PSG pains. *pics*

[Kevin Shiflett]

Since getting into PSG about two months ago I have found all sorts or new ways to make my right hand hurt.

First I started off with pick blocking vie the Joe Wright website, and my index finger would hurt to the point where I would play with middle and ring fingers * I use the term play in the loosest since of the word* Pick blocking appealed to me as I play my Telecaster with a flatpick and two Alaska Pik's on my middle and ring fingers and do a combo of pick and palm blocking.

So I got the Jeff Newman Right Hand Alpha.
Right off the bat I felt less stress on my index finger. I haven't been through all of it yet but I seems to favor the thumb and middle fingers. One exercise crossing three strings even went like so: T-T-M. I'm guessing I could play Thumb and Middle all the time unless I wanted to play a three note chord.

Anyway with the change hand in hand position came new pain! Now instead of my index finger always hurting now my right elbow is stiff and sore after I play. I don't feel it when I am playing but after. I'm laying off for a few days waiting for the pain to go away totally before jumping back in.

Here are a few pics showing how I am holding my right arm and getting elbow pains. Is there anything obvious I am doing wrong. Maybe I need to sit higher up. I dunno, I am at the max high on the office chair I am using while trying to decide if I will get a drum throne or a pack seat.

Yes I am resting my arm on the pad there. If I lift it up off of there my shoulder gets tight!

I turn 40 in May. I'm starting to think that might be the root cause of my pains haha.

[CrowBear Schmitt]

get used to keeping your right arm close to your body Kevin

[richard burton]

I think that you're sitting about two or three inches too low.

[Ronnie Boettcher]

As Richard Burton said, your sitting too far down. All chairs are around 16" off the floor, and too low for steel guitars, with normal legs attatched to them. Get yourself a Pack-seat, a drum throne, or a folding keyboard seat. I use a keyboard seat, (stage one), and it is adjustable. Very inexpensive. I got mine with a 3" foam pad, and love it. Your arms, when you sit at the steel should not be angled up, like you see in your picture. Take a normal hard chair, and put some big books on it about 3" high, and try it. you will see a big difference.

[Lee Baucum]

I agree with Richard and Ronnie. It looks like you are having to raise your shoulders and arms into uncomfortable positions in order to play.

[Kevin Shiflett]

Thx guys, I will go out today and grab a throne from GC down the street.

And I didn't notice how far my elbow was away from my body.

I figured you guys would see what was up

[Joey Ace]

The first photo shows too much space between your elbow and body, but it's obvious that you can't properly position the elbow because of the seat height.

Once you have proper seat height pay attention to keeping your right elbow down.

This pic of Mike Sigler, lifted from another post, shows the proper position:

[Dustin Rigsby]

That Mike Sigler guy...what a show off with his great technique and all that....

[Paul Sutherland]

Two months is not enough time to give up on any one technique. And it is certainly not enough time to build up the strength in your hand, or certain fingers. Think and train like an athlete. Play EVERY DAY, and work on each technique EVERY DAY. Steady and gradual progress is the goal. Don't expect the muscles in your hands will respond any faster to strength training than other muscles in your body.

Having said that, trying a higher sitting position, and paying attention to details like your elbow, are good bits of advice.

[Glenn Uhler]

Your body should be centered on about the 14th fret and your right elbow should be at almost a right (90 degree) angle.

If you continue to have trouble, you may need a wrist rest. Lots of older non-pedal steels had them. It's just a block of wood at the edge of the strings. You can put one on with double-sticky tape.

[Kevin Shiflett]

Well, I picked up a throne and am finding myself sitting MUCH higher in order to get my arm arms in the correct position.

As far as the rest I think I will devote time each day to both blocking methods till I get something going that lets me play pain free.

Now I just have to be patient and let my elbow heal before starting back in

In the mean time my 3 yr old son has taken a shine to the steel. He ignores my Telecaster and goes straight for the Pedalmaster.

I think his posture is actually better than mine. But he like to wear the thumb pick on his left hand.

[David Ellison]

If your fingers are hurting, I would make a conscious effort to keep them relaxed while playing. Lots of times I have to keep reminding myself to keep my fingers relaxed when I'm concentrating hard on something I'm learning to play.... especially when I'm working on faster playing. I even grip the bar so hard sometimes that my left hand cramps up. I get so caught up in playing that I don't even notice until I put the bar down and pull off the picks.

Also, take breaks often when practicing. Get up and stretch and move your fingers around.

[Lee Baucum]

You need to get your son to start tucking that right elbow in.

[Kevin Shiflett]

I gotta tell you guys, I got my copy of Jeff Newmans Right Hand Alpha and been working on that this week.

So far I like it. I have been just doing exercises and nothing hurts! Even my index finger.

My tone improved right off the bat and the palm blocking thing feels much like playing rhythm guitar on my Telecaster. My hybrid picking would be a cross between the two blocking styles.

So for now I will focus on Palm blocking. It already feels more natural to me than pick blocking now that I spent a few hrs doing it.

I suspect the longer I fool with the styles I will end up with some sort of hybrid way of blocking like I have for the Telecaster.

I know your supposed to practice music and not technique but I so do enjoy the process of mastering new techniques. Maybe that's why my song list is so short!