I found that playing all the chords in a key, in open position, showed me the possible 'access' notes I could pick to improvise a 'mini lick' in that particular key.
The finger style thing is something I never thought I would ever be able to do. Scrapper Blackwell nobody loves you when you down and out was the one for me that connected the blues for me. Now doing some Robert Johnson stuff and the thumb has finally fallen in line if that makes sense
So a couple things that also affect “trigger thumb”: excessive mobile phone use/swiping, online gaming, and picking up heavy children. Two of those are easily avoidable.. 😉 I found that rest and stretching helped get my thumb back on track. Also, lighter gauge strings (a good topic in itself) are way easier on your wrists. Great video Kyle!!
As we age (I'm in my 50s), we notice some things ache or hurt more than others. In hindsight, I should have taken better care of my body. But it's too late, and I have to move forward from where I am. Light stretching and warming up slow seems to help a lot for me. You mentioned posture- one of the best things I did for me was to buy a comfortable drum throne and a footrest like classical guitar players use. I sit up straighter, and I can play a little longer. It also helps to remember to get up and walk around at least every hour. We gotta take care of our bodies. As far as comparison, I think it's a mindset thing. If one plays among "better" players, that can be inspiring instead of disparaging one's own skill level. Gotta stop with those negative vibes, man... Thanks for the video, Kyle Be good to you 🙏🏻🤍
More of these please as you really confirmed the process I’ve been on. I even think we are still learning when we don’t know it such in our sleep or unconsciously the brain is still working things out
Kyle, your insight is (from my years playing) spot on. Plus, I hear a heart of empathy tempered with applied pragmatic reality. TBH, I only began looking at what the heck I've done with my hands for 7 years of the 60+. Mine aren't able to play as they once did. But!!! I apply all that you've said and even an "anti-inflammatory diet & weight loss. I could literally fill the comment page, but will reserve until I get up your way for a visit. Oh! My young-un was so creative, the only school that fit the needs there was likely the one you attended. It saved my only child's future who then bloomed into a writer and graphic artist, provided perspectives requisite to graduate college with honors. My kid's perspectives and insights are tapped regularly today and the sharing in those conversations is precious. I believe your insights will yield equal value in a series of e-books I would definitely own. They are truly secrets to most of us.
@@kostringworks Somehow I'm not surprised. Not to be a pest, but I'd sit in the comfy chair at the top of the entry stairs with my J-45 in the case waiting for Kate at days end wishing I could bust out a rendition of Slow Drag. I told her and the look was all it took. LOL! Thanks Kyle!
Thank you for addressing the "gear resilience" and how aspects like this - very adjacent yet not always obvious - translate to expecting the same from ourselves / our bodily functions & movements. One very likely arrives at 'bad' solutions, designs and practices for oneself individually (that which work in / for the moment), when not being aware of a more complete perspective. Also, to be clear about not prescribing advice: e.g. what is 'good' / 'healthy' technique, what is not. Having already had chronic pain from professional work and having remedied it successfully I'd still only suggest the notion that avoiding pain, or rather working one's very own good health starts away from the instrument. If anything, just touching the guitar should be made in a way that helps to already diminish pain, by fostering or tapping into movement patterns that one knows do help. In a way, attune oneself before adding more parts or complexity. Achieving this is 'good' technique: getting situated for learning, playing, first. Just very basic tips, that which aren't based on my personal properties, only since they helped me so much: 1. Knowing the difference and transition points between uncomfortable, stretching towards an improvement (e.g. more range of motion, control etc.) vs. hurtful in a destructive way. Design actions from there 2. Minimizing other, underlying factors that create the preconditions that are the actual ingredients for (chronic) pain: in my case a computer's trackpad, marathon-notating ('non-natural' movements) & guitar playing (2-3h solo gigs). The guitar playing actually helped ('good' technique = matching my 'properties'). Improving posture was key though - most still need to work with input devices like computers, right ;) So, to still get the hours in; creating an individual standing desk solution might be one way of correcting angles of movement for a given task. Two other major aspects, a bit counter-intuitive, simply starting from the ground up: barefoot shoes and more walking. Improves posture and muscle tone overall, so fast. Second, to minimize or even eliminate chronic pain: more home cooking, more vegetables. Avoiding sugar, minimizing grains and absolutely no processed foods. The last tip also helps to save soo much money, I wouldn't believe it. And your cooking might get better too. Even mine did, lol
The difference between your first knuckle (the big one) and the other knuckles is that the first knuckle uses more slow-twitch muscle fibers from your forearm. You want to rely on slow-twitch for endurance tasks, like playing for a long time. At 4:29, you are talking about how you build tension in your thumb when you flex the 2nd knuckle. This is why. All of the muscle fiber in your hand are fast-twitch, which means it applies lots of pressure over a short time and can't handle endurance. It seems counter-intuitive but if you want to play guitar for the long haul, as a lifetime endeavor, you have to learn not to play it with your hand muscles. The same is true for the first knuckle on all your fingers. Try grasping your forearm and feeling how the tendons flex when you isolate the different knuckles. Its not binary, but you'll notice a distinct difference between the knuckles. I'm in the process of removing tension from my playing and the best way I've found to do that is rethink my economy of motion to prefer off-loading to my forearms. I hope this helps. Thanks for talking about this. I've played for 25 years and have dealt with terrible pains and tensions. This just isn't talked about enough.
