Over The last 4 weeks i've had a damn sore left arm. Whinge !
It's my Guitar playin' arm, and it got so bad i went and got it seen to. Seems that from playing for many years the inner side of my forearm has gotten a lot stronger than the outer. Have been playing Acoustic a lot the last six months, and also whacked my elbow, walking through a door. This all sounds kinda off track but the point here is that over time, 25 years of playing Guitar , it's come time to excercise the muscles on the outside of the forearm. Clenching the neck, according to my Chiropractor, has left an imbalance in the muscles around my elbow and shoulder. Any how it's getting good enough to get back into at least an hours playing / day. Freaked me out, the pain was excruciating, as the Neurological and Vascular vessels in my arm(so he says) were being strangled.
Something i'd never heard of, and i thought i would give an account of what is probably semi-Guitar related injury, but yeh, keep stretching and excercising all your muscle groups people as this was a bummer; not being able to play. Plus i'm getting damn old i s'pose. also !

Blame it on the git-fiddle and not the conditioner in the shower



Seriously, I've noticed the same thing with the guitar and even more with the drums. When I get out of shape, I play slower and for not as long on the drums and the guitar. Shoulder exercises, arms, back, chest and legs. Just another reason to go to the gym (other than preventing dying at 50)

Slave2daGroove said:

Thanks slave 2da', at least i have some feedback, as i was feeling a bit bewildered, like i was the "only one". ( Not many of us would admit to injuring themselves playing music )
Side Note: I recall hearing Les Paul had his left arm broken, in a car accident, and having his cast set so he could could still play. At a 45 degree angle if you get my drift. Whether it's myth or reality i'm not sure. Most probably true. In his heyday Les Paul could make that thing talk! Am fortunate to have a couple of 75rpm disks of his and a bit of footage. Any how i digress. Ouch! , maybe typing aint that good 4 your muscles either. Going to do some remedial excercise, NOW !
P.s. Slave2daGroove , been honing my Avatar skills in this off period, if you'd like a hand , as i notice your without, give us a hoy!

Flux, You are old.

That's my feedback.

ouch. My fingers. I just ignore the pain, instead counting on a blazing-glory-death in helicopter on my way FROM some arena gig.

Short of that, I spose I won't be able to sign my name in 5 years.

I'm posting this here cuz I'm too lazy to start my own thread, and besides, it's a re-hash of an old song. Check out that HARP!!! OH SNAP!

[Edited 11/24/04 6:23am]

otan said:

Gimps of the world pick up your harmonicas at kick our ass!

Snap?!? Try snap, crackle, pop!

Rehash every one of tunes if their gonna turn out like this!

Flux, You are old.That's my feedback.

Not too old to kick some butt , and to realise it aint over yet. In fact it's just beginning.Having given up the booze few years back the body has complained more than it did, but hey it's all a learning curve.
otan:

That's a reference to S Ray Vaun, and it was all Eric's fault. Clapton said; You can take my ride stevie, and as fate would have it the 'copter crashed, and S R V went down with it . Dunno how E. C. get's away with it, but he's like a cat with nine lives. Every time i hear the guy speak it's; I had to do this Concert / Album to express my grief at what has happened. His son falling outa the skyscraper, Tears in heaven, George Harrison 'Concert 4 George'. His life is so depressing, s'pose that's why he plays the Blues
He , Eric Clapton, bought Jimi Hendrix a left Handed Strat. the day before He left the planet, and Eric never got to give it to him. He had to sit and stare at the thing like an unfinished gesture. Enough of that !
Hey ! Slave2daGroove, you sound like your been drinking man .
There's no way i'm clicking on that link into otan's web mazed musical abyss, give it a whirl tomorrow. Obviously it sounds great

Actually I was going older school - Buddy Holly on ya! Old Age is for the weak - I'm gonna die before I'm 30.

Um, except that I'll be 40 in less than 6 months. Talk about a death sentence.

I one badly hurt the muscles in my my shoulder practicing funk rhythm obsessively. For weeks, I couldn't even turn my head anymore.
Now I make it a rule not to practice sitting down. It screws up your posture. I also moved to thinner picks. Oh, and short, cold showers.

hectim said

:

Yep, this is good; the ergonomics of playing. hectim i find that standing is 'my way' to play also. Sitting down seems to cramp my mobility, and i prefer to stand. People take it that i'm being a bit aggressive or dominating, but that's their problem.
I also tend to not look at the fret board but peep at the dots on the upside edge of the neck, as it's better for 'my neck'.I do feel that a lotta people who don't play guitar are unaware of how awkward a beast it is to play. Obsessively playing for long periods can really take it's toll, which is hard when you've gotta be an obsessive person to play in the first place
A friend actually "burnt out" the nerves in a couple of fingers, but there were substances other than obsession involved. As Slave2daGroove said, it's so important to have an all over excercise regimen to keep the cobwebs out of ya musculature. Yeh, it's certainly worth it though. Keep on playing , such a joyful expression of your existence here.