Physicalities of Playing (Guitar Lesson)

Chapter 1: (01:53) Lesson Introduction Recently, in previous months, many members have reported similar hand injuries related to guitar, typing, and playing video games. For this reason, Matt has taken a detour from his usual jazz curriculum to address stress related hand injuries. This is not a jazz specific lesson. This lesson is for guitarists of all styles.

Immediately make any necessary adjustments to your technique after watching this lesson. Whenever you alter your technique significantly, playing may seem quite awkward for a number of weeks. However, the sooner you make these adjustments, the better off you will be in the long run. It will only become more difficult to correct poor technique down the line. Also, more importantly, correcting poor technique may just save you from a career ending injury.
Chapter 2: (02:45) Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

The carpal tunnel is a tube shaped canal that extends through the wrist. Eight small bones, the transverse carpal ligament, and nine flexor tendons surround the carpal tunnel. The median nerve also passes through this area. This nerve carries the nerve signals pass sensation to each finger, with the exception of the pinky. Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve is compressed too tightly against the tendons and bones in this area.

When chronic irritation occurs around the median nerve, it becomes constricted and is continually pushed against the ligament above it. When the nerve is continually constricted, it can become compressed to the point that it begins to deteriorate. This results in a slowing of nerve impulses, which may cause a loss of feeling in the fingers and a loss of strength and coordination at the base of the thumb. If the condition is not treated, it could result in permanent deterioration of muscle tissue.

Carpal tunnel is not a very serious condition if it is caught and treated early. However, if this condition remains untreated and is aggravated over time, it can become chronic and quite painful. Treatment of sever carpal tunnel is possible. However, it may take the patient several years to make a full recovery.

Causes

Most people are aware that repetitive misuse of the arms, wrists, and hands can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome. However, most people aren't aware of what is classified as misuse. In reality, the majority of carpal tunnel cases can be attributed to posture issues involving the back and shoulders. The body is one single system. Problems with the shoulders can easily spread down to the rest of the arm. Simply follow the posture and technique guidelines provided in this lesson, and you will avoid injury causing movement and posture.

Carpal tunnel can also spring from another medical condition. Patients with the following conditions are at a higher risk for carpal tunnel syndrome:

-Gout
-Tumors
-Diabetes
-Fracture of the wrist bones
-Hypothyroidism
-Arthritis

Conditions such as diabetes or other metabolic conditions as well as rheumatoid arthritis affect the nerves in the body directly. As a result, they are less resilient against compression.

Carpal tunnel stemming from playing guitar typically occurs in the picking hand. This results from arching the wrist while finger picking or gripping the pick too tightly.

Prevention

Prevention of carpal tunnel syndrome includes taking proper care of the entire body. This includes proper diet, sleep habits, and stress reducing behavior. Also, any serious musician should make a regular habit of stretching and working out the back, neck, forearms, and wrists.

Signs/Symptoms

The most common symptoms are tingling, burning, and, weakness in the thumb and first three fingers. Most patients describe the sensation as similar to being poked in the palm with lots of small needles. Pain originating in the wrist can often spread to the rest of the arm or vice versa. Chronic carpal tunnel can result in the disability to grip objects.

Tests

There are two tests used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. They are called the Tinel and Phalen maneuvers. The doctor taps on the palm with a small blunt object. If the patient experiences a tingling, pins and needles sensation, then he/she has tested positive on the Tinel test. If these symptoms result from flexing the wrist, then the patient has tested positive on the Phalen test. Then, an electromyogram is typically performed. An electromyogram measures the electrical activity in your nerves and muscles.

Treatment

There are several ways to treat carpal tunnel syndrome:

1. Give It a Rest!

Decreasing the frequency of the motion that initially caused the injury is the first important step in effective treatment. The amount of rest time between periods of performing this motion must be increased.

2. Immobilization

Treatment may also include immobilization of the wrist. This is usually done with a splint or brace of some sort. These splints essentially keep the wrist in a fixed comfortable position. This provides damaged nerves with much needed rest.

3. Medication

Often, anti-inflammatory drugs or steroids are prescribed to treat painful swelling and tingling sensations.

4. Therapy

Physical therapy is often the most effective treatment of this syndrome. Therapists target key areas in the forearms and wrist. The patient is provided with exercises designed to correct postural problems in these important trigger areas. These exercises include stretching, strengthening, and icing the tendons.

4. Surgery

Surgery can be performed successfully as a last resort treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome. This surgery involves opening the carpal tunnel to relieve nerve pressure.
Chapter 3: (06:06) Legs, Arms, and Shoulders Playing the guitar properly begins with proper posture. Proper posture involves the entire body. Remember that the entire body is one system. Everything affects everything else.

The key to proper technique and playing effortlessly is relaxation. Any discomfort anywhere in the body needs to be addressed immediately.

