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Topic: Lap Steel Elbow?? |
Jim Williams
From: Meridian, Mississippi, USA - Home of Peavey!
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Posted 30 Jan 2014 8:55 am
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I've been playing my lap steels a lot recently, and I usually choose to play them on a small table at a comfortable height instead of in my lap. I have some pain in my right elbow, which is further aggravated by my tendency to sleep on my side or stomach partially on that arm. Anyone else had problems with this? Any solutions or will it get better as the arm gets used to being in the position of playing the steel? _________________ GFI SM10 3/4, 1937 Gibson EH-150, 2 - Rondo SX Lap Steels and a Guyatone 6 String C6. Peavey 400 and a Roland 40 Amps. Behringer Reverb Pedal. |
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Peter Lindelauf
From: Penticton, BC
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Posted 30 Jan 2014 10:20 am
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Same thing happens to my elbows and forearms now and then if not sitting at the right height for a piano--or computer keyboard. Main thing is that you want your arms to hang naturally and have your forearms parallel to the floor. Try experimenting with the height of your guitar or maybe consider an adjustable stand if your table is too high. Or too low.
See notes about posture on this page.
http://www.wellbalancedpianist.com/bpseatingguide.htm _________________ ...but you are the music / while the music lasts (TS Eliot) |
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Andy Volk
From: Boston, MA
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Tom Snook
From: Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA
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Posted 30 Jan 2014 1:43 pm
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Try playing it on your lap
When and if you do slants,do you use your whole arm to slant?If so,try just using your thumb to push the back end of the bar as it pivots on the tip of your index finger. _________________ I wanna go back to my little grass shack........ |
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Jim Williams
From: Meridian, Mississippi, USA - Home of Peavey!
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Posted 30 Jan 2014 2:19 pm
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I've tried it on my lap but don't like it. I'm short and don't have much of a lap. Without something to put my feet on the guitar is at too much of an angle. _________________ GFI SM10 3/4, 1937 Gibson EH-150, 2 - Rondo SX Lap Steels and a Guyatone 6 String C6. Peavey 400 and a Roland 40 Amps. Behringer Reverb Pedal. |
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Jean-Sebastien Gauthier
From: Quebec, Canada
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Rob Fenton
From: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 31 Jan 2014 7:35 am
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It seems to be a common complaint of people who do repetitive actions, or even just spend prolonged periods with their arms bent. I had some trouble with this a few years ago, and came to believe it mostly has to do with nerve compression. Do you experience numbness in your hands, especially in your ring and little fingers? It could be cubital tunnel syndrome.
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/cubital-radial-tunnel-syndrome
Lowering the instrument to decrease the bend in your arms is probably the best remedy. I had to adjust my dobro technique to keep my elbow from going behind my body to alleviate the pain and numbness I was experiencing. If you can't lower it, then perhaps raising your seat, or sitting further back might help. |
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Roger Fletcher
From: United Kingdom
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Posted 31 Jan 2014 9:06 am
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I believe an important aid with this sort of injury is to be able to relax to the extent that only as much muscle tension is used as the task requires and no more.
This is a difficult art to acquire, but I found learning Tai Chi a great help. |
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Michael Butler
From: California, USA
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Posted 31 Jan 2014 8:14 pm
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i use a footrest to bring my feet up higher so they won't dangle. sure helps the back too! ha!
play music! _________________ please see my Snakeskin's Virtual Music Museum below.
http://muscmp.wordpress.com/ |
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