AVOIDING GUITAR PLAYER INJURIES

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It almost sounds ridiculous to have to think about avoiding guitar player injuries. I mean, what is that? We’re not bunji jumping or doing some other type of extreme sport. All we wanna do is jam on a guitar. What harm could that do?

Plenty actually. If you read my last blog post then you know I’m one of the walking wounded… Or perhaps I should ammend that to playing wounded. And it is not a fun place to be, believe me.

Several months ago I attended a workshop that targeted some of the injuries musicians can develop from excessive playing. Most of these problems can be avoided by simply learning and reinforcing good playing habits. Some of these habits include:

- Warming up slowly (start with scales, exercises, arpeggios, easy chord progressions)

- Using several short practice sessions instead of one long session

- Taking frequent breaks (5-10 minutes per hour)

- Stretching before playing, during breaks and after playing

- Avoiding too much repetition

- Using good playing posture

- Practicing difficult passages for only 2-3 minutes at a time

- Using an instrument that fits your body size

- Using good technique (avoiding hyper-flexion of the wrist, rounded shoulders, extending arms too far from body, protruding head)

- Using a cupped, relaxed hand rather than a flat, tense hand

- Avoid applying too much force

- Playing in a well lit, warm and friendly atmoshere (not always possible, I know, but at least try to make this your aim when practicing)

- Relax & lighten up!

I suggest you keep these tips with your guitar and review them whenever you practice. Eventually your good playing habits will become second nature. Afterall, wouldn’t you rather avoid those nasty guitar player injuries so you can continue to have fun making music?

Until next time…

Keep practicing!
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OVERUSE INJURIES & GUITAR

It’s a sad fact that overuse injuries tend to be fairly common among guitar players. This problem, which is also known as Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI) or Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, can become so painful that a musician may lose their ability to play the instrument with the same skill they once had. I’m sorry to say that I tell you this from personal experience.

Several years ago I developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in my left wrist. I didn’t really know about overuse injuries at the time, I only knew that my fingers would go numb whenever I played guitar for an extended period. It eventually got so bad that my whole arm, from elbow to wrist, would start tingling and hurt whenever I played.

Then one day I was asked to participate in a fund raising concert. I decided to play some of my Classical Guitar Favorites for the show; putting the easiest ones first and the more difficult pieces toward the end. This would give my fingers a chance to warm up, or so I thought.

The performance started off well and I was rather amazed that my hand felt so good. Half-way into the program however, I began to panic when a familiar tingling sensation ran down my arm. The next thing I knew I had no feeling in my fingers at all! It was the weirdest sensation. I remember smiling at the audience and trying to look like I was having a good time, but my fingers were completely numb and I still had to play the harder pieces!

Somehow, by God’s grace, I managed to get through the whole set without anyone noticing my plight. Not long after this incident I decided to see a specialist in order to find out if something could be done to alleviate the pain in my hand. It was then that I learned about overuse injuries and the negative impact they can have on guitar players and other musicians.

If you are experiencing pain in your wrist or hand when you play the guitar then I suggest you see a physician. Oveuse injuries can wreck any career plans you may have, not to mention taking the shear joy out of simply playing the guitar.

Tune in next week for tips on how you can prevent this problem from developing.

Until then…

Keep practicing!
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GIBSON LES PAUL

One of my favorite electric guitars is the Gibson Les Paul Black Beauty.   I have an imitation of this coveted instrument sitting on a stand in my music room. I also have a picture (somewhere) of Hendrix playing one. How often I have dreamed of owning and playing the real thing myself someday.

Prior to it’s development in the ’50s, the “conservative” Gibson company was leading the way with their archtop electric guitars. Solidbody electrics were also available on the market, but Gibson had little interest in creating such a guitar. At that time they considered solidbodied guitars to be nothing more than a simple piece of wood. Their instruments on the other hand were the result of quality design and craftsmanship.

However, it wasn’t long before Gibson realized the impact this new trend toward solidbodied electrics was having on the industry. In response to the growing demand for these guitars, Gibson began developing ideas for their own model. They came up with an artistic new design that would later become the driving force behind much of the popular music of the ’60s and ’70s.

When their first solidbodied electric was ready for debut, Gibson asked Les Paul if he would introduce the guitar to the public. It was 1952 and Les was at the peak of his career having achieved two gold records the previous year with “Mockin’ Bird Hill” and “How High the Moon”. It seemed fitting to name this special guitar the Gibson Les Paul Standard.

Les Paul is one of the most respected names in the music industry today. He is legendary for being both an excellent guitarist and the inventor of multitrack recording. It is a well known fact among musicians, especially guitarists, that the recording industry, as we know it, would not exist without the innovative ideas and contribuitons of Les Paul.

Until next time…

Keep practicing!
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JOHN MAYER AT LIVE EARTH CONCERT

Did you notice John Mayer playing with Sting at the Live Earth concert?

Thankfully, I managed to catch it along with some other bands I like, including Roger Waters of Pink Floyd & Van Halen.

Apparently, the Live Earth Concert has become one of the biggest global events in history, reaching approximately 2 billion people. I was glad to see more than 150 of the world’s top music artists coming together to raise public awareness about Global Warming. Those watching the concert were asked to take action and “just do one thing” to help reduce the effects of pollution on our planet. It was said this alone would make a BIG difference.

A few celebrities at the Live Earth concert declared they have already begun to make some lifestyle changes. John Mayer for example, converted his tour bus so that it now uses bio-diesel fuel. He is also in the process of designing “products that are cheap, easy alternatives to cut down on plastics,” such as reusable grocery bags and water bottles.

In addition to his environmental concerns, John Mayer has another passion that we share as well- guitars. He has over 200 of them! You may be happy to know that Fender has decided to add Mayer’s name to their list of signature guitars. Last year, in August 2006, they began manufacturing SERIES II John Mayer Stratocasters.

It seems a bit ironic that Mayer won Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “Waiting on the World to Change” at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards held earlier this year. I guess he decided it was time to stop waiting and just do whatever he could to help make the change happen, eh?

Ya know, maybe it’s about time to get that reusable grocery bag I’ve been thinking about.

Till next time…

Keep practicing!
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