie

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: Mr Happy
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 08:29 PM

Solution is - Don't practice alone at home!

Get yerself out to seshes al over- interaction with others + pickin up tips'll chill you out more'n with a few scoops you'll never notice yer bits've aches!

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: Bobert
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 08:59 PM

Welcome to the world of being a guitar player... But don't worry... It gets worse... LOL...

But maybe you are overplayin' yer frettin' hand.... Hmmmmm, you say you been playin' only 2 1/2 years... Yeah, just maybe you don't have to mash down quite as hard to keep the buzz out... I remember when I started playin' a long time ago, I wanted to be sure that every chord change was sharp and so I would overplay the heck outta my fretin' hand...

Rwelated to that think about yer thumb... If you find that it isn't like just sliding 'round free and easy then that is evidence that you are mashin'....

Now, if you find that is the case then yer just going to have to move up menatlly one position toward being a better player and that means.... less mashin'....

But then agin, it might just be arthritis and if so... glucosemin and congointin (sp)...

Good Luck...

Bobert

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: Kaleea
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 10:26 PM

Wil, I have been fighting arthritis since I was a teen, & carpal tunnel for 5 years due to injuries, & I know it is not fun.    Sometimes everyone gets ache-y when playing alot. Arthritis is more likely to be in the joints or maybe in the bones of the "back" of your hand. Carpal tunnel usually shows up with tingling or stinging aka numbness of the fingers. Have you hurt your neck lately? The occipital nerve being inflamed/injured can cause carpal tunnel symptoms sometimes. You might consider getting some wrist splints & use them while you sleep. I have to wear mine all the time-even when I play. It isn't easy playing with them on!
I wonder if you played a different guitar for awhile would the symptoms be the same? Perhaps you have a terrific guitar, but my first one [a handmedown Harmony] was very difficult to play. The distance between the strings & the fingerboard was aking to the grand canyon-at least that's what it felt like. If the guitar you are playing is small, do you have the same problems if you play your other one?
I like the stretching & light strings Ebbie mentioned. Do you play when you are tired or just before going to bed? Maybe you need to relax for awhile after playing-or do stretches/flexes after playing, too. Try a variety of things, & see what works & what doesn't. Let us know how things are going!

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: Don Firth
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 10:57 PM

If you have a DVD player, there is a DVD available that lays out some really good practice exercises (Elderly Instruments also has it in VHS). It's aimed at classical guitarists, but the exercises can apply to any style of guitar. It isn't an instruction video as such—not "How to Play Classic Guitar"—it's a collection of exercises and "calisthenics" for both hands, aimed at increasing speed and dexterity. It's by concert guitarist and teacher Scott Tennant, a member of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet. It's called "Pumping Nylon."

Fear not. All of it should work for players of steel-string guitars as well, and if you can master most of the stuff he shows (you don't have to be able to read music—he demonstrates), there won't be much of anything you can't do on a guitar.

One of the things Tennant points out—and this is the reason I'm recommending it for Wil R's consideration—is that most guitarists use far more pressure fretting the strings than they really need to, and this can lead to all kinds of bad stuff, such as soreness and inability to free up the hand to move fast. Relaxation is the key! He shows you how to find out how much pressure you really need, and gives some exercises to get your fingers used to playing lightly.

Give it a shot. It might solve the problem. Or at least help.

Clicky. The Elderly Instruments blurb is not entirely accurate. The video runs 157 minutes, not 137.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: GUEST,Wil
Date: 01 Apr 06 - 11:09 PM

Thanks for the good advice! I will get light strings on Monday and try playing my larger guitar more to see what happens. I know I press the strings down too hard when playing. I'm trying to get better at that. I'll stop playing right before bed when I'm tired and stretch more. My ache in basically in my fingers only. There's no numbness or tingling. I have a stretch cloth bandage wrapped on my wrist. I'll use it from now on when playing to see if it helps. Thanks again for the tips! The guitar is so much fun! I wish I had discovered it as a teen. Better later than never I guess.