Legs

The legs are the foundation of the body and proper posture. Any structure requires a solid foundation. Always follow the following guidelines regarding proper leg positioning.

1. Never cross your legs. It limits circulation. It's awkward. Most people do this just to raise the guitar higher. That's why you should always wear a strap instead!

2. Keep the feet about shoulder width apart. When playing sitting down, keep them parallel. If standing up, then you may find it more comfortable to keep one foot slightly in front of the other. Leading too much with one foot can cause back issues that affect the shoulders. This tension can spread to the hands and affect playing.

3. The groin area and feet should form an isosceles triangle (two equal sides). The ancient Egyptians understood that the triangle is the strongest geometric shape. Consequently, you must position the base of your body in this formation.

Shoulders

Keep the shoulders relaxed and loose at all times. Don't shrug them at all. Your arms should feel like they are hanging effortlessly from your body. Do not lift your right shoulder to bring your right hand closer to the strings.

Where's Your Strap?!?!?

Unless you are playing classical guitar, you always want to wear a strap regardless of whether you are sitting or standing. Without a strap, the guitar just sits in your lap. For almost all guitarists, the guitar is way too low in this position. A properly adjusted strap ensures maximum finger reach and comfortability. In the lesson video, Matt demonstrates a handy trick that will help you determine the appropriate strap height for you. Also, make a note of how other JamPlay instructors have their straps adjusted. Always follow their example.
Chapter 4: (20:59) Posture, Hands, and Holding Your Pick Finding the Right Guitar

Don't play a guitar that is too big, bulky, or heavy for you. Many players run into back and shoulder problems from playing heavy guitars such as Les Pauls night after night. Similar problems may result from playing a large hollwbody or acoustic guitar. Most likely, these problems will not manifest themselves immediately. It may take decades for the issue to come to a head. However, they could eventually knock you out of commission for a long time. Why would you do anything that could potentially lead to injury?

Holding the Pick

Note: The following information is taken from lesson 2 of Brad Henecke’s Phase 2 Speed and Technique series.

Choosing a Pick

When it comes to choosing a pick, there really is no right and wrong. Picks come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, thicknesses, and textures.

Pick Size / Shape

Almost all picks are made in relatively the same shape. There is a broad end and a pointed end. However, there is a wide variety of choices within this stipulation. The majority of picks are taller than they are wide and measure roughly one inch in height. A common example of this pick type is the Dunlop Tortex. However, there are other options available. For example, Fender makes a pick that is just as wide as it is round. Fender also makes picks in the shape of isosceles and equilateral triangles. Most guitarists can't stand these picks. However, System of a Down guitarist Daron Malakian has been known to use these picks almost exclusively. Finally, most jazz players prefer a very small pick. This allows the picking hand to be as close to the strings as possible. This is not desirable for players who frequently palm mute.

Pick Texture

Ideally, you want to choose a pick that is easy to hold onto. Almost everyone is different in this category. The amount of oil your hands produce has a large impact on which pick is easier for you to grip. For example, many players find the Dunlop Tortex picks very easy to hang onto. However, players with very dry skin typically find them impossible to hold onto. These players usually prefer a pick with a smoother surface such as picks made by Fender.

Thickness

Almost all JamPlay instructors recommend that you play with a medium or heavy pick. Thin picks produce an annoying clicking sound when they strike the string. They also tend produce a very weak tone. However, make sure that you do not choose a pick that is too thick. Picks that are too thick are clumsy and awkward to use. Using such a pick also puts you at a higher risk of string breakage.

Holding the Pick

In order to properly swing a golf club, you must first learn how to hold it. Similarly, in order to use your picking hand properly, you first have to learn how to hold the pick. There are three acceptable methods of holding a guitar pick. Spend significant time experimenting with all three options to determine which works best for you and the style(s) of music you play. They are listed here in order from most common to least common.

Method 1

Most guitarists prefer to hold the pick between the thumb and index finger. This grip seems to feel most natural to the vast majority of players. Within this method, you have two viable options pertaining to how the index finger grips the pick. Most players prefer to hold the pick between the fleshy pad of the thumb and the pad of the index finger. On the other hand, some guitarists choose to hold it between the pad of the thumb and the bony side of the index finger. JamPlay instructor Matt Brown prefers the latter method. He feels that he is much less likely to drop the pick when it is held in such a way. He is also able to play with a more aggressive tone.

Method 2

Some players, such as Metallica's James Hetfield and Krist Novoselic of Nirvana, Sweet 75, and Flipper prefer to hold the pick between the pads of the thumb and both the index and middle fingers. These players feel that this method provides them with the firmest, most stable grip on the pick. It also allows them to play with punishing heaviness.

