This article talks about a problem that affects many guitarists around the world, namely the pain in the left hand caused by playing the guitar. Some novice guitarists may feel pain after playing for a few minutes, while most experienced guitarists should only feel pain after playing non-stop for a longer period of time.
Steps
Step 1. Be prepared to experience cramps and stiffness
Keep in mind that a novice guitarist certainly cannot expect to have the same level of stamina as more experienced players. Patience and consistency in training are crucial, as endurance will be one of the side results of your effort. A few words of warning about repeated movements: your body, making you feel a sharp pain, wants to warn you that something is wrong. If you feel pain like this, stop, it's not normal. It's not the same as weightlifting, where pain can do you good: in the world of guitarists, pain can mean trouble.
Step 2. Hold the guitar the right way
The way you grab the neck of the guitar will affect how long you are able to play chords before feeling cramps and pains in your hand. Make sure to stop your thumb near the center of the back side of the neck and not hold it in front, as if it is sticking towards the fretboard. Placing your thumb in the center of the back side of the guitar neck should help you maintain a correct position, thereby increasing the resistance of your hand.
Step 3. Make sure you position your fingers correctly
The precision in positioning the fingers on the keyboard is very important, not only for the sound, but also for the resistance of the hand. Placing your index finger near the fret closest to the bridge, rather than placing it in a dead spot between the frets, will help you decrease the force required to play barré chords. The less force you need to press the strings, the more comfortable you will be playing different types of chords.
Step 4. Know what to expect
A guitar with a high action will require more force to press the strings. If you can't afford to have the action fixed by a repair technician, consider placing a nut on the first fret of the guitar as a temporary alternative. Placing a nut will allow the strings to move closer to the fingerboard; it will therefore take less force to press them. Remember to retune the guitar, because placing a nut will raise the pitch by at least half a tone.
Step 5. Try out different neck shapes
The shape of the guitar's neck significantly affects the comfort of playing the instrument. Different brands and styles of guitar offer different versions and neck shapes to their customers. Remember to always try a guitar before buying it. Just like when you buy a pair of jeans and try them on to see if they fit the right way, it is advisable to check that the guitar not only sounds good, but is also comfortable to use.
