[Silver68]

Everytime I play Barre Chords my left hand (Which is the hand I shape them with, in that thick part of my hand (the part connected directly to my thumb) starts to hurt...And it aches and aches like I've pulled something but strenching...or something, Now I have small hands so maybe that's it or I'm forming the chord wrong...


Any ideas?

[Schneibster]

I used to get that sometimes. It went away when I started playing every day. I did do some stretches to try to help with it- and it did, right before playing/practicing. Nothing strenuous, just the sort of stuff you do before you run, only with your hand instead of your legs. Don't hurt yourself stretching, IOW.

[MakoMako]

Schneibster's got the right idea. Just do some basic stretching of your hand before you play a little bit. I like to grab my thumb with my other hand and pull back a little bit. Don't pull back too hard, if it starts to hurt then you're not exactly helping your situation. Also, the only thing that can be said is that you need to practice. It's going to hurt at first. I've been playing for a bit over two years and my hand still hurts if I play a song that is nothing but barre chords and is about 5+ minutes.

Just keep at it.

[nealmac]

You'll need to get your thumb amputated.


























nah, don't worry too much. If you're not used to playing barre chords this perfectly normal. It gets easier with practice.

[ninjato]

How long have you been playing? You are "squeezing" too much. Hang the index finger on the top string and let your arm "hang" from that. The weight of your arm is more than enough to squeeze the strings down. Realize too that on most barre chords, you don't HAVE to have all 6 string down. Most of the time 3 other fingers are taking care of certain notes already. You just have to get the top string and the high B and E string usually.

You might want to get the book GUITAR PRINCIPLES. It is a great help in showing correct technique and how to deal w/ tension.

Believe it or not, there should be no tension at all in your body when you play. Next time when you are playing, just stop right in the middle of what you are doing and freeze. Take note of how you feel. Is your shouldler tense?...most likely it is. Are you making weird tense faces? Probably you are without realizing it. Do you contort yourself in weird positions on hard chords.

http://www.guitarprinciples.com/

This post has been edited by ninjato: 10 May 2006 - 12:43 PM

[horn82y]

i used to get that too, i just streched it out before playing and tried to find an easier way the barre the chord... kinda like ninjato said, just practice, its kinda like building a muscle so the more you play and the more you work it out the more stamina you will have

[greatness7410]

Don't lock your thumb. It feels wierd but it helps.