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Stretching makes a difference
First let me say Tony’s stretching videos are prerequisite for extended playing time.
Now the fun fact. I don’t have large hands or long fingers (no other anatomical comments please). But I noticed recently that my fretting hand ring and pinky fingers reach much further out than my picking hand. I attribute this to hours of playing that G and other chords accompanied by some stretching to relax the hand. Have any of you tried this? Share your pictures if so.
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1 Reply
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I would love to share pictures of the same phenomenon, but I live alone, and my dog has trouble holding the phone or camera to take pictures. On a more serious note, I’ll see if I can’t find a way to get a photo. I’ve been on playing sabbatical for a while due to tennis elbow and tendinitis in my fretting arm. Very debilitating, but after quite a few acupuncture sessions and a shot of cortisone from the Ortho, I was given the green light to try and play again. I noticed that my fingers, hands and arm are much more tense, and my fingers do not have the same reach as before the injury, so I guess if you don’t continue to play and do the exercises your muscles and tendons become tight again. Starting slow, and I can’t agree more that you need to stretch before and after playing to avoid injury, especially if you’re really stretching out those fingers. When the fingers are stretched, a lot of tension is placed on the forearm tendons. Also, you’re right, the more you play, the more your hands and fingers limber up and stretch out, keep up the great work @albert_d !
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