Method 3

Eddie Van Halen has been known to grip the pick between the pad of his thumb and the pad of his middle finger. This method frees up his first finger for rapid tapping licks. This method is not recommended unless you play tapped licks very frequently.

Regardless of which method you eventually choose, slightly less than a fourth of an inch of the pick should extend outward from the fingers holding it. This is the only portion of the pick that should make contact with the strings. Almost all guitarists strike the strings with the pointed side of the pick. Watch Brad for a clear demonstration of how to hold the pick in this manner. However, some jazz players such as Scott Henderson advocate holding the pick upside down. Scott holds his pick this way in order to achieve a slightly softer, darker tone.

Pick Angle

The angle at which the pick strikes the strings has a huge impact on tone production. Holding the pick totally parallel to the string yields the brightest tone. JamPlay instructor Dennis Hodges prefers to hold his pick this way. However, the tone produced by this method may not be ideal for you. Other instructors prefer to slightly angle the pick into the strings. This produces a slightly darker tone similar to the effect of rolling down the tone control by 1 or two settings.

The pick angle also has a profound effect on rapid picking. Some players prefer to angle the pick slightly when tremolo picking so that the pick slices through the string. Other players find this technique undesirable and choose to keep the pick parallel to the string while tremolo picking.

Note: If you do not have a "hitchhiker" thumb, you will most likely not be able to hold the pick perfectly parallel to the string. If this is the case, do not try to force the thumb into a position that is uncomfortable. The thumb should remain as relaxed as possible at all times.

Picking Motion

Almost all guitarists generate the picking motion completely from the wrist muscles. The forearm only gives involved when two or more strings are strummed simultaneously. However, some players prefer to generate the picking motion between the thumb and index finger. The thumb pushes the index finger towards the middle finger to produce a downstroke. Allowing these fingers to return to their normal, relaxed position produces an upstroke. Dave Navarro is a strong advocate of this technique.

Fingers Not Holding the Pick

Almost all guitarists that are trained in the classical and jazz fields argue that it is never appropriate to anchor any of the fingers not holding the pick on the body of the guitar regardless of what genre you play. Rather, these fingers should be lightly tucked into the palm. They should remain relaxed as possible.

Strumming

The rules change slightly for strumming. The fingers fan out while remaining relaxed, and the forearm gets involved. The strumming motion can be compared to turning a doorknob. Experience is paramount in developing good strumming technique. Repetition is key!

Strumming and picking should be practiced equally since they are equally important.
Chapter 5: (04:12) Left Hand Technique Follow these left-hand rules at all times!

1. Keep the thumb on the back of the neck at all times except when bending strings. The thumb is needed for extra leverage when bending. The same concept can loosely be applied to a wide vibrato.

2. Make sure that every single joint is arched.

3. Play on the very tips of your fingers.

4. Keep the nails very short.

5. Don't fret a note with the pad of the finger, but rather with the end of the finger where the pad meets the nail.

6. Keep the fingers as independent as possible and as close as possible to the fretboard. The pinky is the usual culprit in this department. It tends to have a mind of its own.

Chapter 6: (05:40) Typing In our modern society, many of us spend a significant amount of time tying on the computer. Unfortunately, typing is the activity that causes the most stress/overuse related hand injuries.

Always follow these basic typing guidelines!

1. Buy a comfortable wrist pad for the keyboard and the mouse.

2. Fingers remain on the home-row keys.

3. Use correct finger reaches at all times. For example, don’t reach for the "Y" button with the left hand. Also, make sure that you utilize both shift keys and not just one.

4. Use the pinky finger to strike the return key.

5. Eyes are focused on the screen.

6. Feet are resting flat on the floor shoulder width apart.

7. Sit up straight in a chair with a high, comfortable back..

8. Position the keyboard one hand length away from the body.

9. Keep your body directly in front of the keyboard at all times.

10. Do not bend wrists outward or inward excessively. The wrists must stay low, but not touching the keyboard. Simply rest them on your squishy pad.

11. Imagine that someone slid a tennis ball into the palm of your hand. This will keep the fingers properly arched at all times.

12. Keep your elbows relaxed at your sides. Do not rest them on the armrests of the chair while typing!
Chapter 7: (03:36) Video Games A recent study about hand related injuries and video games yielded some very interesting results. Basically, the study pointed out that people that play games such as role playing games (World of Warcraft, Final Fantasy, etc.) are less prone to hand injuries than those that play action or fighting games. This proves that there is a correlation between tendonitis, carpal tunnel, and games that require rapid, repetitious finger movements.

If you ever feel your hands getting sore as a result of playing video games, it is time to take a break. Also, be aware of how tightly you grip the controller and how violently you press the buttons.

---

Video Subtitles / Captions

Member Comments about this Lesson

Discussions with our instructors are just one of the many benefits of becoming a member of JamPlay.

---

---