Sore Left Thumb

[MikeS]

About 10 years ago, I was a demonstration in how to break the grip of a person holding your arm. The procedure for the person being held is to thrust your arm down against the holder's thumb. Since that demonstration, I have not been able to apply much pressure with my left thumb. The pain is in the thumb joint between the v formed by the thumb and index finger down to the (I guess another thumb joint) near the wrist.

Any one have any similar pains (although I am sure they will not have the same cause) or suggestions as to how to minimize the need for pressure?

[Zak]

I used to have trouble with applying too much pressure, which caused me to cramp up.

I was advised to practice with my left thumb held above and in front of the fingerboard so I couldn't exert ANY pressure with the thumb! It feels awkward at first, but it helped me to realize that it takes very little force to push down the strings. Then, when I put the thumb back, it just rested comfortably. No more death grip fingerings.

[M. Stephenson]

I have always had problems with the thumb.

I recently discovered that it is not just the thumb, but is also the index finger.

When doing bar chords, especially 1/2 bars or bars across only a few strings, the area near in that "V" gets tense and hurts. Over time both types of pain are lessening as I get more efficient in my movements and as my body adapts to the forces being applied.

I think that there is as much adapting of teh body as there is in refining technique. It has taken a long time, but as i look back I can do things now that I had trouble with a year or two ago.

[selma600]

One of the more painful learning-experiences of my life goes back to having studied dance and developing tendonitis. A session with a sports-med orthopedist got me doing stretches etc in between my "barre" exercises. This stretching of muscles during stress activities has now become a part of our lives and this is a good thing! YOu do need to stop while practicing and massage and stretch out the muscles around your finger joints. I'm sure there are some sites listed around the net with exercises to relieve the buildup or stress, whiich is what causes the pain.
ANother thing I picked up from physical therapy following an injury, is using the hot paraffin soaks. I do this for the muscles in my hand as well as hoping it will help make my nails stronger. Once you get a nice little "glove" of wax built up on your hand, wrap it in several layers of towel and just enjoy the warmth. The wax holds the heat for a good long time.
Those little "foot spa" baths make a great little "mini-jacuzzi" for your hands as well!

[rdubb]

there are all sorts of ways to develop a lighter touch and use less thumb pressure. Play scales and intentionally buzz each note. Easier said than done, there is a very specific place where the note sounds but buzzes a bit. Then play a piece slowly but dont press down at all, just touch the strings a lightlyi as possible. i do that one alot.

the weight of your arm itself is suffient to make a note sound clearly, if you have the proper amount of 'curl' in your left hand fingers. no sqeezing or clamping necessary. Same goes for the barre

[vgfigue]

I had the same issue and resorted to playing scales with the buzz technique, just as the previous writer suggested. It totally changed the way I play with my left hand. Not only does it develop proper string-finger touch technique, it also developes touch sensitivity. Great suggestion!