How To STOP Wrist Pain on Guitar - MUST SEE

[@bobpeters61]

Useful alternate definition for ergonomics: putting everything within easy reach.

[@sharknatho2406]

i've been averse to playing guitar for EIGHT YEARS because of wrist pain. even had an instructor who never said anything about the way my wrist was. in seven minutes watching your video, i think i've figured out why (a combination of praying mantis and too much pressure from my thumb). THANK YOU

[@LaurenBateman]

You're so welcome! Glad to help.

[@angeldiaz762]

My father was primarily a violin and viola player... he had a guitar, stopped playing it because he said it hurt his fingers more. But when I played, eventually, I realized that a lot of the pain throughout the chording hand can come from sideways thumb posturing. If your thumb is sideways, you're gonna hurt yourself more than necessary. What I like to do sometimes when fretting the low strings is to imagine like I'm making an ok sign with my thumb and index.

[@explorer867]

Thank you for your coaching. The tips really help. 🤠

[@LaurenBateman]

Glad it helped!

[@outermarker5801]

1:08 Thanks for pointing this out! Because a LOT of videos are forcing people to keep this very natural 'classical' hand position even with the neck lowered. This forces your wrist from a natural state to a locked underhand position. No wonder EVERY great Rock, Pop, RnB, Blues, Jazz etc guitarist ever abandons that nonsense advice and does whatever best suits their own hands and style.

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for recognizing that. It’s an important point.

[@captainhennahead2323]

You gave me my very first guitar lessons a year ago, Im still going!!! Its so great to have your channel to run back too! Thank you!!!

[@LaurenBateman]

Great to hear! Keep on playing and always have fun!

[@jeramiedutcher6720]

Great topic. My Telecaster has a line down the back of its neck for my thumb. I don't always use it. When I was starting learning guitar, I was told I could push it too fast and injure myself. So when I felt tightness in my fret hand, I put it on the stand. My hand strength improvement lined up with learning chords. It was 2 minutes on, 10 minutes doing dishes, vacuuming, etc. Back and forth with my spare time. Applying my thumb center neck was a really big help while growing chord hand strength.

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for sharing this!

[@joelsalazar8096]

Had no idea I was dipping my neck! Just elevating and my hand position is perfect and no more strain !! Thank you so much for the fix!! Ur awesome !!

[@LaurenBateman]

Happy to help!

[@deanvaughan8536]

Damn you have helped me solve my wrist problems, you really are probably the best guitar teacher thank you so much

[@LaurenBateman]

Dean glad to help!

[@bucktv254]

This is what I'm doing this month, June '23 after years of struggle...from the sitting position with my guitar on the right leg & parallel to the floor to the guitar on my left leg at an angle with a footrest and a strap! Thank you.

[@LaurenBateman]

You are welcome!

[@anordinaryguy4677]

thanku , i needed this..barre chord is killing me..

[@basingstoke63]

Hi Lauren , a fantastic tip , and just at the right time . I have just picked up the guitar again after my wrist accident . It's as if you knew . Thankyou so much , but plenty to catch up on . lol

[@LaurenBateman]

Tony, glad to help you out.

[@IzzySmith-sw5md]

I just started learning and my left wrist has been hurting, thank you so much for this! It’s helped a lot. Subscribed

[@LaurenBateman]

Glad it helped!

[@michaelpond6386]

An old friend of mine who is a longtime professional guitarist started using a device called a dynabee an old school gyroscopic wrist strengthening device.

[@LaurenBateman]

Ooo never heard of that

[@t9620]

That classical position seemed so natural when I first picked up a guitar. 🙏🎸

[@LaurenBateman]

Good!

[@darrenoak7187]

Excellent spot on Laren, I had all these problems, but eventually fixed with the neck tilt etc, and wrist bands seem to make things a bit easier on heavy guitars. I am still a bit finger heavy on the frets thow.

[@LaurenBateman]

Glad to hear that!

[@joezagame5598]

Very helpful video: brief, well organized, with good examples. Thank you, Lauren! 🙏

[@LaurenBateman]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@danball4410]

Hi, this is a great tip to keep the wrist straight and natural, but your video is missing how to actually implement this when playing barre chords or various positions on the fretboard such as the C major scale staring on the 8th fret. Does the wrist have to bend severely for these, or is there a way to play them and keep the wrist neutral? Thanks.

[@LaurenBateman]

Great question. Will have to make a new video!

[@rharan1]

Thanks!

