Like us As we age, those aches and pains in our joints and muscles tend to visit us more often and stay a little longer.
We can’t jump out of bed in the morning with the same energy as when we were in our twenties, and muscle soreness from a weekend of semi-strenuous work in the garden can last into the middle of the week!
The vast majority of my guitar students fall into the “over 40” category and I receive fairly frequent emails from new students experiencing bouts of pain emanating from their hands, fingers, wrists, and forearms while lying down. in the early stages of learning to play the guitar. .
When you first start playing the guitar, at any age, there are a host of new aches and pains to expect. In the early days, he is trying to make the fingers, hands, and reluctant muscles do things they have never done before, so a certain amount of pain is inevitable.
But when we cross that 40 threshold, those new aches and pains can become more pronounced and last much longer.
What can we do, at this stage of life, to ease the pain of learning to play the guitar?
There are low-impact exercises you can do to develop some of the muscle groups involved in playing the guitar.
For example, light dumbbells are a great way to strengthen your lower arm and wrist muscles. Also, hand tension exercise devices can help with finger strength.
But these exercises, as good as they are, can only go so far. There are muscles used in playing the guitar that you can only develop one way… by playing the guitar.
The first few days of holding a guitar and trying to form chords will feel awkward and awkward. And, after a 30-minute session, she may feel some pain or discomfort in her forearm, hands, and fingers.
Keep in mind that this is perfectly natural. We all go through it. Take plenty of breaks and don’t try to overdo it.
The pain you will feel in the tips of your fingers is also natural. It is the result of exposing the virgin flesh of your fingers to the rough metal strings. But this too is a temporary situation and will eventually pass as calluses begin to form.
Keep in mind that, from a physical standpoint, learning to play the guitar is like starting a new exercise program. There will be some pain and discomfort at first as the muscles strengthen and the fingertips stiffen. But with just a few minutes a day of regular practice, you’ll be amazed at the progress you make and the stamina you’ll build.
And regardless of age, each and every one of us who has ever picked up a guitar has gone through it. It’s just that as we get older it can take a little longer to build muscle groups and the soreness can linger a bit. But hang in there, before long you won’t even notice it!
