Hand Hurt Playing Guitar? Then this is the MOST IMPORTANT lesson to learn.
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- čas přidán 31. 03. 2016
- Two of the most important lessons I ever learned about playing the guitar were how to hold it, and how helpful good posture is. And they're actually pretty easy. Interestingly enough though, I didn't learn that information from my teachers (I've had four of them). I think I was just expected to figure it out for myself.
I finally got the hint after I'd been playing for about 15 years and started developing terrible wrist and forearm pain. After working with a physical therapist and taking several months to relearn how to play, I can say that I've been problem free for more than 15 years since (yep, I've been playing for about 30 years).
So here's a quick overview of how to hold the guitar and why good posture is important as well. These are the same tips I give to my students to help them avoid the same problems I did. If you're experiencing anything like this now, or expect to play the guitar for many years to come, you NEED to watch this lesson.
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Most Important Guitar Lesson | Guitar Lessons | Basic Guitar Lessons | Easy Guitar Lessons | Playing Guitar | Guitar Technique | Hand Hurts Playing the Guitar | - Hudba
So I get my wrist pain very quickly everytime I play because I always curl my wrist and hold the guitar too close to me. THANK YOU for this video!
Happy to help. Good luck!
I'm still having wrist pain.... Unable to rectify. Can you help?
really nice! i used to have trouble playing awkward chords before but now i feel great
incredibly helpful, my hand and myself appreciate you!
So glad I found your video. I have been struggling with bending my wrist around the neck, but your guitar positioning explanations make perfect sense. Thanks
This approach immediately resolved major forearm/wrist tension for me. Many thanks! Rotating the neck of the guitar away from the body was a particularly useful insight.
So helpful! elbow pain immediately reduced! thanks a bunch!
Thankyou for helping me. Great detail in your explanation. Much appreciated as I was struggling.
I'll tell ya...this is such a good video that I have watched it more times than I can count since I found it. It's very very helpful...its my "go to" when I realize that I am back to my bad habits. Thank u K.O.!!!!!
Thank you so very much for this video ! I’ve been playing for 50 years and this information you have provided is invaluable. I have already shared this video with my friends. Thank you again!
First day learning. Was cranking my wrist. Hurt instantly. This will help. Much appreciated.
This is the most helpful video that I have found! Thank u so very much! I am suffering from that now. I made alot of mistakes & then learned them. Now I am experiencing pain & was about to quit. But thanks!!!! Now I don't have to
My left wrist and forearm were bothering me after practicing for a while. I made adjustments in the completely wrong direction and of course, it didn't help. Watched your video and made your recommended adjustments - no pain! Thank You so much.
Hey mate! Till this time this is the cleanest and most detailed explanation in this category I've found on youtube! Thank you so much! You deserves much-much more views!
Thanks! I'm glad you like it. I hope it was helpful.
This video...particularly the "triangle" feels SO MUCH better than...trying to keep the guitar parallel to your body. My thumb really feels SO much better. Ty
Glad it's working for you!
Did you mean *perpendicular* to your body? Because I'm confused why would u ever have guitar "parallel " to your body? I just dont see how that would work.
Nevertheless I'm glad to hear his techniques have helped your playing man! Keep jamming 🤘🤘🤘
@@KevinOShaughnessyGuitar ur an amazing teacher im watching u now... I hope this helps.... Wish me luck🤞🤞🤞
This was actually the 1st video I ever watched & I have had some of the things u have said hit me as I have been having these problems. But I am watching this one yet again too. This one was a help then & still is.
I'm so glad to hear it's helping.
instant results man!!!....I could not fret quite amazingly but there has been huge improvement.... Thanks 😊
This totally solved the problem in minutes!
This is one of the most helpful guitar videos I have ever found and it really helped my technique , thank you so much brother!
Glad to hear it! Be sure to check out the other guitar lessons for more detailed demonstrations on specific issues.
Great information. Been playing for 25 years and teaching for 11 years and de slouching is really becoming a problem. Always thought the pain was coming from my hands but its actually my posture.
This was so, so helpful. Thank you.
I believe that I have watched this AT LEAST 7x. You have an ability to teach this in a fashion thats so understandable & detailed. I find myself going back to the things that I did the 1st 2 years of playing though. Thats why I come back to this video ever so often. Thanks so much AGAIN for this video.
It takes time to break habits like that. Your dedication is awesome. Keep up the good work!
2021 . Still the best video !
