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Topic: Left hand / Charlie horse |
Craig Schwartz
From:
McHenry IL
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Posted 10 May 2010 5:28 am |
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Does anyone have a solution or exercize for a charlie horse in the left hand middle finger, It starts up when youre right in the middle of a song and wont disappear til bar is put down, THIS REALLY SUCKS ,,,lately this has been happening to me, I do push down on the bar pretty heavily at times,
Thanks in advance
Craig
_________________
SO MANY LURES, SO LITTLE TIME.... |
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Stu Schulman
From:
Ulster Park New Yawk (deceased)
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Jim Smith
From:
Midlothian, TX, USA
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Posted 10 May 2010 12:05 pm Re: Left hand / Charlie horse
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| Craig Schwartz wrote: |
| I do push down on the bar pretty heavily at times |
Well, there's yer problem!   Work on holding the bar just tight enough that it doesn't fly away from you, and push down only enough to keep the strings from rattling. |
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Keith Davidson
From:
Nova Scotia, Canada
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Posted 10 May 2010 8:03 pm
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Craig, I was having the same problem from pushing too much. Just got my steel 3 weeks ago. Have to keep reminding myself to loosen up on the bar. Being "too tight" also prevents me from getting the needed vibrato.
Another possibility could be cramping. As I workout quite a bit, I've become very aware of my potassium level, if it's low, I cramp very easily. (could be your hand cramping) Because I work out on a regular basis I sweat a lot and this will cause a drop in potassium which will cause cramping. Eating a banana a day will keep things in check pretty well for that though.
Probably nothing to do with your problem but thought I would throw it out there anyway.
Just a thought. |
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Clete Ritta
From:
San Antonio, Texas
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Posted 10 May 2010 10:49 pm
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Craig,
I had the very same problem. Two words: STAY LOOSE
Shake your arms and stretch fingers out. Make a tight fist and relax.
One thing I have found that really helps me is using a heavier bar.
I was using a Dunlop 920 on 10 string. When I got a U12, I bought a 921, which is larger and heavier. I found it much easier to relax since not as much downward pressure is required to maintain proper contact with the strings. I think Paul Franklin recently mentioned he is using a larger 12 string bar. Makes a huge difference in comfort to me.
Clete
Last edited by Clete Ritta on 13 May 2010 7:08 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Craig Schwartz
From:
McHenry IL
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Posted 13 May 2010 6:52 pm
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Hey, thanx everybody for the feedback on hand cramps, I was a little worried that I`d have this problem alot and have to spray my hand with wd=40 everyday
Thanks again
_________________
SO MANY LURES, SO LITTLE TIME.... |
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Pit Lenz
From:
Cologne, Germany
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Posted 13 May 2010 11:42 pm
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Craig,
being a foreigner, I had to wiki "Charlie Horse" first. 
It reads (among others:)
| Quote: |
| These muscle cramps can have many possible causes including hormonal imbalances, dehydration, low levels of potassium or calcium in the blood, side effects of medicatio |
I know this problem, not from playing the steel but from surfing.
Therefore I absolutely second Keith´s "banana-a-day" idea.
And take care to drink enough....
It did work for me!
pit
...oh yes, and: hang loose... |
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Mike Wheeler
From:
Delaware, Ohio, USA
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Posted 15 May 2010 7:49 am
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From what you said in the original post, Craig, it sounds like you may be using an odd bar grip.
If you're pushing down on the bar with your middle finger, that's where your problem lies. The index finger should be on top and the middle finger should be on the left side. The thumb and middle fingers guide the bar left and right. The index provides some downward pressure.
The whole grip should be comfortable and just tight enough to securely control the bar. Sometimes you have to force yourself to relax...I know I do. But, relaxed playing is crucial to good playing.
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Best regards,
Mike |
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