[@markburrows3565]

Thanks Lauren. Could you please elaborate on your thought process on going with a lower neck angle - 25-30ish? degrees - vs the conventional 45 degree classical method. I do a lot of fingerpicking but also low-hi energy strumming. After previous injuries from being oblivious to the concept of technique, I settled in on the 45 degree angle. That neutralized previous issues but now developing wrist + thumb pad issues. In addition to minimizing thumb pressure I'm now experimenting with various neck angles + height. Your insight on this would be greatly appreciated. Thx again.

[@LaurenBateman]

Comfort and I don't like playing my acoustic in classical position. Just personal preference.

[@Frank_Kimono]

I would like to weigh in here and share my own experience with wrist pain. I'm big man 195cm height 100kg. On the beginning of my guitar journey, whilst clueless I went to guitar shop and bought electric Ibanez, modern c neck profile. I couldn't play it very well and I wouldn't last several minutes without wrist agony and cussing and hating. Because I have big hands, this modern C slim neck has proven very uncomfortable for my wrist and thumb - absolute disaster. When I finally arrived at that conclusion, got rid of it, and bought chunkier neck Epiphone Willshire and Fender Jaguar Vintera 60's, all problems have disappeared. Yes of course my fretting techniques improved as I got better but wrist agony dragged my technique down. I love playing my both new guitars. Big hands guitarists - take the neck profile for consideration. Regards Frank

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for sharing Frank!

[@tcb5141]

My problem is my fingers, I watch you Lauren with different chords, I'm like how does she do that. With her small hands

[@LaurenBateman]

You can do it too!

[@scotttravis7245]

I love it when I watch a video like this and find out I was doing it right and didn't know it. Even a blind squirrel gets a nut once in a while! Thank you for being auch a great teacher!👍

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching!

[@gins8781]

I’d like to know your thoughts about tendinitis. I bought a new guitar in November and within a couple of weeks I developed tendinitis. It took 10 weeks to heal during which I couldn’t play at all. I gradually began playing again and recently switched to extra light strings. It helps my elbow, but they are too light for my short scale guitar. Lots of buzzing against my fingers.

[@LaurenBateman]

Yeah tendonitis can occur with repetitive motions. The best thing to do is to make sure you warm up the hands and arms. You can do. Forearm stretches. Also helps to massage the muscles to loosen them up. And the biggest thing is to have good posture. Make sure you're using a guitar strap. And relax as much as possible.

[@Goodiej17]

Hi Lauren. I have had a guitar for over a year. I really liked you teaching style, so I bought your course in March. But my question is about guitar placement and the strap. My guitar doesn't have the strap peg in the front and so I have to put it around the headstock right above the nut. How would you make adjustments to the strap. I feel like I'm really struggling on finding the right positioning. Thank you.

[@LaurenBateman]

Hi Jester, Yeah I used to have a guitar that was like that myself. Personally I hated it. It was very difficult to get the guitar in a comfortable position. I also felt like it dug into my shoulder a lot. You could have one installed at a guitar shop. That's usually what I recommend for students. They do sell straps that you can tie a lace through the headstock. But again, like I said, I found that placement very uncomfortable for myself personally.

[@dianasantiago4101]

🌄 Morning Lauren Bateman Thank for the advice Loveli lesson 👍 LIKE

[@LaurenBateman]

You are welcome Diana!

[@EeliusAstaroth]

Thank you for this ❤ tried looking for tips a little bit ago, and didn't really find anything relevant or quite specific to my needs. Anytime I'm playing certain chords, particularly bar chords, I inevitably end up with pain, and if I push through it it literally gets to the point of weakening my muscles to the point it's like it just gives out and can't play anymore 😞 figured there was something I was doing wrong so this helped a lot. Definitely gonna try out these tips soon!

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching!

[@jasonbaum9376]

Awesome! Trying this today. Thanks

[@LaurenBateman]

Have fun!

[@RandyThieman]

You are an awesome teacher! I so wish I could afford your lessons

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching!

[@randythieman6583]

I am just about 70 yrs old. Began more earnestly trying to learn guitar since I retired 1 1/2 yrs ago. But I need much guidance! Do you have special prices on your lessons?

[@jeremyschram8169]

Enjoy learning some about guitar with these videos but I'm an avid ukulele player...just wondering...lauren..you ever play the ukulele? It is so fun to play and usually ergonomically friendly. But watching these videos may want me to try out out guitar. Thanks.

