Pulled muscle in finger? (or something)

Alawiggle · #1 September 29th, 2006

I've been playing steadily 2-3 hours a day since I got my guitar about 3-4 weeks ago. As a consequence of doing the C chord (basically everyday half the practice, progressions) I think maybe not a pulled muscle, but it definitely hurts to form the C chord, but after that the pain is dull. I'm pretty sure I'm doing the C chord right from what I can tell on videos, it's just that that curve in the index finger hurts (the part of the finger the curve is made in). Should I slow down?

garydavis · #2 September 29th, 2006

Na... Maybe if it gets worse...

In the beginning, its hard on your hands and your fingers... dont worry though, if you continu to play a lot, your hand will start to adjust... took me about a year(---:

Keep playing

RC Antolina · #3 September 29th, 2006

My advice FWIW is to take a day or two off and let that finger heal. Two to three hours a day for the first few weeks is a heckuva lotta strain on the hand.

allthumbs · #4 September 29th, 2006

practicing the same chord that involves a stretch for 1 to 1 1/2 hours a day is inadvisable. Take a break.

randomaire · #5 September 29th, 2006

Try to think of it like working out... you normally don't exercise every day of the week, you usually take a break in between some days. It allows the muscles and such time to heal properly. I would recommend taking some kind of breather occasionally. I know its hard to put it down, but I'd rather put it down for a day then have to put it down for weeks due to a finger muscle pull.

Fernandes_Sustainer · #6 October 2nd, 2006

watch your form as well.... if your form isnt constant and strict it leads to bad habits and could be the reason why your fingers hurt.

marinoFret · #7 October 6th, 2006

Take my advice: You must stop practicing the same thing for a lot of time

RC Antolina · #8 October 6th, 2006

Under any circumstances, if a muscle or tendon gets painful, it's sending you a message you need to pay heed to. There's no shame in taking a few days to heal. I recently over stretched my thumb and it hurt like the dickens. Three days off and I'm up and running again

.

Better some time off than permanent injury

Chaotic Kittie · #9 October 6th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by marinoFret

Take my advice: You must stop practicing the same thing for a lot of time

Valuable advice, much more valuable than it may seem. (btw, I MUST know now, do you say "then" or "than" in that sentence? I used to be sure of this, but now I've forgotten. :O).
Practising the same thing too much will most certainly damage your fingers... or wrist. Especially too much barre chords and other things that require more finger strength. For example, if you practice barre chords too much, you will eventually start pressing on with your thumb just because your fingers grow tired, and you'll eventually end up with a really hurting thumb, as I did.

RC Antolina · #10 October 6th, 2006

Then or than?

I dunno either. I just say what sounds best to me. Kinda like music I guess. I can't read a note to save my soul but I know what I like hearing.

Chaotic Kittie · #11 October 6th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by RC Antolina

Then or than?

I dunno either. I just say what sounds best to me. Kinda like music I guess. I can't read a note to save my soul but I know what I like hearing.

Lol. It's not really an important thing, but still, I remember once KNOWING what it was, and then I started talking to people who each wrote either then or than... and now both sounds wrong! Uh. It's like when you repeat a single word over and over and over again, and eventually you can't think of it as a real word. O.o Weird!

Justapicker · #12 October 6th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chaotic Kittie

Lol. It's not really an important thing, but still, I remember once KNOWING what it was, and then I started talking to people who each wrote either then or than... and now both sounds wrong! Uh. It's like when you repeat a single word over and over and over again, and eventually you can't think of it as a real word. O.o Weird!

It's "than"!

Back on topic: stretch your fingers before you begin to practice and break the practice sessions up into a group of shorter sessions. If you screw up a tendon you can be out of action guitar-wise for weeks!

randomaire · #13 October 6th, 2006

Yes it is than.

Then is used in a time sense. i.e. I was at the bar but, then I had to go. What should we do then. I have to go to work, then I will come over after.

Than is more like ... I have more than you. Or Three is greater than five.

Practicing more than you should and having pain is not that bad, but if its really bad and continues, then take a break.

GT · #14 October 6th, 2006

Take my advice. I was there. As important as the stretches themselves, is the WARMING before playing guitar. Those Symptoms you mentioned above are ussual for people who start playing guitar and hard chords whitout a proper warming on both hands. It is a very important thing. Fingers are a bunch of muscles, and if you were a runner you would warm them before training hard, wouldnt you? Take a rest and watch out for those fingers