I am about four months into my career as a musician, and I have not yet been able to become addicted to any major narcotic, much less go through rehab, nor have I had an affair with even one model (not even a hand model). I feel I am substantially behind my goals at this point.
I'm sorry for that and now I'll be serious.
I have read a fair amount of stuff here & elsewhere and I know this is *not* easy, yet I do have some issues I'm not sure are common. I seek comfort from the Internets.
- First thing, recurring fretting arm tightness/pain - probably tendonitis, maybe just sore muscles. Yes, I've seen a doctor: She told me to stop playing guitar. I'm not kidding. I then saw an ortho who said I didn't have CTS or any nerve issue.
I've now had two major bouts of this. I had to take several days off each time. I'm just on the back of the second, and played for two hours yesterday. The first time, my teacher & I concluded it was due to me pressing way too hard, and squeezing the neck - bad technique. The second time, I had fallen back into that habit, slowly, plus was slinging too low.
I am hoping this may be licked now. I only practice ~an hour a day normally, so it's not like I'm killing my body with overuse.
My question for the group is: How common is this?? How many beginners have such issues?
- Second thing: Certain techniques that don't "seem" they should be so hard that I just can't do. Example: Running With The D?vil intro, you play a D7G7B7 chord (simple barre), then hammer on B8D9. You're hammering with two fingers at once. I just cannot do this without accidentally muting G. I just can't. Should I expect it to be nigh impossible at my stage?
- Keeping wrist straight/curling fingers instead. This is related to my tendonitis issues also. For some stuff I can do it, for others, just can't. Another example: Chord arpeggios in Limelight chorus. The first one is similar to the example above, where you have to fret on the D & B without muting G. I have to bend my wrist a good deal to do that. A bit of this is Ok, but a lot starts to hurt (then I stop).
So, again, I know that a lot of stuff (that looks easy) simply isn't, for any beginner. I guess I'm looking for 1) tips and 2) info about how common having to deal with pain in one form or another as a beginner is.
Big Beginner Problems
- Alan Green
- Guitari Lama
- Posts: 8019
- Joined: September 23rd, 2002, 1:35 am
- Location: Little Cambridge, Essex, UK
- Contact:
Re: Big Beginner Problems
Welcome to the party. Eventually, the guitar will pay some bills or get you life-partners - maybe both
You are experiencing a fairly standard set of issues. Do make sure you're properly warmed up before you play big songs - play some open shapes and simple scales.
You are trying to run before you can walk. Get back to some simpler songs - Breakdown (Jack Johnson), Rhinestone Cowboy, Redemption song (Bob Marley) and build it from there. Songs by REM make good study material - start with Losing My Religion, then Everybody Hurts, Man On the Moon and finally The One I Love.
We all want to play Closer To The Heart/ Red Barchetta/ Working Man/ Limelight soon as - you'll get there.
You are experiencing a fairly standard set of issues. Do make sure you're properly warmed up before you play big songs - play some open shapes and simple scales.
You are trying to run before you can walk. Get back to some simpler songs - Breakdown (Jack Johnson), Rhinestone Cowboy, Redemption song (Bob Marley) and build it from there. Songs by REM make good study material - start with Losing My Religion, then Everybody Hurts, Man On the Moon and finally The One I Love.
We all want to play Closer To The Heart/ Red Barchetta/ Working Man/ Limelight soon as - you'll get there.
"Be good at what you can do" - Fingerbanger
"I have always felt that it is better to do what is beautiful than what is 'right'" - Eliot Fisk
Wedding music and guitar lessons in Essex. Listen at: http://www.rollmopmusic.co.uk
"I have always felt that it is better to do what is beautiful than what is 'right'" - Eliot Fisk
Wedding music and guitar lessons in Essex. Listen at: http://www.rollmopmusic.co.uk
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- newbie
- Posts: 5
- Joined: June 16th, 2018, 8:28 am
Re: Big Beginner Problems
Thanks. Yes, patience is not a virtue of mine. Yet, it's one required for this endeavor, I think.
Heck, though, Working Man is dirt simple except for the solo!
Heck, though, Working Man is dirt simple except for the solo!

Re: Big Beginner Problems
I have tennis elbow, a form of tendonitis, that I got when I was lifting wights.
There are some exercises you can do outside of playing the guitar.
Squeeze a foam ball.
loop 1 or more rubber bands around your fingers and expand them out.
I have an exercise kit that I use daily: https://www.amazon.com/Handmaster-Plus- ... B00CTG3TQU
I don't intend to shill, but I will promote something I find useful. If you can afford it, then buy it. Else, go with foam balls and rubber bands.
There are some exercises you can do outside of playing the guitar.
Squeeze a foam ball.
loop 1 or more rubber bands around your fingers and expand them out.
I have an exercise kit that I use daily: https://www.amazon.com/Handmaster-Plus- ... B00CTG3TQU
I don't intend to shill, but I will promote something I find useful. If you can afford it, then buy it. Else, go with foam balls and rubber bands.
Epiphone Les Paul Special II (main practice)
Gibson Faded T
Yamaha THR10C
Gibson Faded T
Yamaha THR10C
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- newbie
- Posts: 5
- Joined: June 16th, 2018, 8:28 am
Re: Big Beginner Problems
OT gave me a litany of stretches and exercises with bands. None are quite like what that device you ref'd fosters, though. I may get one.
Good news for me now is that typing & other activity screws up my arm more than guitar.
Bad news is I still may need to take 2-3 months off (everything). It just doesn't heal otherwise.
Good news for me now is that typing & other activity screws up my arm more than guitar.
Bad news is I still may need to take 2-3 months off (everything). It just doesn't heal otherwise.