[@LaurenBateman]

I have played a ukulele maybe three or four times in my life. I'm not familiar with the chords but obviously can play some of the shapes because of my guitar playing.

[@krustykat4153]

I have developed tendonitis in my strumming hand. Not sure as to why or what I may be doing wrong with that hand. I was hoping maybe you would cover that and have any suggestions for the strumming hand. the pain is between the thumb and index running down the wrist. thanks

[@LaurenBateman]

I have done that before. It was caused more by actions outside of my guitar playing like my computer work. Massage can help but rest is always best.

[@AussieWoodyGirl]

Try a thumb pick. Works for the arthritis in my stumming hand

[@gav1nwood]

Any tips to avoid elbow and forearm pain? I’ll try these tips but my pain is definitely higher up the arm. A bit like tennis elbow but spreads Dow the forearm.

[@LaurenBateman]

Ahhh, that's probably more related to desk work and texting. I did get carpal tunnel ones playing the guitar but it was exacerbated by my office work.

[@R.L.Humpert]

Lauren Hi me again. I have two Martins and neither has a button for the strap on top of the guitar part it has the butt end one only. I really don’t want to drill one in so where exactly do I put the other end? It’s weird. Thanks Ryan😊

[@LaurenBateman]

Ryan I would have a Luthier install one. The only other option would be to tie a string and lace it through the top of the guitar above the nut. I find that much less comfortable, but I did it for years.

[@carromoo6962]

Hey lauren how can i play a song longer without having a sore finger, when i practice after 2 minute i can no longer play

[@LaurenBateman]

This is a good video to help with that: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaa3omSErpyUppI

[@brianfoster6605]

Awesome topic. I am curious. What is the width of your neck? I mean your guitar neck😅 Thinking my fender is too narrow for my fretting hand. Does it make a difference?

[@LaurenBateman]

I'm not sure of this answer off the top of my head. But the guitar using in this video is my Crafter Twin Birds 32nd second anniversary edition.

[@brianfoster6605]

1 3/4 inches at the nut. Same as my Fender. Blows my theory of a wider neck is easier to fret.

[@Bprosha]

Wow,that was great

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching!

[@AndrewSkinburn]

I have pain In my fretboard thumb....am I pushing it too hard or what? My other fingers are on the right places and it feels ok. The problem is my thumb....like it doesn't have strenght and gets tired...

[@LaurenBateman]

Oh no! Yes, you are probably pushing too much on the back. Try playing without the thumb on the back of the neck. That might seem awkward but you are going to learn how little you need your thumb to play chords.

[@AndrewSkinburn]

@@LaurenBateman Will do that. Thank you Lauren and greetings from Finland.

[@3GingerCats]

Well, the natural hand position is why you have your hands at Ten to two on the steering wheel of a car, Holding a guitar is more like twenty five to five... the maximum my wrists / forearm can rotate, this is why I get wrist pain, Because the Radius and the Ulnar are crossing over each other and cannot go any further! The most natural (neutral position) would have the guitar standing next to me like a double base

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for sharing!

[@alaamaoula2404]

what about the pain in the wrist of my right hand? -.-

[@LaurenBateman]

This is your strumming hand? You can do the same stretches. Work on relaxing your grip on the pick too

[@ephesians5112]

It's my right wrist that gets a terrible kink in it -- the strumming, picking hand, unfortunately.

[@LaurenBateman]

Go slow and work on relaxing that out.

[@KelBo18]

Both elbows too 🙄

[@djkanyon]

I came here to see if someone will comment something Phoebe Buffay related

[@LaurenBateman]

Not sure who that is

[@James-ju4gj]

Been playing for 15 years and have started to develop strong pains in the top of my fretting hand, wrist and forearm, even when not playing. Have gone through all the tips and tricks regarding posture and technique. I take breaks but the issue comes back stronger after a couple of days of playing. I'm worried that this is something that might not get better

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching! Please have your hand checked by a doctor

[@dianasantiago4101]

👍 LIKE

[@tcb5141]

Wonder how Keef Richards survived all these years

[@LaurenBateman]

Lots of heroine 🤣🤣

[@tcb5141]

@@LaurenBateman 🤣

[@puceolive2779]

Smelly Cat!

[@LaurenBateman]

🤣🤣🤣

[@elreybuenvinobuenavida3837]

What helped ME? I started squeezing a tennis-ball daily as an excersise. You're welcome 🙃🙂

[@LaurenBateman]

Thanks for watching!