Thanks buddy 🌻
The first part of this video is just great advice for life!!! Thanks Kevin! Such a great explanation of why posture is important! Love it. Also, great video for posture with regards to guitar!
Thanks! I'm glad you got something out of it!
I cannot thank you enough for going in depth on the most simple thing, technique. We all need a mentor and technique is everything imo. I didn't have CZcams as a teen and this is great to know your experience is responsible for shaving off hardships. Many blessings to you brother
I'm glad you're finding it helpful.
that was pretty cool , thank you , i've been having these shit pains between my thumb and index finguer also the wrist , it sucks , now that you mentioned how to actually do it right and pick the right position with the right basics , i can understand it better.
thank you.
Such an old Video Helped me miles better than recent ones ! iv had guys chatting about changing the frigging Chord voicings etc THAT WONT Fix my clamp issue and Fatigue This is the best example iv seen and i noticed an imediate improvment playing just by sitting different and not twisting my guitar to see the fret board
Thank you so so much for this video, my left wrist has been acting up recently and I couldn't get rid of the pain for days. Hopefully it will stop coming back once I switch to the right method!
Holy crap tis is so simple I didn't even think about it. Bless you, man!
Don't feel bad. It took me 15 years of playing before I figured it out. :) I'm glad this is helpful.
Thank you--I very much appreciate the direction.
Awesome! Glad you found this useful.
Thanks so much for the tips!
Great - just coming to accoustic from classical guitar - a super tutorial - thanks again
Great post! What works for me when I'm seated is the classical guitar style / foot stool method and classical posture including hand placement.
Thanks man, I'm dealing with tendonitis right now, always had neck and back issues from playing guitar but this is the first injury I've had in my hand from playing, I'm going to do proper warm ups and take the advice you've given in this video in future.
I’m in the same boat bro I hope it all worked out for you
this was so helpful!!!
Great lesson. Thanks, has really helped make playing more comfortable.
Awesome! Glad it was helpful.
Thank you! I started lessons three weeks ago but my instructor did not go over how to hold the guitar or pick and as a result developed pain in my left shoulder after the first week. Now I'm able to pick up the guitar once more and want to do it correctly. Great video
I hope this does the trick. I have a few more videos on this subject with more on the way so feel free to explore the channel. Keep an eye on that shoulder though. A lot of times the issue can be solved with ergonomics but if it persists, it could be something more serious.
Newbie player here. This video was very helpful to me. Thanks!
Man, it's like you had in your mind every doubt I had while playing. Thank you so much for this video👍
Glad I could help. :)
Wow that’s helped a lot thank you for taking the time to demonstrate and explain.
My pleasure. I'm glad you found it helpful.
Thanks so much for this!
Yo Kevin Thank you so much ! I feel so relax now
thanks. i ran across this video by accident, but it was exactly what i needed. 👍🏾
Thanks so much, this was very helpful.
Watching this i just realized for the past 3 months of learning i was actually doin it wrong 😅, thanks to u my man! God bless you!
Best...video... ever....for explaining how to hold the guitar so you don’t hurt yourself!!! *hugs* THANK YOU
Thank you! Glad I could help.
Wow!! That was the most helpful guitar video, it has made my guitar playing so much easier, Thanks!!
Glad to hear it!
Great reminders and explanations! Thank you.
My pleasure. Glad you find it helpful.
What a great teacher you are! Really great stuff!
Thanks!
This is the best video Ive seen about this!! Im at that 'learning all over again' stage.. I injured my left thumb really bad cause I used to push the back of the the neck 😩 Its been tough but actually worth it.. posture is everything, and def feels easier to play now
Glad I could help. Be sure to check out my other videos where I go more in-depth about the topics introduced here.
Thank you for this!
Very helpful. thank you sir.
DUDE! Finally. I literally spent hours trying to find a way that was comfortable to play but also 'correct'. Everything I found was cramping my fret hand. I just had to change the angle of the guitar father away from me and more up. Thanks!
Glad I could help! Be sure to check out my other videos where I go into more detail about the concepts I introduce here.
I practice and play standing up, though some of your tips still apply. I think it's equally important to mentally recognize, then purposely release tension; as playing difficult things makes the body (especially hands/wrists) over tighten muscles. Relaxing them continuously really helps me stay comfortable.
Best lesson on posture I’ve seen. Thank you!
My pleasure. I'm glad you found it useful Feel free to explore the channel. I have more videos on posture as well as other mechanical challenges.
Very good information.
