Bar Pressure

[Ken Metcalf]

I Seem to have developed a habit of pressing pretty hard on the bar to the point that it makes my hand and wrist hurt, playing 3 nights a week.
Any one else have experienced this??
Ken

[Alan Brookes]

...that reminds me of the man who went to the doctor and said, "It hurts when I move my arm like this," to which the doctor replied, "Well, don't do it then !"

Being aware of the problem maybe you can try not to press so hard, or buy a lighter bar, or maybe try adjusting your seat height.

[Andy Sandoval]

I would think that maybe trying a heavier bar that would require less pressure on the strings might help.

[C. Christofferson]

In general doesn't a little more pressure on the bar sometimes improve the sound ? Seems like a fuller tone and the sustain is increased a little. It's a useable technique but I agree maybe not a desirable habit.

[Colin Mclean]

My hand hurts from pushing down on the bar too.

I've only been playing for a couple of months though, so I figured it was just like when I used to get a cramp from playing a C chord on regular.

I think it's also in how I hold the bar too. Usually when I feel my hand cramping up I'll look down at the neck and there I am holding the bar all cock-eyed with my fingertips, with my hand all tensed up. I have to consciously remind myself to hold it the right way.

Maybe practicing more often would build up the necessary muscles too, and you wouldn't cramp up as often.

[Andy Sandoval]

Sometimes uneven string gauges require a little more pressure on frets near the nut but normally I find just the weight of the bar along with just the slightest pressure is enough.

[Steve Norman]

try raising the back a little? lets the bar weight do the work

[Erv Niehaus]

I play with a BJS 15/16" bar and I don't have to put any pressure on it at all.
You might also be picking the strings too hard and need to exert extra pressure on the bar to keep them from buzzing.

[Donny Hinson]

Newer players often have trouble with this aspect of playing. They push down too hard on the bar, or they grip the bar too hard. If you've ever watched a child when they're learning to write, they have the same problem - pushing down on the pencil until it breaks, with white knuckles from squeezing it so tightly. In reality, very little "down-pressure" is required for both activities, and the grip needed to hold the bar (or a pencil) is likewise very light (once you get the hang of it). Unless you have some physical problem (like arthritis) which causes pain, playing (and writing) should be almost effortless activities, things you can do for hours and days on end without discomfort.

You merely need to develop the proper control - the same control that lets you repeatedly pick up a paper cup of water without dropping it, or squeezing it so hard the cup colapses and squirts the water everywhere! Precisely guaging that "control factor" takes some players a while to learn, but it will come.

Lighter and looser is better than heavier and tighter.

[Joe Miraglia]

I find that when I'm up tight I press harder on the bar ,if I relax the bar relaxes and I play smoother.Joe
www.willowcreekband.com

[Lee Baucum]

"Bar Pressure"

One bar we used to play in would always try to pressure us into playing an extra set...for tips only.

[Ken Metcalf]

One more factor may be that I play with one finger, 1st pointer finger on top of the bar in order to roll the bar back for vibrato instead of sliding it back and forth. Be that as it may, I seem to play with people that rotate a LOT of songs and it has me scrambling to figure out a part.
I tense up and then have to remember... Relax.
Also leaning towards a larger bar I think.
Thanks to every one Ken

[A. J. Schobert]

Ken I may have misread your post but you only play with one finger? I don't know what your circumstances are but playing with one finger is really limiting yourself.

To help with bar pressure get some courses that promote the "hammer" one effect, this may help.

One course that comes to mind is Jeff Newmans remington ride.

I use alot more pressure one the first fret then less as I go up the neck.

[Ron Page]

try raising the back a little? lets the bar weight do the work

I agree. You'll notice a lot of the better players will use the front half, or even just the tip of the bard to "fret" the strings. No sense in raking the bar over the bass strings to play a lick on 3, 4 and 5.

[chris ivey]

that beautiful zb should play itself....lighten up!

[Larry Lorows]

Hi Ken,
I have the same problem and I am having trouble breaking the habit of pressing down too much. My hand starts hurting within 20 minutes if I'm playing steady.I've made myself relax my hand and I can feel it stop hurting. A few minutes later, I notice it hurting again and I'm doing the same thing. It's a hard habit to break. One of my problems, I've noticed, is my fingers extend beyone the tip of the bar. I watch the guys playing on Utube and I notice how they hold the bar and I try that way. I'll get the right habit yet.

I'm retired now, and I practice 4 or 5 hours a day, and then I have to quit because of my wrist. I did cut an inch off the legs of my pak a seat and that helped lower my wrist which has helped. Larry

[Donny Hinson]

A few minutes later, I notice it hurting again and I'm doing the same thing.

Yup, if you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always got. (Hand cramps.)

Tip: Try holding the bar with your thumb and middle finger, and lay your index finger on top of the bar very lightly. The bar should extend beyond the end of your fingers, and it's a good idea to have your thumb somewhere near the center of the bar. Some players try to hold the bar by "jamming" it against the palm of the hand, but that's not really necessary for most players (or even recommended).

[Tom Higgins]

My face used to hurt from pressing down on the bar.....

[Donald Dunlavey]

I'll go with what Lee Baucum said.

[Michael Haselman]

Hey, Ken. I remember when I first started, oh so many years ago. My hand would ache after playing for awhile, but it went away eventually. Just muscle training/memory. You'll get it, just hang in there and don't think about it too much.