#16
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Sunny, did you try a wide strap?
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Barry Youtube! My SoundCloud page Avalon L-320C, Guild D-120, Martin D-16GT, McIlroy A20, Pellerin SJ CW Cordobas - C5, Fusion 12 Orchestra, C12, Stage Traditional Alvarez AP66SB, Seagull Folk Aria {Johann Logy}: |
#17
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Contrary to popular opinion, you should stretch after playing/exercise when the muscles are warm. The latest science shows that warming up before an activity is very beneficial at preventing injury, but simply stretching beforehand made no discernible difference. However, stretching after said activity did help.
Don't take my word for it though, have a Google. As for guitar, those tips are pretty accurate imo. I use a guitar rest and I'm sooo glad I got one. A strap gave me shoulder ache, and without the rest my wrist would play up. Really what it comes down to is playing with the least tension as you possibly can. |
#18
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The one I have is about as wide as the fretboard at it's widest, soft nylon webbing, and double thickness on my shoulder. It works fine for a while. I'm going to experiment more, though, when I'm not traveling, when shopping and storing stuff is easier. Do you have a specific one in mind?
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"Militantly left-handed." Lefty Acoustics Martin 00-15M Taylor 320e Baritone Cheap Righty Classical (played upside down ala Elizabeth Cotten) Last edited by SunnyDee; 04-24-2017 at 09:55 AM. |
#19
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Quote:
https://youtu.be/4ktPtoJqThM
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"Militantly left-handed." Lefty Acoustics Martin 00-15M Taylor 320e Baritone Cheap Righty Classical (played upside down ala Elizabeth Cotten) |
#20
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Quote:
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Barry Youtube! My SoundCloud page Avalon L-320C, Guild D-120, Martin D-16GT, McIlroy A20, Pellerin SJ CW Cordobas - C5, Fusion 12 Orchestra, C12, Stage Traditional Alvarez AP66SB, Seagull Folk Aria {Johann Logy}: |
#21
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You can use a foam roller on your forearms.. (PT thing)
Some of this "tension" is just left over from whatever else you're doing in life. Some of the stuff in the OP I feel like is somewhat mumbo jumbo that people tell us when we're beginners. But some of it is very very real. I've been playing around 2 years. One of the things I've noticed lately is I don't really need my thumb on the neck at all for some things anymore. I'm holding the guitar differently with my right arm, probably cause I'm keeping my right hand a lot closer to the bridge.. that + getting my left hand fingers in the right place seemingly erases a lot of effort and I notice I can sometimes lift my thumb right off the neck without losing the fretting pressure. Other stuff I'm still definitely applying too much pressure.. and it very often seems to be related to new techniques that I can't do efficiently, I don't have my fretting fingers optimally positioned, and then I compensate by squeezing harder. |
#22
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Another tip I've received is to play with your wrists as straight as possible. To do this you will need to elevate the neck. How far depends on style. Classical players have to go pretty high, anyone who wraps their thumb over the neck can go lower. This advice is consistent with advice in other areas. For example, the ergonomics people where I work spend a lot of time getting everyone's workstation set up so they can type with their wrists straight. We've had a lot of training on it too.
Doing a lot of finger movement with bent wrists is a fast path to carpal tunnel syndrome. Look at YouTube sometime and watch the guys who have been playing at a high level for decades, totaling tens of thousands of hours. They all maintain their wrists straight. It's the young guys who don't. Many of them won't last. |
#23
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Quote:
Here are some people who frequently (or always) keep the neck fairly level:
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Derek Coombs Youtube -> Website -> Music -> Tabs Guitars by Mark Blanchard, Albert&Mueller, Paul Woolson, Collings, Composite Acoustics, and Derek Coombs "Reality is that which when you stop believing in it, doesn't go away." Woods hands pick by eye and ear
Made to one with pride and love To be that we hold so dear A voice from heavens above Last edited by rick-slo; 04-25-2017 at 10:00 PM. |
#24
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I bought a neck up - the best thing I'd bought except for my guitars.
I knew I needed one because I was constantly trying to raise the guitar, first by putting my feet on top of each other and then by using a block of wood. But I started to notice my pelvis was uncomfortable in this position for a long time. The neck is perfect for me. Much easier for barre chords. I can still play in other positions, but barre chords are much easier for me with the guitar pointing up. With the bonus that I can sit in a normal way too.
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Christian Guitar: Camps Primera Negra A (a flamenco guitar) Strings: Aquila SugarAquila Rubino, Knobloch CX, Aquila Alchemia I play: Acoustic blues & folk Videos: https://www.youtube.com/user/sirwhale28/videos |
#25
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I'm a big fan of the NeckUp also, it's similar in function to the De Oro and it sits on one thigh. I find I am most comfortable and effective with the neck height at my shoulder when sitting. While I'd love to play my guitar all the time, maintaining my weight, flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular endurance are beneficial to my guitar work. It takes no more than an hour a day.
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Doerr Trinity 12 Fret 00 (Lutz/Maple) Edwinson Zephyr 13 Fret 00 (Adi/Coco) Froggy Bottom H-12 (Adi/EIR) Kostal 12 Fret OMC (German Spruce/Koa) Rainsong APSE 12 Fret (Carbon Fiber) Taylor 812ce-N 12 fret (Sitka/EIR Nylon) |
#26
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Quote:
[runs for cover] Tony
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“The guitar is a wonderful thing which is understood by few.” — Franz Schubert "Alexa, where's my stuff?" - Anxiously waiting... |
#27
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HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
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Carol "We are music fingered by the gods." ~ Mark Nepo |
#28
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Ha!! Muriel Anderson using a neck-up. I liked it, but I broke 2 of the plexiglass inserts. One got stepped on & the snapped for an unknown reason.
So, I moved to the De Oro support and love it.
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2003 Froggy Bottom H-12 Deluxe 2019 Cordoba C-12 Cedar 2016 Godin acoustic archtop 2011 Godin Jazz model archtop |
#29
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Quote:
I would note, however, that with one exception they are all pictured playing with straight wrists. I think that's the key message. How you get there is up to you and what fits your body and your style. |
#30
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Posture, posture, posture.
It's all about this surely.
Good lessons for posture were developed way back when guitars were no wider than classicals, and played in the classical way. Western style (guitar waist on the right thigh) twists us, and wider guitars hunches up our right shoulder. This can be managed without gizmos - but , when I get back from hospital, I'll try to start another thread with some , hopefully helpful thoughts on this. stay tooned - off to get zapped again. Stay loose.
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Silly Moustache, Just an old Limey acoustic guitarist, Dobrolist, mandolier and singer. I'm here to try to help and advise and I offer one to one lessons/meetings/mentoring via Zoom! |