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I’ve been playing guitar for over 25 years.  Last year, I found out that I have osteoarthritis in the finger joints of my left (fretting) hand.  I’m writing about it to help other guitarists out there who are struggling with the same problem and are having trouble figuring out what’s wrong (as I was)  & how to live with it.

Last January, I started out practicing guitar full throttle.  I set goals to learn a bunch of new fingerstyle tunes and to start arranging & writing.  I originally started this blog as a way to share my progress & tunes.  But a few months into the new regimen, the finger joints on my left hand (fretting hand) stopped cooperating.  They’d stiffen up, especially upon waking in the morning.  Playing guitar only made the problem worse.  I stopped playing for a while, thinking that I’d simply rushed into practicing too much and needed to back off & ease into it.  But the symptoms persisted.  As a guitarist, the first things you think about are carpal tunnel syndrome & tendonitis, but the symptoms didn’t match.  I scoured the Web and even researched warm-up hand stretches, hoping to find that my normal routine was incorrect or inadequate.  Nothing.

So I finally ended up at my doctor’s office about it, and she knew it was osteoarthritis as soon as I described the symptoms:

• stiff finger joints in the morning (cant make a fist)
• joints loosen up in hot water (like in the shower)
• mild to moderate pain when playing guitar, or doing other activities with my hands (typing, etc)

I couldn’t believe it!  I mean, I’m not even 40 yet!  Where’s the warranty?  She explained that osteoarthritis, unlike other forms of arthritis, is an overuse injury.  Basically, I’ve worn down the cartilage between those joints from shredding over the years.  Her solution: drugs.  First Advil, then prescription meds when Advil no longer does the trick.

I will tell you that Advil does indeed help, especially for gigs & long practices.  But one of my bandmates recommended a DVD called Healthy Hands, Wrists, & Forearms which has really helped me out.  It’s basically a series of self-massage & strengthening exercises that helps your hands prepare for and recover from all the wear & tear you put on them.  I highly recommend it.  My joint stiffness is still there, and occasionally I have some pain…but it no longer interferes with my guitar playing.

Here’s the YouTube video that convinced me to try it.  Maybe it’ll work for you.  In retrospect, I wish I’d found this video before I started having problems.  But that’s hindsight for ya.

Me and James About Ten Years Ago

It’s hard for me to believe sometimes but my oldest, James, is now 11 years old. A few years ago, I bought him a guitar with the full intention of starting weekly lessons, but he wasn’t ready for it. He was eager to learn, but quickly got too frustrated to focus. Rather than push him, I backed off (one of my better decisions).

So here we are a few years later, giving this another go. Except that it’s different this time. Dramatically different. He is eager, patient, more mature, and has a healthy dose of determination. Plus his fingers are a little longer. As a matter of fact, I can’t seem to teach him quickly enough this time around! The first night we sat down, I had the intention of teaching him 2 or 3 open chords. He ended up learning 5. He has practiced every day, and I’ve sat with him almost as much, at his request.

We’ve had 5 lessons now, and every time we go over everything from last time, and I try (if he’s ready) to introduce a new concept or chord. Here are the things I’m teaching him.  After going over open chords I introduced him to power chords. Then barre chords–mostly for the concept that the shapes can move up the neck, but also to get some practice trying to finger them. I also introduced him to the pentatonic scale, and at his request taught him how to play part of the intro to Boston’s More Than A Feeling.  I also  showed him how to pull off, hammer on, and bend (in response to questions usually triggered by songs on Guitar Hero–I wonder if this has had a benefit for him in terms of finger dexterity…).

So, based on my experience, here’s my advice if you’re trying to teach your son/daughter guitar: (continue reading…)

I made a few tweaks to the blog this weekend.  On the right menu I added a list of Good Reads (fueled by the slick Google Reader Shared Items plugin).  I also added (finally) my list of Daily Favorite blogs (using Jon Dyer’s Better Blogroll).  These are blogs I read every day, and I highly recommend them.

I cleaned up the top menu by putting my bands under the Projects heading.  I also created a new category for Tips.  I’ll be writing more practical tips for practicing, songwriting, and performing.

Lastly, I setup a more friendly 404 Not Found page so that if these or any other changes make something go wrong, you’ll be redirected to the right place (with Michael Tyson’s wonderful Smart 404 plugin).

Some posts I’m working on now:

• The amazing Stevie Ray Vaughan / Jeff Beck concert from 1989 in Stubs
• Tips for writing worship songs from scripture (with video)
• A review of Healthy Hands, Wrists and Forearms DVD
• Ideas for practicing “outside the box”
• Performance tips on chord voicing

Thanks for reading!

Stretching is part of every exercise routine, and should also be part of a healthy guitar routine.  Warming up the muscles in your hands and arms before a practice session or a gig keeps them from tightening and cramping up.  It also helps prevent Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSIs).

I’ve tried various things over the years, but I’ve found this stretch routine illustrated by Mark Wein to be very effective.  It’s quick, easy, and can be performed anywhere:

If I’m in for a particularly long rehearsal or concert, I might also start out by soaking my hands and forearms in hot water for a few minutes.  That’s not always an option, but soaking is a great way to loosen up those forearm muscles for a long session.  Likewise, if available, a good soak in cold water after playing is a nice way to cool down (ice paks or ice water are very soothing for sore hands/arms after a long gig or series of gigs).

Stretching is a great way to loosen up and I find that it keeps my hands/arms from tensing up.  It also improves my reach “out of the gate” and helps me to play more relaxed.

Got a favorite warmup of your own?  I’d love to hear about it.  Share it in the comments.