Carl, thank you so much for making the video! You're definitely right, I always bend my wrist like that, it never occurred to me that could be the problem. Thank you again
@@j.t.cremeans9384 Probably for years now😅 I've been teaching myself for about 3 years now, so I guess that whole time. I'm excited to get home and try to fix it
I've watched at least five other videos trying to figure out how to play Barre chords without pain. All with good suggestions, but this was the main issue I was having. Thank you so much!
I've had this problem ever since transitioning from bass to guitar. I've searched around for answers or advice and never found any solid explanations. Thank you Carl!
I cant move my wrist back without loosing the chord shape, its a stretch from 3 to 7 from the e to d string and when i move my wrist straight I cant stretch far enough for the chord
I started playing last July during lockdown and play everyday, never had any problems until a few weeks ago, I thought it might be overplaying and my age ~(59) same exactly the issue. After watching this video I realised it coincided with me starting to mix my practice with sitting and standing and boy was my wrist bowed when standing! So thanks ...
Worked for me! Cant stay too long playing barre chords because of the pain. The only problem right now is to get used to this new technique! Thanks, man!
You are the first person I've come across that said to pull back your elbow. My problem was solved. Maybe other guitarists just assume your already doing that. Thank you!
I think I was making the same mistake when I played but I didn't know any other way to reach upper strings and to stay on my finger tips because I have small hands/short fingers. My pain came in on the outside thumb tendon at the wrist/base of the thumb.
Thanks sooo much for this video. I've been having quite bad thumb pain for a month now, and a week off and then after just light practice hasn't really helped. But I also play bass and hardly have this problem at all when I play bass. I've just grabbed my guitar and bass and looked at where my left hand is, when I play. Sure enough with the bass my wrist/palm is pretty much straight but with guitar my wrist has almost a 90 degree angle. My long arms and fingers mean that the "natural way" for me to finger notes without damping the neighbouring strings is to have the fingers and wrist way forward. I guess I'll have to go back a few stages and practice those chords with my elbow as far back as it will go.
Ive had problems with thumb pain when I used to play powerchords with my pinkie (baring with the pinkie) once I started to play powerchords like billy corgan my thumb went automaticly to the back from the neck and I have no pain anymore when playing powerchords! :D
Mine hurts when i play bar chords. Full string bar chords. I'm trying to use my thumb less in my playing so I started practicing using my picking hand middle finger to anchor and use my thumb way less for tension on my fret hand.
For me, I’ve been getting thumb pain when I’m doing bar chords. At first I was pressing super hard on the neck. I’ve adjusted but the pain is still there.
I'm really hoping this is the answer I'm looking for. A quick play on the guitar suggests it could be. Thank you. I've been so frustrated by this problem. It only occurred when I started standing to play after only sitting to play for a while. I can see the change in guitar position lead to the problem you identify.
I have a similar problem but this doesn't seem to be the solution. I have pain in the muscle before the thumb, even if I play with the correct position you show in the video. However it only hurts when playing barre chords or scales on the lower strings. Even with my wrist straight (which is very uncomfortable/impossible, maybe it's because i'm very small but i've seen other small people dealing with this without any problem), I can't get rid of this pain. If you or anyone would have any tips, it would be great. I don't think it is a medical condition either because that's the only time my thumb hurts.
I reckon you have highlighted why my thumb hurts! Trouble is I seem to have to crook my wrist to reach the strings and play them cleanly. If I straighten my wrist I just can't play those chords (well not at the moment anyway).
So I have small hands and it's currently hard for me to reach the lower strings without bending my hand like that. Is there a better way to do it if you've got stubby fingers?
How did you prevent tendonitis on the picking hand? I've been deal with that for 5 months now. Not playing the guitar for that long has put me into a mental funk.
If the pain is at the base of your thumb, you are probably just holding the pick to tight. Try to keep the amount of pressure used to a minimum. With proper picking techniques, it should take very little pressure to hold it in place.
@@GuitarLessons365 Thank you Carl! Ya it starts at the base and runs up the thumb along the outer side. I definitely have a kung fu grip on the pick since the pick usually ends up warping after a couple of weeks. I guess more rest and ice for me!
Still having problems? I wrote some posts on how I overcome severe tendinitis if you need it anymore. John Petrucci also had tendinitis in the same place as you much earlier in his playing.
That wrist down technique is actually considered proper on bass. Provides way more flexibility. Problem for me is when I'm playing a song that leaves bass players board to death, holding whole notes, my thumb starts to hurt as well. We're told not to press with our thumbs but then the neck stars going back. I cant win.
Hi Carl, how i reduce my shoulder pain? i have my picking hand pretty relaxed i would say, but it hurts when i am sitting. In standing it is ok even when i am playing faster riffs. Do you have some tips?
I used to get serious wankers cramp in my fretboard hand for the first twenty minutes at every gig. I started taking a magnesium tablet before gigs and never had a problem since.
Awesome, Carl! After I'd been playing for a couple years, I started training myself to play with my left thumb on top (whenever humanly possible) for the same reason cited by Steve Vai. It looks cooler. But I noticed it made me a lot stronger and also mostly solved the sore thumb problem. But the thumb ALWAYS comes down for barre chords. And Crazy On You pretty much kills me. Is there a solution for barre chords?
I thought this was gonna be about hitchhikers thumb. 25% of humans have hitchhikers thumb. Why is there over 100 videos on exactly what your talking about, but nothing on most of the problems. There 3 different thumb types, and every thumb type plays differently. Why can’t we highlight these issues. I have hitchhikers thumb, but I don’t have pains in my hand, but one of my students has a ton of pain and I can’t figure out what’s going on. It’s not wrist positioning, it’s definitely a thumb problem. Thanks for nothing tho.