Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic Subject: Help with tension in the right shoulder... Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2001 06:14:07 GMT Can anyone help me with this or give me a few pointers? It seems like everything i play now has my right shoulder being all tensed up and is just making that much harder to play. I've tried various positions and the classical position with my foot on a stool and the guitar angled upward resting on my left leg seems to give me a more relaxed way of playing but i don't think blues or rock was meant to be played like that... Could it be that my guitar is too big for me??? I'm a relatively small guy (5'8, 140lbs) and I play a Martin DC-16GTE which doesn't seem all that big to me... i seem to remember playing some OOO and OO size models and I can't remember how my body was reacting mainly cause I was paying attention to how it sounded. But whenever I practice I pay attention to just everything I'm doing and I'm noticing that my right shoulder always tenses up. Any suggestions? Better posture, smaller guitar, rest guitar on which leg, holding pick to tight ( i doubt that one), or can't make a valid judgement without seeing me play??? Thanks for the help! ======================================== Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic Date: 01 Oct 2001 03:46:49 GMT I think you've answered your own question. If classical positioning is more comfortable then use it, even when playing rock and blues. It's not about how cool you look (at my age looking cool means not drooling) it's about getting the music out of the instrument in the easiest way possible. ======================================== Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic Subject: Re: Help with tension in the right shoulder... Date: Mon, 01 Oct 2001 06:55:03 GMT Even with the classical position I may have the most ergonomic and allowing position for just playing notes freely and continuously but I can't get full power with my wrist for bends and such. I need to wrap my thumb over the neck of the guitar to get max control and force from my wrist for bends as opposed to just using my fingers (big no no I'm sure in classist style to wrap thumb over neck) It isn't just a matter of looking cool (hehe although I don't play like that usually in public) Appreciate your response! ======================================== Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic Subject: Re: Help with tension in the right shoulder... Date: 1 Oct 2001 07:12:33 -0700 A constantly right shoulder turned me into a classical position player. I can play 4 hours a day in that position and never get sore or stiff, as long as I take stretch breaks and relax. I noticed after a while that my playing got better too, easier to get my wrists into proper position and relax. It takes a while to get used to, but after a while, it feels like the only way you want to play. And as far as rockin ... I assume you meant positioning rather than how you look ... try this comparison: When I play in a band, I stand up and play and it feels like the perfect orientation to rock away, and that's how almost all rock players play ... try it, then notice the position of you arms and guitar while standing, right shoulder "flat", left arm extended and coming up from under the neck a little ... then sit into the classical position and you'll see that it's very close to how you play standing up. It's using the folk position with the guitar on your right knee that really twists you around in comparison. Other than that, have to relax, take frequent breaks and move your position around ... don't let the pain increase or continue, you could really get laid up. ======================================== Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic Subject: Re: Help with tension in the right shoulder... My personal experience is that there's no easy answer. If it ain't the right side, it's the left side. The tenseness is a signal that you're demanding more from it than it can produce. Slow down your playing. At some point, you'll be able to play without tension. Start there and slowly increase your tempo. Try to avoid making the tension come back. When it does, be very sensitive to it, and try to relax it while you keep playing. Here's an image that might help: The power of your music all springs from the base of the shoulderblades, in the region of the solar plexus. The function of the shoulders, arms, and fingers is to conduct this power to its point of application. Any tensing of the muscles impedes the flow of power, as does any sharp bend or "clenching" motion in the elbow, wrist, or fingers. Use this power to reach out and "surround" your guitar, to "push" it toward you instead of "pulling" it toward you. The power flows from your left hand into the strings. It is received by the right hand, which flicks it off of the strings and out into the world. OK, I'll stop. Woo-woo images R us:-) ======================================== Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic Date: 01 Oct 2001 23:02:14 GMT This is what I was told to do by a rehab doctor. Extend your right arm straight out, then clasp your elbow, underarm, with your left hand. Gently pull your right arm towards your left shoulder until you feel a pull behind your right shoulder. Hold it for a count of ten. Release and relax.Repeat it three or four times. Do this a few times each day and your shoulder spasms should ease. ======================================== Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic Subject: Re: Help with tension in the right shoulder... Date: Tue, 02 Oct 2001 12:50:14 GMT Maybe "progressive relaxation" techniques?? The basic technique is to contract the muscles really hard for about 5 seconds, then let everything go - suddenly, not gradually. Just let everything "flop". Then contract at about 50% for about 5 seconds, then let everything go. Then contract at the absolute minimum you can feel for about 5 seconds, then let everything go. Helps to visualize the "tension" flowing away - usually we tell people to blow out slowly on the relaxation phase and the tension goes away with the breath. Usually you start with the largest muscle groups and work to the smallest, so for the shoulder group, you'd do the chest (squeeze your shoulders together), then the back (pull them back), then top of the shoulder (like a shrug), then maybe biceps, then triceps, finally getting to your hand. (Make a tight fist, let it go, etc). It'll take maybe a minute or so once you practice a bit. From a sports perspective, if the smallest muscles are tense, the large ones follow suit. With practice, you'll become more aware of where the tension really is, and with just a little squeeze, you can let all the tension out. Note: there is a difference between stretching a muscle, and applying tension to it - if you have "tension", the muscle is contracting. John Pearse's stretch is a good one - most rehab people insist on regular stretching, as well as recognizing the source of muscle tension and trying to consciously relax it. ======================================== Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic Subject: Re: Help with tension in the right shoulder... I get the same thing. I have to either play classical position, or folk position with a footrest. Also, I concentrate very hard on relaxing when I play. I last a lot longer if I keep my shoulders back, and level, but most importantly, relaxed. Practice some very simple chord changes or melodies while concentrating on how much tension is in your back and shoulders, and try to get rid of it - you've probably gotten in the habit of playing with tension, now you need to get in the habit of playing without it. ======================================== Newsgroups: rec.music.makers.guitar.acoustic Date: 02 Oct 2001 07:30:32 GMT Practice with a metronome, set to the slowest speed you can follow. Then, once you can play at that speed easily, start to increases the speed slowly. This really helps. The other thing which can help is to soak your arms in hot water, as hot as you can stand, for 5-10 minuets before you play. This will relax and loosen the tendons in your arms. After you are done playing, soak you arms in cold water, again as cold as you can stand. The cold will help to heal you body (think ice packs, same idea).