Very helpful! ThankYou
Extremely helpful
excellent tutorial,thanks kevin .peace
I'll tell you after this video when I watched it over a year ago now pain free its true what you instructed I could not play no more I did not want surgery.after I watched and implemented this the instructions pain free. thank you now I'm a rocknroll star when I'm dreaming..Roland J Gutierrez from Magdalena New Mexico USA
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Excellent info!
Well done.... straight to the point and nicely presented.... Bravo !!
Thanks! Glad you like it.
Thanks it helps! It ease my wrist pain. Thank you very much
Glad it was helpful.
You explained that so clearly and logically. Many Thanks!
My pleasure. :)
This changes everything. Thank you for this informative content :D
Happy to help. I'm glad you found it useful.
ive been playing wrong for months, thank you so much
In the 60's when I started playing guitar, on into the 70's and even 80's nobody had hand problems from playing guitar ..... even from bad posture, and nobody had hand problems from typing on manual typewriters either. Only since computers have become mainstream and doctors started coining the term RSI 'repetitive stress injury' have I seen hand injuries in musicians become an epidemic. I was a studio musician in Los Angeles/Orange County, and have worked with MANY musicians over the years .. none who ever had RSI back then. The pioneering work of Dr. John Sarno M.D. of New York University Medical Center/Rusk institute of rehabilitation medicine, has written several books regarding his decades of clinical research regarding the mindbody connection and chronic pain conditions including those of so called 'RSI', and if you have come to this video because your hands hurt chronically from guitar playing, piano playing, etc., I highly recommend reading his books before giving in to defeat. Tension Myoneural Syndrome .. not your guitar playing .. may very well be the culprit, and there is a fix. P.S. Btw I'm not affiliated with them or any other doctors or rehab clinics, publishers, etc., just an aging musician who wants to help. Rock on 🎸
Sounds like an awesome resource. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for recommending it.
Brilliant video. Will put into practice. Am currently suffering from thumb pain on the fretting side (am left-handed, so my right hand). Been playing for just over a year, but have fallen in love with this instrument and it's taken over my life! Haha. Anyway, really want to heal, am committed. I've had tendonitis, also in this thumb, so many times in my life, so it's nothing new unfortunately, but this is the current hurdle and challenge. Thanks. So far the best video I've seen on this by far!
Thanks! I hope it helps. I have more videos on my channel you may want to checkout, concerning ergonomics. One in particular is called Getting Control of Your Fretting Hand. As the name suggests, I go into more detail about how to use the fret hand so playing is less painful. Good luck!
Probably the only video that gave me clear instructions after watching hundreds of others.
wow! a real game changer for me, so many instructors say the guitar must be flat across the body, this gave me pain and cramping in the heel of my thumb and palm, this video has helped tremendously. Bravo!!
Glad it was helpful!
Awesome thanks very much … All the best bro
Very clear explanation! Thank you :)
My pleasure! I hope it helps.
That's awesome Thanks!
Thank You!!!
Wow I don't think I've seen anyone showing how to hold a guitar at an angle! I see guitar videos with people who are sitting holding the guitar parallel across their body, but I've seen players curling their fingers which feels more natural anyway!
Very helpful! Thanks, man!
Glad you found it useful.
Awesome lesson!!
Thanks Kevin!
My pleasure! Be sure to check out my other videos where I go into more detail about the topics introduced here.
This is very important knowledge O.O
Thank you for the video. Best info I have found about correct sitting position. Hopefully this will sort the pain I get in the muscles at the back of my hand. Especially when playing power chord on the first fret using the low e string. Once again. Thanks.
Glad it's helpful. Feel free to watch the other videos on my channel where I go more in depth on the concepts introduced here.
This is extremely helpful for me, a beginner. Thank you.
My pleasure.
Thank you so much for this lesson. I will obviously take time to adapt to proper posture after having improper posture for as lonh as I've played guitar (8 months), but my hand was under much less tension while playing in the manner you taught, so thank you! Looking forward to more material from you!
I'm glad you found it helpful. More is on the way. Is there anything you'd like to learn more about? Leave me a note here and I can make a video about it.
Hi, Kevin! Thanks for the response! As I've already stated, I've been playing for 8 months now, but I haven't particularly set a practice routine for myself, if you could share yours and give me an idea about it, that would be awesome! Also, I've watched a few videos about the Hendrix/Frusciante triads but haven't been able to understand that part fully. So, a video about that would be nice, too! Thanks so much!
Absolutely. I'll start working on it. Thanks for the suggestion.
