Chord crushing

[Tommytoon]

Okay...I'm new here and so far am really enjoying this site and the forum...a great place for us budding guitarists to get info.

Okay...here's my problem. I'm an acoustic giutarist, barely competant rhythm player at this point. An unfortunate unemployment problem has turned into a very fortunate opprotunity to practise a lot and my playing has dramatically improved in the last couple of months. But I'm finding that I have a problem in my technique...I suppose that it's only a mental thing but it doesn't hurt to ask.

I find that when I chord, my left hand is nearly choking the neck. My hand gets all tense and sometimes pain is associated with it. I must admit it usually happens when I'm either A) learning something, and B) playing in front of someone. How can I get my hand/myself to relax? I mean, I KNOW these chords...been plaing them for years, and yet find myself crushing the neck...

Am I out of wack here? Anyone else ever have this problem?

[jaytee]

ohhh you are not alone :)

i know there are articles about this very subject on this very site...check out the stuff by jamey andreas...heres just one link...there are several articles besides this one...

http://www.cyberfret.com/power-practicing/masochist-guitarists.htm


also, try a search on the forums about tension....alot of people have talked about this...pretty consistently...

relaxing is one incredibly important part of playing well....and sometimes its hard to accomplish! but i think jamey talks about it alot and gives some good tips...so have a look see!

--jt

[gck]

Hmm... I think everyone has muscle tension problems to some degree. Personally, I do the following: whenever I practice, I concentrate a lot on the different muscles involved into playing. Whenever something starts to tense up, I stop, focus myself on that muscle and try to relax it. Then, I continue. The good thing is that if you do this for a couple of weeks, your muscle tension problems will radically decrease.
Eastern relaxation techniques can also help a lot. For example, this is a good thing you can do before practicing (I regularly do it and consider it helpful): whenever you start to practice, sit down, put the guitar away. Seat yourself comfortably, probably in a soft chair or something. Then concentrate on your finger, try to imagine that your point of consciousness is in your hands and fingers, then try to relax them as much as possible. Then move up to the arms, shoulders, neck and so on.

This might sound a bit strange, but it really helps a lot. Also, your muscles will somewhat "remember" the untense state so you won't have to do this longer than a couple of week. However, you'll need body awareness, to a certain degree.

[Krieselman13]

I wouldnt know how to get rid of it as I am still a beginner, and it has never happened to me, I just speep up. But listen to these guys' advice, it sounds like it will probably work.

[SixStringMadman]

When I am playing for myself or for one or two other people I know, I have no problem, but if they are strangers, I get nervous, but who doesn't?

What I have tought myself to do is block out those around me and concentrate on the music, pretending no one is even there. It works pretty well after a few times practicing it; I have gotten to the point where I do not realise anyone is even there until I am finished playing a song--no lie.

And always remember this: those who can not play the guitar will always judge how well you can play, but just remember, they can't play at all! :D


SixStringMadman

[JT62]

I have noticed that when I first start practicing fingering seems almost effortless but as my fingers tire find myself choking the heck out of the neck which not only makes my fingers more tired but can cause major dents in the callouses on the fingertips that don't go away for awhile and cause more problems. I have been working on finding the minnimum amount of pressure needed to fret and paying real close attention to it throught my sessions and found it to help a lot. Say it only takes 5 psi of pressure to adequately fret a string why then use more? Sometimes less is more(better)? Ha Ha. Good Luck.:)

[geosee]

I've seen alot of advice on this and alot of questions, I am pretty much a begginer and never had a problem with this at all...I'm not sure what my secret is. But I think it has something to do with "Play"ing the guitar the play is in quotes because that's what you are doing playing...I don't get stressed at play only at work. I use the guitar to relax after a hard days work, even when I'm practicing boring things like up and down the major scale i'm still relaxed and at play. As far as playing in front of people and getting nervous goes you don't need to worry heres why. When you are playing in front of someone who doesn't play...even if you play fairly poorly it's a good bet they will be somewhat impressed I know I used to be impressed watching my friends play (even when they play poorly) because it wasn't something I could do. If you are playing in front of someone who can play and plays better than you...don't worry they know what's it like to be a begginer and the more mistakes you make in front of an experienced guitar player the more oppurtunity they have to give you advice or words of encougment.
Just my 2 cents I guess in a nut shell just relax your not on star search or anything :)

[geosee]

I've seen alot of advice on this and alot of questions, I am pretty much a begginer and never had a problem with this at all...I'm not sure what my secret is. But I think it has something to do with "Play"ing the guitar the play is in quotes because that's what you are doing playing...I don't get stressed at play only at work. I use the guitar to relax after a hard days work, even when I'm practicing boring things like up and down the major scale i'm still relaxed and at play. As far as playing in front of people and getting nervous goes you don't need to worry heres why. When you are playing in front of someone who doesn't play...even if you play fairly poorly it's a good bet they will be somewhat impressed I know I used to be impressed watching my friends play (even when they play poorly) because it wasn't something I could do. If you are playing in front of someone who can play and plays better than you...don't worry they know what's it like to be a begginer and the more mistakes you make in front of an experienced guitar player the more oppurtunity they have to give you advice or words of encougment.
Just my 2 cents I guess in a nut shell just relax your not on star search or anything :)