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Post by curmudgeon on Nov 13, 2018 16:27:37 GMT
Hi, I've had Tennis elbow in both sides at one time or another, and it usually takes about 18-24 months to peter out.
However we are diagnosing something without seeing it directly.
More ibnfo pleae : 1. Do you sit or stand or both to perform? 2. What size guitar? 3. What size human (seriously) 4. Does the inside of your right arm (assuming you play righty) fit tidily over the meeting of bside and top or does it lean "aganist" the corner? (if so possibly pressing a nerve of tendon)
Even better would be a picture of your normal playing posture.
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Post by bleatoid on Nov 13, 2018 19:59:41 GMT
Hi Andy
Thanks for the interest:
1. I've never performed but when I play I always sit - on an elevated lightly padded office chair with no arms - quite firm but with a backrest. I never use a strap. 2. Usually a 00 - nothing bigger than a 000. 3. I'm 5'11" and skinny as a rake (just over 10st) with long lanky limbs 4. Yes - rightie - I think it fits reasonably well "around the top / back edge" of the guitar - when I start playing...- but there might be something here - a) because my arms are long, the bend angle at the elbow is quite acute b) When playing faster / more complex (for me) pieces (which I've been doing of late) I've noticed my picking hand tends to creep forward - which will likely be bringing the upper arm across the top edge of the lower bout.
Also - I tend to hunch over the guitar - not good...
Interested in any thoughts - I'll try and get a pic....
Peter
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Post by robmc on Nov 15, 2018 21:37:15 GMT
Hi Peter Maybe try and put a cushion on you lap, under the guitar, to elevate the guitar a bit.... if that helps then you have the perfect excuse to buy a lovey dreadnought, which I feel is what your body is telling you it needs (not me at all you understand) Alternatively, you could use a strap whilst sitting to sit the guitar up a bit.... this doesn't feel right for me though.
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Post by bleatoid on Nov 15, 2018 23:45:37 GMT
Haha - thanks for the suggestions Rob! Well, I'm not sure the guitar needs elevating - I have in my head that there's something going on with the right elbow angle on my gibbon-like arm, or the way it comes across the lower bout as Andy curmudgeon was suggesting - however - the dreadnought idea is an interesting one and I will try it - because I do have one! Though I only play small bodies these days my first guitar (bought new with every single penny I had in 1978) was an Ibanez S300SV dreadnought - long unused - but I'll dig it out and re-acquaint tomorrow. (You've reminded me I must get it on ebay - someone should be using it). ...and I can't use a strap these days - which is strange - I used to have to have one to keep the guitar from moving about too freely. I would say however, that the exercises Gregg Hermetech mentioned earlier in the thread do seem to help - the pain is definitely less severe after playing and I think my playing is better too. My wife plays piano and she's started doing them as well. Peter
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Post by andyhowell on Nov 16, 2018 10:40:15 GMT
From what you have said I doubt that a dreadnought will do anything for you. Go to a local store and try andy dreadnought guitar and your first instincts should tell you!
I am tempted to say these problems come with age but they don't necessarily! Over the years I've had back pain resulting from playing standing, shoulder pain from playing standing with the wrong strap position and problems with my wrist associated with playing deep guitars. You need to keep trying different things. Over the years — and at various time these things have worked for me:
Concentration on playing position — stress related strains are very common; Moving to smaller bodied guitars Using a Manzer wedge — a very successful but expensive option!
I also suggest you check out the Alexander Technique and see if there is an Alexander teacher locally. This is not an 'alternative therapy' but something based on posture and comfort. It is very popular with professional actors and musicians. It is very easy to underestimate the stress on your body from the kind of concentration that has your body in un-natural positions!
Stress and tensioning very common issues to deal with when playing instrument over extended periods of time.
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Post by robmc on Nov 16, 2018 11:20:49 GMT
My suggestion of a dreadnought was little flippant, but when you're tall and slim then the depth of the body is maybe not such an issue than if you have a bit more girth . A slightly larger / raised lower bout might help stop the gibbon-like arm hanging over the body as Peter described... i have reasonably gibbon-like arms myself.
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Post by bleatoid on Nov 16, 2018 11:55:43 GMT
Thanks for the ideas Andy - I do only play small bodied guitars these days and was treating Rob's dreadnought idea slightly lightly - but will dig out my old Ibanez later for a try (if only for the nostalgia).
Posture and tension are probably at the heart of the thing as several have suggested and I'm trying to pay more attention to those - we may be seeing some improvement..
Had to look up Manzer wedge - yep - we'll skip that option; surely just playing banjo instead of guitar would have a similar effect? - surprised no-one has suggested that.
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Post by andyhowell on Nov 16, 2018 12:27:15 GMT
I am pretty sure a banjo is not a solution ....
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Post by Onechordtrick on Nov 16, 2018 12:53:41 GMT
I am pretty sure a banjo is not a solution .... There are very few problems to which a banjo is the solution. The only one that springs to mind is “what’s the best tool to use to beat my use co-worker senseless with?”.
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Post by andyhowell on Nov 16, 2018 12:59:24 GMT
Well, put that way ...
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Phil Taylor
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Post by Phil Taylor on Nov 16, 2018 15:24:09 GMT
surely just playing banjo instead of guitar would have a similar effect? - surprised no-one has suggested that. My tennis elbow was really painful and made me miserable but banjo? Surely not........ Phil
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Post by Onechordtrick on Nov 16, 2018 17:24:39 GMT
surely just playing banjo instead of guitar would have a similar effect? - surprised no-one has suggested that. My tennis elbow was really painful and made me miserable but banjo? Surely not........ Phil I think the idea is that sound of the banjo is so painful you’ll forget about the other, now relatively minor, aches.
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Post by andyhowell on Nov 16, 2018 19:05:16 GMT
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Post by bleatoid on Nov 16, 2018 19:38:59 GMT
Exactly what we need here. I know I speak for all of us when I say that the world would be a better place if Trump, Corbyn and Jung-Il formed a banjo trio. End of debate.
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Post by andyhowell on Nov 16, 2018 23:38:56 GMT
Agghhhhhh .....
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