Left Wrist Says Ouchies Again!

I tried to play Jeux Interdits part 2, forgetting to warm up beforehand. What did I get? Minutes' worth of ouchies!

A few pointers on correct left hand position -- correct being not just a matter of following strictly formalist classical playing; rather, a matter of warning to those who do not wish any unpleasant, painful sensations while playing.

Take a close look at the thumb position. The thumb should never - evah! - cross the palm, or else pressure when pressing the fingerboard will fall on the median nerve, a primary ingredient for wrist pain. Instead, do:

 

... pull your thumb out and away from the palm. Playing this way will also force your fingers to lean towards the left, making bars easier for both index and middle fingers.



PS. My MS Paint skills are once again put to the test!

Left Wrist Says Ouchies!

Writer's Cramp. Occupational/Professional Neuritis. CTS. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. I don't have it. But everyone is in danger of having it, regardless of profession. I'm a guitarist, percussionist, typist. If I'm not in front of the PC/laptop, I'm playing my guitar. The result: a stinging, tingling pain that shoots from the center of my left wrist to the middle of my palm. I'm not about to call this sensation CTS, because it may just be wrist pain. But it's my body's way of saying there's something I'm not doing right and, by goodness, I have to correct it. Now. Or else.

As much as I love playing my guitar and djembe, I don't want to face the day when I can't play because of a ruined wrist. CTS can't be cured, but it can be corrected through surgery. Yipes!!!

Although I have been taught to do warm-ups and simple exercises before performances, I tend to forget that this word of wisdom also applies to practice sessions. What I do: hold my palms together in a "praying position." I keep to this position while I slowly move my palms towards the floor. Then I shake both hands separately.

taken from http://www.drfoot.co.uk/

I dunno if this really works, but the first time I experienced wrist pain on my left hand, I took up poi. The pain went away. I don't play poi regularly now as I did then, so are the two occasions related? I have no idea. It's worth trying anyway, 'cause poi is very relaxing :)

Note to self: Warm-ups now = Play for life!

The Big G

The first classical guitar piece I learned was Minuet in G by Johann Sebastian Bach.

The sheet I used covered the basic melody of the piece, sans the bass notes (rhythm). I worked from the 5th fret onward. Very easy to memorize and great for practice: the notes span up to 5 frets, so the pinkie and all the left fingers are stretched. All six strings are also covered, so the PIMA right hand can be practiced.

Minuet in G is my stretching slash warm-up piece. I play it every day, every time I pick up my guitar. I like speeding it up for better flexibility and accuracy. I used to play it non-stop, and until now I haven't tired of listening to it.

I moved on to the more complicated melody + rhythm version about a month after burning the first version. I immediately fell in love with the sound of the bass notes along with the melody. This version takes up til the 9th fret, so I can practice moving through the fingerboard. The addition of the bass notes complicates the left hand positions, but they're manageable. The sheet I linked does not have a notation for 1234 and PAMI (except the 0s there), but I use all of them... figure it out :)

My crux is always on the 19th bar. My index finger tends to look sooo out of place and awkwardly apart, and the rest of my fingers (2 and 4 especially) go crazy when I press the strings. I tend to slow down at this portion. I can swing it when I position my left hand closer to the fingerboard, but that index just shoots up sometimes I couldn't control it! Oh well, time and practice.

This piece was also my (re)introduction to sheet reading. The two sheets don't have tabs, so I was really forced to read notes. Both versions are very basic though.

I eat Big G for breakfast, lunch, merienda and dinner. Lemme know how this piece figures in your repertoire. If you use other warm-up pieces, feel free to share.

Mar 11, 2013. Just uploaded this video. Sorry for the poor audio -- I didn't use a mic when I recorded. Didn't have one. Anyway, my messy fingering clearly says this rendition sucks. As usual, I had a difficult time through the crux. My left hand fingers are also still awkwardly apart. Wild vibrato action there too. Hmmm, when in doubt record your practice sessions. Any specific pointers on improvement?