It’s been a nightmare for me as I am being investigated for some autoimmune condition and the pain has been so bad I had no strength but granted I know I squeeze the frets too hard. Do you know though I’ve stuck it out and it’s so healing just playing
Dang bud, I appreciate you sharing cause I know you’re not alone and others are gonna be empowered by you. Open tunings can be a real game changer too, just something to try anyway!
I found that playing all the chords in a key, in open position, showed me the possible 'access' notes I could pick to improvise a 'mini lick' in that particular key.
Dude yep!! Love that term you came up with too, mini lick. Love it!
The finger style thing is something I never thought I would ever be able to do. Scrapper Blackwell nobody loves you when you down and out was the one for me that connected the blues for me. Now doing some Robert Johnson stuff and the thumb has finally fallen in line if that makes sense
That song was a big breakthrough for me too
Yup makes total sense. Blackwell’s stuff is some of my favorite. I also play nobody knows you, such an elegant chord progression.
So a couple things that also affect “trigger thumb”: excessive mobile phone use/swiping, online gaming, and picking up heavy children.
Two of those are easily avoidable.. 😉
I found that rest and stretching helped get my thumb back on track. Also, lighter gauge strings (a good topic in itself) are way easier on your wrists.
Great video Kyle!!
As a guy with a 6 month old, I can attest that carrying him has been 10x harder of my hands than guitsr ever could be haha. I’m trying to be mindful!
As we age (I'm in my 50s), we notice some things ache or hurt more than others. In hindsight, I should have taken better care of my body. But it's too late, and I have to move forward from where I am.
Light stretching and warming up slow seems to help a lot for me. You mentioned posture- one of the best things I did for me was to buy a comfortable drum throne and a footrest like classical guitar players use. I sit up straighter, and I can play a little longer. It also helps to remember to get up and walk around at least every hour.
We gotta take care of our bodies.
As far as comparison, I think it's a mindset thing. If one plays among "better" players, that can be inspiring instead of disparaging one's own skill level. Gotta stop with those negative vibes, man...
Thanks for the video, Kyle
Be good to you 🙏🏻🤍
Mindset is everything! Thanks bud! Take care of you too!
More of these please as you really confirmed the process I’ve been on. I even think we are still learning when we don’t know it such in our sleep or unconsciously the brain is still working things out
Thanks dude! Noted!!
Kyle, your insight is (from my years playing) spot on. Plus, I hear a heart of empathy tempered with applied pragmatic reality. TBH, I only began looking at what the heck I've done with my hands for 7 years of the 60+. Mine aren't able to play as they once did. But!!!
I apply all that you've said and even an "anti-inflammatory diet & weight loss. I could literally fill the comment page, but will reserve until I get up your way for a visit. Oh! My young-un was so creative, the only school that fit the needs there was likely the one you attended. It saved my only child's future who then bloomed into a writer and graphic artist, provided perspectives requisite to graduate college with honors. My kid's perspectives and insights are tapped regularly today and the sharing in those conversations is precious. I believe your insights will yield equal value in a series of e-books I would definitely own. They are truly secrets to most of us.