Hey Calvin. Sorry it took me so long but here's a brief description of my practice routine. You can click the link here: czcams.com/video/4Uh72kWhkA0/video.html
I hope you find it helpful. Let me know if you have any questions.
Great information! Thanks
Happy to help.
Thank Arceus for this video!
I'm going to practice this as of today. Thank you for this extremely helpful video ! (how come you just have 89k views?!)
Excellent video and channel; I just subscribed. I haven't watched the full video yet (I plan to, for sure!), so please excuse the premature comment. I do, in fact, have a severe hand issue - but it's in my picking hand. People may not expect this, but it has cut my chops down to about 50%- 60%. In my case, you have to factor in my age (69), and slowly developing arthritis. However, the most revealing piece of information I unearthed was my use of statins for the past 13 or 14 years. It's hard to know if they actually caused it, but they almost certainly pushed it over the edge.
Good luck to you and all your viewers.
Great lesson, thanks
Thanks! I hope it helped you out.
outstanding u play just one note and teach a lesson for a lifetime of guitar playing
Thanks!
super helpful!
Thanks! I'm glad you found it useful.
Thank you.
Excellent! I’m a one week newbie playing. Two tips I enjoyed hearing. It’s not actually the finger tip, but the side of the finger tip. I was thinking I might be doing it wrong.
The other tip I picked up- you are not pushing string into fret board, but into the fret itself. I think this will help me with finger positions. I have the D down, but the A is giving me fits!
Thanks
Keep at it. You'll get there. Good luck!
You’re a genius
Very interesting video, thank you for sharing... I have been playing for 10 years and hit a rut with my physical ability a few years ago. Definitely seems like my posture and technique are the issue.
Trying to play in the correct position, it feels great, but my goodness its almost like learning from the start all over again 😄
It's really true. I went through the same feeling of starting over again. I found it didn't take as long as it did the first time though.
yo. i was pulling the guitar flat to my belly, but now its taken a drastic Angus young unicorn position that is way more comfy. now for the tendinitis to subside so I actually can play again. thanx
Thank you
Velmi užitečné video.Děkujeme.
You're welcome.
Using wrist grips...awesome gear!
Outstanding Kevin...this is extremely helpful info. Any special considerations/suggestions for barre chords?
Hi Casey. I'm glad this is helping. If you haven't seen my video on left hand technique, start there.
Here's the link: czcams.com/video/incUdhZigHA/video.html
If that doesn't address your specific issues, leave a comment about it and I'll answer it in a new video.
Barre chords do take time to develop so be patient.
Good luck!
Thanks Kevin. My problem is back of the fretting hand exhaustion after playing repetitive 12-bar rhythms and I think it is a mixture of bad posture and poor guitar position. I think I will start to think more about wearing a strap to keep the neck up and the guitar higher than just sitting on my lap. Your way of thinking that the guitar should fit our bodies not the other way around is a very positive attitude and I hope to at least improve my weariness in my fretting hand by doing some of our suggestions. Cheers
Hey Chris. I do hope this helps. 12-bar rhythms were always a problem for me too. Keep in mind that there may still be a conditioning period -- like marathon runners training for a while before they try to run the whole 26 miles -- it's OK if it still takes a while. However, with good technique, you should be able to see some improvement sooner rather than later. Good luck!
Hi Kevin. Thanks for the speedy reply. I think it might also be that I am getting on in age (60s) and it might just be an old age thing lol! Also, I read somewhere that my generation were suffering in old age from having used computer keyboards all our lives, which hasn't done the tendons in the lower arms any good. That said, I will take some of your good advice and try to improve my posture and guitar positioning and keep on practising. Thanks for the great video! Cheers. Chris
Aside from needing to fix my posture, something that did help me a lot with thumb fatigue/pain was lowering string action a ton. My last guitar went almost a year without a truss rod, intonation, or action adjustment as I didn't know how to fix it, and it just went out of whack over time. Wasn't until I picked up my second guitar that I learned how to maintain it.
That's great that you got that fixed. Having the wrong action on your guitar can cause all sorts of problems.
For the last couple of years I've been struggling with some overuse syndrom in my left forearm, especially with my thumb. Every professionnal I've seen was unable to tell me what was my problem and how to cure it. I feel that your lesson has some interresting effects on the force I need to apply on my guitar neck, I'll keep doing this for some months. I swear if this doesn't work on me I'll just ditch guitar forever.
I must try your recommendations. I have a painful thumb joints.
Yeah, I hear that often. That probably comes from improper placement and too much pressure playing the notes. Hope this helps.