The Steel Guitar Forum

I was wondering how many have this. I am only 38 years old but my right hand starts to hurt after not playing that long. It's a real pain, no pun intended. I wonder how many professional player have this and how do they deal with it. And how can they play an entire gig?

Ben, just to clarify: which hand is it that cramps? Your title says "Left" and your post says "Right"...

Oh my, cant believe i made that mistake. I must be more tired than i thought. My left hand (bar hand0 is the one that cramps all the time.

That can be caused from holding the bar too tightly. Try using just enough pressure to maintain good control of the bar. In fact, the more relaxed you can be while playing, the less tiring it will be. I know that's easier said than done while using both feet, both knees, and both hands simultaneously...

I had wrist cramps as a new player and I was told to lighten up on the grip etc. but it persisted. The height of your seat can affect the wrist angle. Im tall and my first steel was very low height. Pay attention to the angle of your wrist when playing. This is similar to piano playing posture, or even typing for that matter.

The bar size and weight is also a factor. My hands are big and using a normal size bar is just plain uncomfortable to me. I switched to a heavier larger 12 string bar and it feels so much easier to use for long periods than the standard size.

Clete

Ben, Hydrate alot more, Water is critical, learn some small exercizes to stretch your tendons before you sit, Lock 1 arm straight (horizontally) Grab 1 finger at a time and pull slowly back towards your face for 10 seconds each while your arm is locked, let your wrist come back with it (DO NOT BOUNCE YOUR TENDONS) and never try this the reverse way (Bad Idea)
Hope this helps

I agree with Clete about the bar size.

I would also experiment with how your pointer finger sits on top of the bar. Do you have it flat across, arched like bridge, strait across the bar, or off to one side a little more.

I would also look at youtube at some of the top players, Paul Franklin, Joe Wright...and see how they hold the bar.

Gordon

I think my pointing finger is slightly off center a little bit.

I think part of the problem is that I've been away from the steel for almost a year now and I'm just getting back to it.

Also, I noticed last night that I was using my thumb the whole time to hwlp secure the bar instead of have the thummb mostly free. I stopped doing that and seemed to ease up a bit.

Thank for the bit about the exercises. I definatley will try that. I already have "old Arther" starting up in my joints a little.

I just wish I had more time to dedicat eto the psg. If only I could quit my job and play music for a living. (Of course then it might not be as fun)

When I first started playing back in '76, I used to get cramps in my bar hand all the time. For a small guy I have pretty big hands and I was using a 7/8" bar. My hand seemed to just swallow the bar up and it was hard for me to maintain a good grasp on it.

I got introduced to the 1" diameter bar and, for me, that was the answer ... that slight increase in bar size worked like a champ and I never had a single hand cramp thereafter. Can't say that changing the size of the bar will work for everyone (each case is individual), but it was definitely the answer to my problem.

Ben, I have to agree with Clete.
I use (now) a 7/8 or 1" 12 string bar that is centre drilled out to give it an optimal weight (they don't have to weigh a ton to get sustain and tone) I have large hands and now no more discomfort.

As Bob Tuttle says, most of the time this problem is caused by just gripping the bar too tightly. Many players hold the bar like a screwdriver when they're tightening a screw! Keep in mind that a looser grip is advisable, especially when the bar isn't moving, or you're doing slow moves. In other words, vary your grip! Hold it a little tighter when making fast moves, but looser when you're doing slow stuff. You'll soon find that a relaxed hand gives you a more flowing sound, as well as being far less strenuous when you're playing for hours on end.

You are probalbly just holding the bar too tight try to not hold as tight but just tight enough to keep pressure on the strings so you dont get any rattle when playing.

This happened to me I went to a 12 string bar. Solved my issue

Advice from Alan Akaka and me - lighten up. You shouldn't be lifting the bar, just sliding it along the fretboard, thumb in front, first finger on top and middle finger behind. You also don't need to press down on the steel. Too much pressure can detune the strings, too. Pick lightly, too. You make up the loudness by turning up your amp. Ralph Mooney told me he got his sound in the 50's by turning very knob on his Twin Reverb to 10 and controlling volume with his volume pedal!

Tou guys are a great help. I have done all of what you are saying and it has helped tremedously. It's amazing what you can lose when you are away from playing for too long.

thanks for everyones advice

Ben, One more thing.
Dont get grounded anymore.... Dang LOL

i get carpal tunnel a lot in my left wrist and my bar hand cramps a lot. i'm using a 1/2" bar. i'm going to get a larger bar and try it myself and see if that doesnt make it a lot more comfy for me.

i'm using a 1/2" bar

Geeze, nobody uses one of them anymore!

Hey there Donnie and Ben, Although I have run a little low on a few sizes, I offer a good selection of bar sizes, both lengths and diameters. If you try one and it doesn't feel right after a few days, or weeks for that matter, I'll swap you out for another size. All you'll be out is the shipping....Butch