Beginners Question

[Ron Rowe]

I have been playing for about 2 weeks now. I don't have a problem getting a note, I can get all the notes in both 1st and 2nd octave thankfully. What I am having a problem with is the grip on my left hand. After about 20 minutes of playing I find my thumb and wrist cramping up. Right now I am using a kind of bastardized pipers grip, not for any reason other than I don't know any better. Can anyone make any suggestions?

Thanks
Ron

[CraigMc]

Ron you may want to look at the following threads.

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php ... 80&forum=2

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php ... 58&forum=2

I have been playing off and on for over a year and I sometimes get the same pain you are describing. I notice when I am learning a new tune I tend to tighten up and have a kind of death grip going. It takes a serious effort to try to tell my hand to relax. It's kind of a zen type thing.

I know when I went to a class with Hans Araki he said that you need to elliminate any extra or uneccessary movement and to strive to be as relaxed as possible when playing.

I also found the advice on this thread helpful as well.

http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php ... 92&forum=2

Your brother in pain,

Craig

edited for spelling

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: CraigMc on 2002-10-03 17:38 ]</font>