Thank you so much! I'm going to try your suggestions - I'm in a lot worse shape than you were, and besides, I'm pushing 70, while you sound like a spring chicken! I'll keep you posted.
You missed the final chord, it's an A6, that's an open A major with added F# on the first E string =) most tabs got it wrong, they noted it as a D chord.
Fellow guitarists. Love you. Out of love, I want to share with you what I have learned... & miraculous cures I saw. I had what I thought was carpal tunnel pain for a whole year, from guitar, even with physical therapy (because they focused only on the wrist, not the rest of the nerve path). I finally solved the pain in ONE DAY with research- finding the book "7 Steps to a Pain Free Life," written by a PT. it was the neck exercises that solved my pain in one day... this proves, in my case, something was obviously pinched in the neck/ thoracic outlet, on the nerve, & just the right stretches were needed. Do a whole body stretch routine too- it is all connected. When starting, I could feel a pull in my toes when stretching my neck! And exercise. If you are in good shape all over, you are less likely to get injured--- but pressing too hard on guitar for too long can always cause problems. Watch technique- proper positioned wrist & sit up straight/ back of neck straight, with music on a stand at proper height- good ergonomics. Research shows magnesium can help pain- so can omega 3's (sardines/ salmon, olive oil, etc), green tea, nuts (peanuts- resveratrol). Use light gauge guitar strings. I bought a nylon string guitar, & am learning i need to do a lot of my practice on that... then, I can play the acoustic for sound, in actual performing. Electric can be good as strings are easier to press--- but a short scale guitar (like a mustang) might be better, as it brings the arm closer in to the body... while a full scale guitar keeps the arm extended & injury prone. You can use topical pain relief too, with great effect- lidocaine lotions/ creams, aspirin lotions (salicylic acid), or capiscin heat rub creams. Instead of ice, keep a pitcher of ice cold water in the frig, ready to plunge your hand into, the first few days pain appears, every hour or so, then switch to heating pads after that. Learn deep relaxation/ self hypnosis exercises can help too, keep the body in a relaxed position. Once injured with pain, wait just a couple weeks for healing, while doing all this... to allow full healing, before resuming & a wrist brace during the healing period can help... including when sleeping, when your body may lead you to stretch your wrist odd ways as it feels discomfort as you sleep- the brace can stop that... And use care with typing on computer too & bending neck forward- you need to stretch the back of the neck the opposite direction... and care if bicycling--- wear nerve protection gloves--- and also pushing a lawnmower... ALL the activities you do can add up to cause pain. Most of all pray. I have seen miraculous proof Jesus is real, through daily Bible devotions miraculously answering very specific prayers. He is a healer. He cares. Love wins... (p.s. And learn what is called, ‘Alexander technique’... that is next on my agenda)
