Finger Pain...

[fliflicker]

I havent been playing that long but practice several hours a day. The first finger on my left hand is getting really stiff. Its taking longer and longer to get it stretched out to where I can play without feeling pain. Any suggestions?

[jeffshuniak]

are you pressing down until you feel the fingerboard?

only press hard enough to just touch the fret. otherwise, you'll get into shape eventually.

[John Flynn]

I have had the problem, I still do sometimes, here is what works for me:
> Use lighter strings or half sets for a while
> See an orthopedic hand specialist and make sure it's not a health problem
> Do the stretches on Musicianshealth.com everytime before you play and then start with something slow and easy
> Make sure your mando is set up properly.
> Try to use less hand tension. Most players tend to use too much. Tension causes injury, wears out your frets and limits the speed you can play at.

[Walter Newton]

I'm not a doctor or anything, but would suggest that if you "haven't been playing that long" that you might want to back off from "several hours a day" - especially if it's all in one sitting (take lots of breaks) - until your body gets used to the stress, and slowly build your way back up...

(My experience with years of martial arts training is that it's really easy for people to be too excited and "gung-ho" and ignore the signals their bodies are giving them, to the point where they are injured and miss out on training for months, when they should have just taken a few days off to recover instead...)

Also, maybe have a teacher check out your technique and make sure it's OK?

[jim_n_virginia]

Yeah good advice for practicing (AND working out too!) if it hurts, back off a little. Don't press as hard, practice a little less and good advice in letting someone look at your form or the way you hold your hand.

Just stick with it and your fingers will get tough. I have been playing guitar over 20 years and mandolin for 4 years and I really feel like I could punch my fingers through a WALL! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

[250sc]

Walter gave you good advice. Don't do it till it hurts.

When I start having hand problems I load a song into the Amazing Slow Downer and work on some transcriptions. Even if your hands can't keep up you can always learn.

[GTison]

make Practice very short. stretch fingers an extreemly long time before playing any. Don't press hard. the dangers are tendonitus (which I had,) and trigerfinger ( which I now have) If you are over 40. these things are more likely to happen. Be careful now and not pay for it later.

[Bobby Brite]

Soak them in vinegar for about 10 to 20 minutes. It really works and you'll smell like a pickle. If you like pickles then you'll be 2 for 2.