mando playing pains

**ScottS** · Dec-15-2004, 7:44pm

When I play lead breaks on mandolin, I for some reason seem to be putting a lot of pressure on the joint where my index finger meets my palm. I am double jointed in the thumb so Gripping the neck of any instrument has been odd for me but this is a fair bit different. If I move my hand to avoid it I lack coordination and strength to fret the notes. Am I doing something wrong?

**Baron Collins-Hill** · Dec-15-2004, 7:53pm

want to see a crazy thumb, looky here: its the last picture on the page (with the the board)

http://www.mandolincafe.net/cgi-bin....t=20420

thats only about half way though..

by the way the same thing happened to me, but if you play with the mandolin neck up on the side of your hand more and near your index finger it works i guess, thats a pretty bad explanation, someone else may know what im talking about

**ScottS** · Dec-15-2004, 10:07pm

My thumb does the same thing, by itself if I do a "thumbs up" i get near 90 degree angle where my thumb bends back. If I push my thumb back I keeps going haha.
Its nice on guitar but the neck of the mandolin seriously just presses into my palm...I somehow think a more V shaped neck would help? This one is very C shaped.

**GBG** · Dec-16-2004, 7:53am

I have the same problem with the index finger pain near the palm of the hand.

**John Flynn** · Dec-16-2004, 8:52am

I have had a slew of these problems and been to multiple docs about it. My humble advice is:

1. See a doc, have it checked out, just to eliminate the possibility it's something serious.

2. Realize that outside of "something more serious" nearly all hand pain is caused by too much tension. A contributing factor may be poor technique. Good technique should require less tension. You have to concentrate at first to get your tension down and make it a habit pattern. Keep using less tension until you just can't get the notes to sound right any more and then add a wee bit back in. A good instructor should be able to help, even if it is only for a few lessons.

3. Do a systematic set of warm ups and stretches before playing. I have had dramatic results with this. The more disciplined I am about doing them, the fewer problems I have. I like the stretches on musicianshealth.com, followed by some light warmup playing.

**ScottS** · Dec-16-2004, 10:49am

I dont think its a problem with my hand physically...If you had a piece of wood pressed against ur palm its expected to be somewhat painful. I do stretchs and all of that. I just think I might be holding the neck wrong?

**John Flynn** · Dec-16-2004, 10:54am

That may be the problem, so you should have a good instructor check it out. It would be hard to diagnose over a message board. However, personally I would not be satisfied with the notion that playing should be the least bit painful. If it is painful when you play now, it will be more painful in later years, guaranteed. The stretches will help, keep them up. Good luck with it.