Posted: 2/23/2012 4:51:47 PM EDT
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..but for some reason I got it in my head that I would like to learn to play the mandolin. I'm not sure where the idea came from, but it's there none the less. The problem is that I have carpal tunnel issues in both wrists. Along with that I get the accompanying pain/cramps/etc in my hands. I've had surgery on both wrists years ago and while it didn't alleviate anything, it didn't get worse. Now for the question, taking the medical issues into consideration is it even a realistic idea? I don't want to get one and then find out the only thing I can reasonably do with is is bat the neighbor kids in the head with it.  |
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See if you can find someone that has one, will show you a few chords or note runs and let you try. It won't tell you if you can play for long periods of time, but should show you if there is a possibility. iirc, mandolin hand positions are a little more
awkward than guitar. |
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Well, I guess you could do what I do. I play until I feel the tension building up & stop, do some stretches & maybe play a little more, maybe not, depending on how my forearms feel.
I've also noticed that after not playing for a couple weeks, when I simply don't have the time, it takes some getting used to again. And after a sort of break in, those muscles don't get pumped up so easily. But on the flip side of that, I do have to keep doing those stretches regularly whether I'm playing or not, or that numbness in my hands starts to creep back in, whether I'm playing regularly or not. So I guess what it boils down to is just pay attention to what your hands, wrists & arms feel like. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Quoted:
Well, I guess you could do what I do. I play until I feel the tension building up & stop, do some stretches & maybe play a little more, maybe not, depending on how my forearms feel. I've also noticed that after not playing for a couple weeks, when I simply don't have the time, it takes some getting used to again. And after a sort of break in, those muscles don't get pumped up so easily. But on the flip side of that, I do have to keep doing those stretches regularly whether I'm playing or not, or that numbness in my hands starts to creep back in, whether I'm playing regularly or not. So I guess what it boils down to is just pay attention to what your hands, wrists & arms feel like. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Wow... good to know that other players experience the same frustration that I do. The guitar has been a big part of my identity since I started playing back in '84. I cannot imagine life without. But CTS sure makes is hard when it acts up. I also do a lot of stretching before I play, as well as during the day while at work. Unfortunately, I've sat at a keyboard for the past 16+ years and there's NO doubt in my mind that if I didn't do this all day... my CTS wouldn't be an issue with guitar playing. Because it sure wasn't an issue before my IT job. If I could just manage to win that damn lotto... I could quit and just play guitar and do other non-IT-related stuff all day... 
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Well, I guess you could do what I do. I play until I feel the tension building up & stop, do some stretches & maybe play a little more, maybe not, depending on how my forearms feel. I've also noticed that after not playing for a couple weeks, when I simply don't have the time, it takes some getting used to again. And after a sort of break in, those muscles don't get pumped up so easily. But on the flip side of that, I do have to keep doing those stretches regularly whether I'm playing or not, or that numbness in my hands starts to creep back in, whether I'm playing regularly or not. So I guess what it boils down to is just pay attention to what your hands, wrists & arms feel like. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Wow... good to know that other players experience the same frustration that I do. The guitar has been a big part of my identity since I started playing back in '84. I cannot imagine life without. But CTS sure makes is hard when it acts up. I also do a lot of stretching before I play, as well as during the day while at work. Unfortunately, I've sat at a keyboard for the past 16+ years and there's NO doubt in my mind that if I didn't do this all day... my CTS wouldn't be an issue with guitar playing. Because it sure wasn't an issue before my IT job. If I could just manage to win that damn lotto... I could quit and just play guitar and do other non-IT-related stuff all day...
I hear ya. I usually end up buying a Mega Millions & a Powerball every drawing, and I think to myself..... "I'm gonna win one of these times.". Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Well, I guess you could do what I do. I play until I feel the tension building up & stop, do some stretches & maybe play a little more, maybe not, depending on how my forearms feel. I've also noticed that after not playing for a couple weeks, when I simply don't have the time, it takes some getting used to again. And after a sort of break in, those muscles don't get pumped up so easily. But on the flip side of that, I do have to keep doing those stretches regularly whether I'm playing or not, or that numbness in my hands starts to creep back in, whether I'm playing regularly or not. So I guess what it boils down to is just pay attention to what your hands, wrists & arms feel like. Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Wow... good to know that other players experience the same frustration that I do. The guitar has been a big part of my identity since I started playing back in '84. I cannot imagine life without. But CTS sure makes is hard when it acts up. I also do a lot of stretching before I play, as well as during the day while at work. Unfortunately, I've sat at a keyboard for the past 16+ years and there's NO doubt in my mind that if I didn't do this all day... my CTS wouldn't be an issue with guitar playing. Because it sure wasn't an issue before my IT job. If I could just manage to win that damn lotto... I could quit and just play guitar and do other non-IT-related stuff all day...
I hear ya. I usually end up buying a Mega Millions & a Powerball every drawing, and I think to myself..... "I'm gonna win one of these times.".
Posted Via AR15.Com Mobile Me too... but in the words of Alanis Morissette... I'd no doubt "die the very next day".
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