Wil

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: s&r
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 06:58 AM

Wil - I would ask myself what changed two months ago. New strings? New posture? Different chair? New activities other than guitar?

Stu

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: Bernard
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 07:38 AM

Another thing that helps, but is only usually practical at home - have a bowl of hot water nearby, and immerse your hand in it for a while when the pain starts. It needs to be as hot as you can stand. My doctor suggested it, and it works.

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: open mike
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 10:30 AM

I was having trouble with numbness, tingling and paralysis in my
left hand last year and it was attributed to cervical nerve damage.
the neck is delicate and the signals that control the arm and hands
come thru there. I had been going to a chiropractor but the doc that
did the MRI cautioned against neck adjustments (cracking) as there
might have been more damage done by that.

How are your finger tips? you do not mention any problems with your
callusses. there are probably some ways to help build these up too.
and ways to break them down....such as by washing dishes...

you might also try some of those gloves with the fingers cut off.
dancers often wear knee warmers...to keep their muscles warm...and
that might help your hands too. good luck...how do you find time to
play for over 2 hours every day?

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: GUEST,Wil
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 11:48 AM

Hi OpenMike and Others,

I started playing/teaching myself with my larger nylon string guitar (for 2 years). I only switched to my 3/4 steel string guitar in Jan. 2006. My callouses had already built up at that time. They stung for awhile due to the steel strings, but toughed up after a month. I haven't had any neck issues that I know of. As far as playing 2 hours a day, I just find the time after work to practice my guitar for 2 hours and then learn new songs (being single and childless helps). I usually practice for 30 min. in the morning and do the rest at night.

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: s&r
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 12:17 PM

Sounds like you need a setup on your steel strung guitar. You say you don't play barre chords often - that suggests that you are using the first three frets most of the time. Frequently the action at the nut is higher than ideal; this means added pressure is needed particularly at fret 1.

Your problems coincide with the change of guitar it seems. With a good setup the steel strung guitar should be very little different to play to your nylon one.

Another possibility is that your holding of the smaller guitar is less secure, resulting in using the neck as a handle. Make sure that you can hold the guitar securely with your arms/body without having to grip with your hands. If your grip on the neck is tight, your hand will be subject to constant strain.

Stu

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: Suffet
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 12:17 PM

Greetings:

I have been getting numbness, tingling, and sometimes pain in my fingers, especially the fingers of the left hand. My doctor sent me to a rehab and sports medicine specialist who gave me an electrical conductivity test -- not very pleasant -- which indicated that I was showing early signs of carpal tunnel syndrome. At the same time, the tests ruled out any pinched cervical nerves. An x-ray, however, revealed some osteoathritis in my neck and shoulders which had been limiting my range of motion, particularly my ability to tilt my head to either side. I have no problem moving my head forward or back and I can turn to the left or right, but I cannot tilt my head left or right more than a few degrees.

The first course of treatment for both the carpal tunnel syndrome and the osteoarthritis has been physical therapy. To treat the carpal tunnel, I have to dip my hands up to the wrists in hot liquid parafin to loosen them up, and then the therapist manipulates the hands to open up the tunnels. This relieves the pressure on the nerves that pass through the wrists. So far this therapy has led to some improvement, but the symptoms have not entirely disappeared. The physical therapist and the doctor believe that's the best outcome for the time being. If the condition worsens despite treatment, the next step would be surgery on the wrists. I hope it never comes to that.

--- Steve

Subject: RE: Help: Sore Fretting (left hand) fingers
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 02 Apr 06 - 07:15 PM

Frequently the action at the nut is higher than ideal; this means added pressure is needed particularly at fret 1.

You could try sticking a capo on the first fret when you are playing, and see if that makes life easier. If it does seem to help noticeably, s&r's suggestion of getting the action at the nut reduced would be a good idea. (You could likely do it yourself, if you are careful.)