Yeah man the diet and overall wellness stuff is absolutely crucial!! It was perpich I went to btw!
@@kostringworks Somehow I'm not surprised. Not to be a pest, but I'd sit in the comfy chair at the top of the entry stairs with my J-45 in the case waiting for Kate at days end wishing I could bust out a rendition of Slow Drag. I told her and the look was all it took. LOL! Thanks Kyle!
Thank you for addressing the "gear resilience" and how aspects like this - very adjacent yet not always obvious - translate to expecting the same from ourselves / our bodily functions & movements. One very likely arrives at 'bad' solutions, designs and practices for oneself individually (that which work in / for the moment), when not being aware of a more complete perspective. Also, to be clear about not prescribing advice: e.g. what is 'good' / 'healthy' technique, what is not.
Having already had chronic pain from professional work and having remedied it successfully I'd still only suggest the notion that avoiding pain, or rather working one's very own good health starts away from the instrument. If anything, just touching the guitar should be made in a way that helps to already diminish pain, by fostering or tapping into movement patterns that one knows do help. In a way, attune oneself before adding more parts or complexity. Achieving this is 'good' technique: getting situated for learning, playing, first.
Just very basic tips, that which aren't based on my personal properties, only since they helped me so much:
1. Knowing the difference and transition points between uncomfortable, stretching towards an improvement (e.g. more range of motion, control etc.) vs. hurtful in a destructive way. Design actions from there
2. Minimizing other, underlying factors that create the preconditions that are the actual ingredients for (chronic) pain: in my case a computer's trackpad, marathon-notating ('non-natural' movements) & guitar playing (2-3h solo gigs). The guitar playing actually helped ('good' technique = matching my 'properties').
Improving posture was key though - most still need to work with input devices like computers, right ;) So, to still get the hours in; creating an individual standing desk solution might be one way of correcting angles of movement for a given task.
Two other major aspects, a bit counter-intuitive, simply starting from the ground up: barefoot shoes and more walking. Improves posture and muscle tone overall, so fast. Second, to minimize or even eliminate chronic pain: more home cooking, more vegetables. Avoiding sugar, minimizing grains and absolutely no processed foods. The last tip also helps to save soo much money, I wouldn't believe it. And your cooking might get better too. Even mine did, lol
Dude great points, I read through it several times too! Just great. Thanks for sharing, I know others here will get something from it.
@@kostringworks Thank you, that would be nice :) Meanwhile, boy's working on more concise wording
The difference between your first knuckle (the big one) and the other knuckles is that the first knuckle uses more slow-twitch muscle fibers from your forearm. You want to rely on slow-twitch for endurance tasks, like playing for a long time. At 4:29, you are talking about how you build tension in your thumb when you flex the 2nd knuckle. This is why. All of the muscle fiber in your hand are fast-twitch, which means it applies lots of pressure over a short time and can't handle endurance.
It seems counter-intuitive but if you want to play guitar for the long haul, as a lifetime endeavor, you have to learn not to play it with your hand muscles. The same is true for the first knuckle on all your fingers. Try grasping your forearm and feeling how the tendons flex when you isolate the different knuckles. Its not binary, but you'll notice a distinct difference between the knuckles.
I'm in the process of removing tension from my playing and the best way I've found to do that is rethink my economy of motion to prefer off-loading to my forearms.
I hope this helps. Thanks for talking about this. I've played for 25 years and have dealt with terrible pains and tensions. This just isn't talked about enough.
Crazy, I’m gonna have to experiment with that but it makes a lotta sense though dude. And yeah there needs to be more awareness about this for sure!
It’s been a nightmare for me as I am being investigated for some autoimmune condition and the pain has been so bad I had no strength but granted I know I squeeze the frets too hard. Do you know though I’ve stuck it out and it’s so healing just playing
Good luck with the diagnosis. It can take a really long time.
Dang bud, I appreciate you sharing cause I know you’re not alone and others are gonna be empowered by you. Open tunings can be a real game changer too, just something to try anyway!
Classical posture please. 🙏
Maaaaaaaaybe 😆
I think licks and pentatonic hold back most guitarist from learning music theory. And the guitar world massively over indexes on them
Yeah we def got a pentatonic problem haha.