Left Hand Cramp, I think I'm killing my strings =D Options

[thefireball]

Hey GMC!

I notice that when I'm doing a lot of rhythms for recordings and such my fretting hand gets really cramped and hurts. This especially is noticed when I'm fretting power chords. Am I too tense? I just wanted another opinion. Anything I can do to help stop the tensing, except concentrating on relaxing? Perhaps imagine the guitar is extremely fragile? (I wonder what Ben would say to that.)

By the way, I stop to give my hands a break when the pain comes. I'm stretching them right now.

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[Ben Higgins]

Hey Brandon.. when I record I'm usually more tense because of the pressure of wanting to get it right. I usually record sat down when I'm first sketching out a tune too.. I usually find that my picking arm gets sore and tense as opposed to my fretting hand. We're all different I guess

Do you record sat down ? A lot of tension also begins in our necks and shoulders and travels down through our arms.. so make sure you stretch out your neck, shoulders and back and try and feel loose all the way down to your fingers.

Generally, when we're consciously trying to avoid playing mistakes we will tense up.. because we associate being loose and carefree with the possibility of sloppy technique or playing wrong notes.

When I find myself getting too tense, I stop.. do the usual routine we all do, shake our hands out etc... but what I find myself doing recently is to think of something funny (like a movie or comedian's joke) that makes me laugh. It helps me feel less serious and uptight. I do this when I'm having trouble with recording a video.. it makes me feel like 'It doesn't matter, just take it easy'

EDIT: Come to think of it, just think of Mudbone's Avatar.. that should do the trick ! (I hope he hasn't changed it now)

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This post has been edited by Ben Higgins: May 27 2011, 03:11 PM

[Mudbone]

EDIT: Come to think of it, just think of Mudbone's Avatar.. that should do the trick ! (I hope he hasn't changed it now)

Don't worry Ben, my avatar ain't going anywhere. Its the only way I'll ever be able to have luscious black locks

Try to imagine it's a tender girl, and you won't have problems

If I imagine that, it will make another region of my body stiff and tense

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