Share This Thread KNUCKLE PAIN, COMMON OR UNCOMMON? Jeremy Henry (323) Instructional Forum 7/17/2008 1:14:23 PM · 43 Views [Respond to this Message] I get pain in the middle part of my fingers from playing the chords EADGCEmAmDm. I've been practicing those chords on my aucustic and I've been getting pain in my fingers. I dont know what the part of my body where I get the pain is called. I would call it the middle knuckle if I had to call it anything. I was just wondering if this was natural or if this is a sign of a disease of some sort? The pain occurs in the main knuckle that you use to bend your fingers. Located in the middle of your finger. (I dont know if its a knuckle or not)

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• Respond to this Re: KNUCKLE PAIN, COMMON OR UNCOMMON? 7/18/2008 11:47:58 AM Jon Riley (9692) wrote: Any pain is a bad sign. (Other than in the fingertips, where they will inevitably hurt a little as a beginner until the skin toughens up.) There's no way we can give good advice here - other than to say check with a doctor or qualified physio. Pain in the joints, tendons or muscles may be down to bad position, too much tension, or over-playing - in which case a teacher could help - or it may be some unconnected condition that guitar-playing is aggravating.

• Respond to this Re: KNUCKLE PAIN, COMMON OR UNCOMMON? 7/18/2008 2:59:11 PM Jeremy Henry (323) wrote: Thanks you two for your answers. Normally I dont have any pain in my left hand from doing anything. Sometimes my right hand hurts like when im holding the steering wheel as I drive. I think I'll see a doctor first then see what I can do about taking some guitar lessons if those will help. I was really hoping to not have to fork out the money for guitar lessons. Seems like the pain in my left hand is curable. Or at least preventable. For now I'll just keep studying the beginners lessons on this site and brush up on my knowledge. Its going to suck not playing guitar untill i see a doctor :(

• Respond to this Re: KNUCKLE PAIN, COMMON OR UNCOMMON? 7/19/2008 11:19:41 AM Jon Riley (9692) wrote: A doctor may just tell you to stop whatever it is that's causing you pain. :-( (Sensible but not the answer you want...) Is the right hand pain (on the steering wheel) the same sort of thing? One guitar lesson should be enough to check your position, and the way you hold the guitar. You may find you learn a whole lot of other useful stuff too. (But don't pay for a whole lot of lessons in advance without checking out a teacher on one introductory lesson. And I speak as a teacher...)

• Respond to this Re: KNUCKLE PAIN, COMMON OR UNCOMMON? 7/21/2008 9:29:58 PM David Hall (2649) wrote: Just tell him to have himself a goat p--- popsickle and continue.

• Respond to this Re: KNUCKLE PAIN, COMMON OR UNCOMMON? 7/19/2008 4:55:33 PM Ken Richardson (6286) wrote: Do you get pain on other guitars when you play them? It could be that your guitar needs a good setup. My mandolin was very tiring to play before I did a setup on it. Most guitars are setup OK at the nut, but some are not. That might be something to look into.

• Respond to this Re: KNUCKLE PAIN, COMMON OR UNCOMMON? 7/21/2008 6:38:42 AM Paul Gelinas (3562) wrote: As others have said, have an expert check out your technique and the guitar you're playing. How much are you practicing, and what gauge are your strings? Consider cutting back on the length of your sessions, using lighter strings, or having the guitar's action lowered at the nut. Be sure to take some Ibuprofen or aspirin to relieve or minimize the pain. Your problem may temporary due to overusing certain muscles.

• Respond to this Re: KNUCKLE PAIN, COMMON OR UNCOMMON? 7/22/2008 9:48:19 AM Derek Mccaughey (654) wrote: you should get someone, anyone to look at your playing position, and specifically your fretting hand/arm position, if your fingers are on the fretboard at an angle you'll be putting sideways pressure on some quite delicate joints (your finger joints are called phlanges BTW)

• Respond to this Re: KNUCKLE PAIN, COMMON OR UNCOMMON? 7/23/2008 8:31:59 PM Jeremy Henry (323) wrote: The pain is in my phlanges. The middle part of your finger right? Thats where the pain is. Anyways im going to see a teacher and doctor about the pain and im going to put the guitar down untill I do both. I figure not playing the instrument can't hurt me. I tell you what it may have been though. I was playing the chords I mentioned with my thumb really low on the neck. I seen a youtube video of someone saying playing with your thumb low cures alot of problems. The only problem it did cure was my hand muting the strings during certain chords like A and C. However, I have never seen anyone play the guitar like this. Every time I see someone play chords their thumb is always above the neck resting. I'm going to try to play like that for one practice session and see if the pain goes away. If it doesn't I'm just going to put the guitar down untill I see a teacher and doctor. Thanks for the advice everyone.

• Respond to this Re: KNUCKLE PAIN, COMMON OR UNCOMMON? 7/24/2008 6:43:00 AM Bill North (11974) wrote: That's a good path IMHO. I had a similar flareup back in 2004, due to overplaying and bad hand and arm posture. I switched to steel guitar to lay off the guitar for a while, consulted a doctor and re-examined my playing posture and all is relatively well now. Good luck, may your problem be as small as mine. Bill~~~

• Respond to this Re: KNUCKLE PAIN, COMMON OR UNCOMMON? 7/24/2008 10:33:20 AM Ken Richardson (6286) wrote: The classical players tend to keep the thumb behind the neck. Some rock stuff ( Pinball Wizard, some Hendrix) was done with the thumb over on the the 6th string. Keep us posted on what you find out Good luck

• Respond to this Re: KNUCKLE PAIN, COMMON OR UNCOMMON? 7/24/2008 5:26:26 PM Jeremy Henry (323) wrote: Thanks for the concern ken I was coming on here to post even before reading your newest comment. I just looked at a few youtube lessons and practiced with my thumb more above the neck than below it. My phlanges still started hurting a little bit through the session. I think its just my body. I could be playing in bad posture and I'll find out when I want to fork up 30 bucks for a guitar lesson but I'm just going to put the guitar down for a while. I will see the doctor or chiropractor since I have insurance. I dont get my hopes up when it comes to playing the guitar I think its more important I dont injure myself than it is I play the guitar. I just need to find the time to do some of these things like see the doctor and get a guitar lesson on posture. When I do those things I will know for sure if I'm going to play the guitar for the rest of my life or if it will just be something I wish I could have done.

• Respond to this Re: KNUCKLE PAIN, COMMON OR UNCOMMON? 7/24/2008 10:05:03 PM Dan Gable (1589) wrote: Jazz players also position the thumb in the middle of the neck and use it as a pivot for reaching frets out of the box. Proper hand position is important for hand health and for maximizing the notes available under your finger tips.

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