What's happened to me?!?!?!?

telewacker · Big Goldfish Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 68

All of a sudden(over the last few months actually), my picking hand and fingers tighten up into a knot and I can hardly extend my fingers properly!!
My free style fingerpicking is great, but for the last year I've been totally obsessed with chickn' pickn' ALbert Lee style.
In the course of the year I was able to adapt well to the pick with fingers style.
I was able to play just about all of the Steve Travato "Country Solos" book and was really pleased with my progress.
Now, for some reason, my hand just knots up.
Why would it start doing this?
So much so that I can barely play any of the stuff I was playing a few months ago with any fluency.
AND, I just can't seem to keep my thumb joint from bending on the up stroke or when I do double stops.
I know......practice more, practice slow and concentrate on the muscles. etc
I just needed to vent!
Anyone have any suggestions?
If you know any good exercises to develop finger independance and relaxation, that would be a big help.
Thanks!

teleman77 · Posted: Sun Apr 22, 2007 6:01 am Post subject:

Do you have a myspace page or any audio posted anywhere?

I really want to hear how great you are. Cool

_________________

...........Ahh, that's better!

"Turn it up and you don't need any reverb".................Danny Gatton

www.myspace.com/reubenadkins

telewacker · Big Goldfish Joined: 12 Aug 2006 Posts: 68

Nope, no audio.
Sorry.
And I didn't use the term "great" to imply that I am an exceptionally blessed performer.
If that came off as bragadocious, it was unintentional.
Let's just say, I can more than hold my own when it comes to fingerpicking.
In my younger, performing days a good portion of my sets were devoted to Leo Kottke covers.
That was some time ago.
All I want to do now is develop this pick/fingers technique.

Patrick Curley · Newbie Alert Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 4

I assume you're talking about hybrid picking, using a pick with the thumb and first finger and picking with 2 and 3? This can be a very challenging way to play as I'm sure you've discovered. A few questions

With the flatpick do you rotate your wrist to strike the string or is it done more by flexing/extending the fingers and thumb joints?

Likewise when fingerpicking are you striking the string by flexing your finger or is there any wrist motion at all?

Commonly with hybrid picking folks tend to lock the hand up in pretty much the same shape, pronating the wrist to pick down and supinating (back the other way) to pick with the fingers.

Another question. How do the muscles on the back of your forearm feel. Press in to them (gently to start with) and see what they feel like - hard, ropy, tender? Wriggle your fingers and try and find the extrinsic finger extensors, how do they feel?