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Topic: Anyone with muscle/tendon pain on your 'bar' hand? |
Kevin Klimek
From:
Minnesota, USA
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Posted 20 Sep 2011 10:06 pm |
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| Not really sure how to describe this but I've had this problem on and off, forever! Sometimes I will get sort of an ache or cramping type of pain on my barring hand, sort of the feeling one would get in a muscle after too many reps of lifting free weights I suppose. The other night while doing an instrumental on my steel on a live radio show I had to nod to my guitar player to take a lead so I could quit and flex my left hand a bit to get rid of the muscle pain!!! Anyone else ever had this happen? |
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 20 Sep 2011 10:18 pm
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| It can hurt if I play for too long at the first fret where I have to push down hard to avoid rattling & buzzing. This is another reason to get good gauged nut rollers. |
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Brendan Mitchell
From:
Melbourne Australia
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Posted 20 Sep 2011 10:58 pm
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| I cramp up occasionally , just have to wait till it comes good . Can be painful . |
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 20 Sep 2011 11:28 pm
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I don't know if this will help but it used to happen to me. It turned out I was gripping the bar to hard. I spent the day with Buddy Charleton relearning how to hold the bar. Check out how cello players hold the bow. Same sorta idea.
_________________
Bob |
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Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
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Posted 21 Sep 2011 2:11 am
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I have recently been having a problem with my left thumb locking up.
I understand it's probably a tendon |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 21 Sep 2011 5:57 am
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Been having a problem coming on for about a year now.First finger and thumb joints hurt a bunch while I play but never any time else.
_________________
Cops aren't paid much so I steel at night. |
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Kevin Klimek
From:
Minnesota, USA
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Posted 21 Sep 2011 8:58 am thanks
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| Not happy to hear other folks are hurting too, but glad to know I'm not the only one. I think you're right...I tend to grip the bar too tight I think. Thanks for the responses fellas! |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 21 Sep 2011 9:22 am Just an olde timers' opinion....................
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I'd have to say that you must be doin' something WRONG!
There should be NO PAIN if you're doin' it properly.
No heavy downward pressure should be required on ANY steel guitar! Playing should be in a relaxed mode.
Think about what it is you're doing and alter it.
LOL. |
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Dick Sexton
From:
Greenville, Ohio
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Posted 21 Sep 2011 9:33 am Yes...
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| Left wrist at the bone. I have a bone spur issue that makes it heart. If I play 6 string for an hour, my fingers and thumb of the left hand go numb a little. Playing steel is not a problem though. Thank you Lord! |
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Jon Hyde
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 21 Sep 2011 10:45 am
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| I had a similar experience to Bob H's. I was tensing up my left hand and gripping too tightly. It was causing me problems! Luckily, I figured it out and taught myself to relax and I haven't had any trouble with it for years... |
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Clete Ritta
From:
San Antonio, Texas
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Posted 22 Sep 2011 6:59 pm
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I had some nerve damage on my left hand years ago which never seemed to bother me on 6 string but cropped up on PSG. After playing for a long time I would get cramps and/or tingling in the left hand. I switched to a 12 string bar which is larger and heavier a few years ago, and that helped a ton (pun intended). Im still a new player, and part of it was muscle development (cramps from strenuous practicing are gone). The heavier bar gives me a more relaxed grip which may have helped the tingling syndrome go away as well.
Clete |
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Roger Francis
From:
kokomo,Indiana, USA
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Posted 23 Sep 2011 6:47 am
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| Ive had the same thing Kevin and i think Bob H is rite! i use to tense up when i played i would start cramping on the back of my hand behind my index finger cause i held the bar too tight or was pushing down too hard. Playing relaxed has stopped it and it's been years since that's happened |
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Kevin Klimek
From:
Minnesota, USA
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Posted 23 Sep 2011 9:36 am Roger:
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Roger...you nailed it...that's EXACTLY what I have happening and I'm already trying to ease up. I think the fear was that I'd lose grip of my bar and it would sail into the audience and take someone's front teeth out. 
Thanks again.
KK |
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