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!

Uke Night

I and a friend attended one of Ukulele Manila's Meet, Strum & Jam sessions (free admission, free short lessons) and was able to play the uke for the first time. It's just soooo cute! And the soprano was smaller than I thought at first.  It felt weird to hold and play it 'cause it was so cute and small :) And my left thumb tired easily 'cause unlike the guitar, I could't rest my palm on the fretboard. Anyway, I tried playing a Susing's, and it was amaaaazing! I didn't really find that a (Sta. Mesa) Lumanog guitar sounded great (though I'd never trade my Lazaro for anything in the world!). Which made me prematurely conclude that all Philippine-guitars are meeh. But after I tried a Susing's uke, I thought whoooooooa!

I've read about Susing's in the past. It's a very famous guitar shop and maker in Cebu (Cebu, you're officially in my bucketlist of places to visit!). Anyway, I've been wanting to buy a pineapple uke, but I played a standard uke during the MSJ (standard meaning the sexy, curvaceous guitar sounding board). I realized the merits of the curvaceous uke when playing standing up: the curves act as anchors across the pelvic area, so I was able to hold the uke steadily even without a sling on.

Uke major chords are weird, especially the ones that need to be barred. Like E (4442) and D (2220). Instead of barring E on the fourth fret, I used three fingers to press the strings. I should warn those with.... er, slightly big fingers: get a concert or the bigger ukes.

If you're interested to buy a uke, visit Ukulele Manila's page. As for me, I'm saving up for a Susing's, which a UM member said would soon be available in their stocks.

Flux

I haven't been blogging as often as I was supposed to. I planned to post at least once in a week. But I have been playing with El Dia non-stop for the past few days (except yesterday, 'cause I had it in my head to draw this scene that's been on my mind lately... the best place on Earth... the result was one of my spur-of-the-moment "creative" episodes which I plan to continue [because I always wanted to be great at painting and/or other visual arts]). Later, I'll be heading out with a friend to BGC to crash one of Ukulele Manila's Meet Strum Jams. I'm excited to try the uke. I didn't think about the instrument nor even considered wanting to own one, but now I'm soooo planning to get one. I'm setting aside dreams of owning a cajon or a skin djembe for a uke, although everything is still a long way off.

I haven't made any progress with the triplet since the last post, mainly 'cause it's really noisy and I don't wanna muffle it. I'm only waiting for the right opportunity to play it again, without disturbing the rest of the people in the house.

Good news! I've tabbed a new song :) It's Meaghan Smith's A Little Love and no you can't find a good tab anywhere else! I'll be sending it over to Ultimate Guitar when I get around to it. Wait for updates. I'd love to say I did it by ear, but no. I based it on one of their live performances via YT.

PS. I don't really understand why some "guitarists" and YT crawlers demand for tabs from the cover artists when duh they can see the tabs on screen. I mean, is it sooo hard to copy the left hand fingering?

Oh, and I have a violin/guitar duet practice coming up c/o a college friend. National Anthem and The Prayer. Yikes, I dunno how to interpret them yet!

Making Progress III: Flamenco x3 x6

Progress, definitely! Re: flamenco triplet, day 6. I can play successive strokes without feeling any pain on my right hand. Switching down and up strokes isn't so weird now too. The trick: minimize excess movements and to keep the thumb out. I don't get trapped in between strings anymore too. Gaaah I wish I could just record it. I wish I recorded the whole thing. The day before yesterday was breakthrough day because it was the first time I made successive strokes without errors. I think it was also the day when my right hand mid and ring finger finally got the rhythm. Right now, I'm just trying to develop consistency and endurance.

Aaaand switching chords (following the Spanish-y progression E-F-G-Am) with my left hand. Since starting I've used my left hand as an anchor, mostly muffling by the strings. The triplet is crazy, and with a guitar the size of mine its really difficult to stabilize the craziness. But once my forearm became more settled and steady (which happened around breakthrough day, too), I found it easier to switch chords.

Once I get the hang of the x3, I'll try other stroke progressions: vv (downMidRing-downThumb)  and v^ (downT-upT). Then more complicated patterns: vv^ vv^ v^ (x3-x3-downTupT). Then off to accents, then percussive effects, then THE WORLD!

Omigash so excited!