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ezFolk Forums > Ukulele > Beginner Questions - Ukulele > Fingers hurt after practicing for 20 minutes |
| Moderated by: Tony Provencher, Richard Hefner |
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| Fingers hurt after practicing for 20 minutes | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Thu Feb 5th, 2009 08:51 pm |
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1st Post |
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bevhale Approved
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Hi: I am a newbie that received the ukulele for Christmas. After playing chord changes for a few minutes, I have rather deep crevices on my fingers and feel some pain. The fingers are a little numb when I touch them. I was told to have the strings lowered but the string is only about 1/16" above the first fret. Will my fingers callus and the pain decrease? Should I have it restrung with higher quality strings and have them lowered? Thanks
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| Posted: Thu Feb 5th, 2009 10:27 pm |
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2nd Post |
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leakydesk Approved 
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Congrats on the uke. What kind? A 16th seems a bit hight to me, but I've seen/played some higher. What is the height at the other end? You really should not be in much pain after playing (even a newbie), but after just a week you will notice it won't be so uncomfortable. I'm curious about the kind of uke--it will determine how to lower the action (that's the distance from the fret to the string).
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| Posted: Thu Feb 5th, 2009 10:46 pm |
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3rd Post |
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bevhale Approved
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The Uke is a Kala KA-TTB, tenor. The distance from the last fret #18 to the string is 1/4". I am measuring from the top of the fret to the string. I have been practicing since Christmas and try to practice every day, but only for about 20 minutes at a time because my fingers start to hurt. The measurement from the top of the first fret to the string is 1/16". Any suggestions are appreciated.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 5th, 2009 10:57 pm |
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4th Post |
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Oswegan Approved 
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I'm in the same boat. The tenors have a little higher tension in the strings which probably adds to it a bit. Tiger Balm feels good on aching hands and fingers (but it stinks). Advise people have been giving me: Play on through to the other side . . .
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| Posted: Fri Feb 6th, 2009 01:51 pm |
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5th Post |
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Will Approved 
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Fingertip callouses take some time to develop. In the meantime, try to relax your fret hand as much as possible. A common mistake that beginners make is to press down on the strings with excessive pressure. As your fret hand develops the muscle memory to make the chord shapes, you will discover how to press on the strings with the minimal amount of finger pressure to get a good tone without string buzz. Developing good technique in the fret hand will also minimize overworking the muscles. Try to press down on the strings with only your fingertips, with your fingers pointing almost straight down; in other words, do not lay your fingers flat (horizontal) across the strings. Another device that will help is using a finger exerciser such as the "Gripmaster," which consists of metal springs that exercise each of your fingers in your fret hand. Stronger hand muscles will be less prone to fatigue.  For sore fingertips, try using a sports creme pain reliever. There are "vanishing" formulas that work without the strong eucalyptus odor. If you experience cracked skin in your fingertips, try applying one of those liquid bandage formulas - they have a pain reliever mixed into the liquid, and it will allow the cracks to heal.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 6th, 2009 06:29 pm |
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6th Post |
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sano Approved 
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What really worked for me when starting was plain olive oil. I just folded a paper towel into a small, clean sardine tin and soaked a bit of oil onto that. I'd dip my fingertips onto that a few times a day (wash before playing uke though  ), but the results were quick and amazing. The pain was gone completely within a week. My fingertips were really soaking up the oil. Since then I can pick up any string instument with no discomfort at all. I think the pain often has to do with dryness, especially in the winter. Give it a try and let me know if it works!
____________________ sano |
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| Posted: Thu Feb 12th, 2009 05:24 am |
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7th Post |
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teek Approved
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You WILL get callouses! Or at least I did. I thought I was overdoing it playing over 3 hours in one day and I'm new too, only a few months. It takes me over 20 minutes to even get warmed up with my old beat up hands. FWIW, my tenor's tension was horrid with Aquilas (wound) and much better with Worth Brown mediums after they were on for a couple of weeks. I had numbness in the very tips of my fingers so I would give them a few days rest, then go again. It will get better.
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| Posted: Thu Feb 12th, 2009 05:51 am |
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8th Post |
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sano Approved
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I agree, but I'm telling y'all that olive oil is magic, man, really, it is. I had numbness and tingling and I persevered playing 3 hrs a day too, but as soon as I started using olive oil I noticed a difference, like the very next day. After a week you'll feel nothing but pleasure! The olive oil goes deep into your fingertips. Try it. Remember that the Spartans used to bathe in it before battle! And I think afterwards too.... Or was it before lovemaking...
____________________ sano |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 13th, 2009 10:55 am |
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9th Post |
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hrlarson Approved 
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Try mandolin (double steel strings and higher tension) and ukulele will be a walk in the park. ;-)
____________________ I'm not addicted. I can stop playing anytime I want. |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 13th, 2009 01:32 pm |
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10th Post |
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Will Approved
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Better yet, try playing a 12-string guitar, with doubled strings and a neck nearly 2" wide. An 8-string uke is a piece of cake after playing a 12-string.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Fri Feb 13th, 2009 04:24 pm |
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11th Post |
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bevhale Approved
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HI: My Uke is a Tenor and had very high tension on the strings and one steel string. I just had it restrung with all nylon strings. That helps, but my ring finger and the one next to the index still are tender and seem a little numb. I think I may be getting calluses............guess I'm a baby. Remember, I just started playing after Christmas so I hope that my fingers will toughen up to the task.
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| Posted: Mon Feb 16th, 2009 07:39 pm |
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12th Post |
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leakydesk Approved
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You say you had it restrung, perhaps they can set it up for you a little bit. I may be crazy but I think your action is too high and that's why the pain. A 16th seems high to me, but it's hard to say without seeing it.
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17th, 2009 02:09 pm |
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13th Post |
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Will Approved
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bevhale wrote: HI: That was not a "steel" string - it was a nylon string with an aluminum winding. Metal windings are used because they add mass necessary to achieve the lower frequencies - a comparable all-nylon string would have to be much thicker, which impedes vibration and gives it a rather dull sound.
____________________ Will http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/297/ Loose Change & Friends http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/245/ http://loosechangeandfriends.com The Earth Tones http://ezfolk.com/audio/bands/337/ A Bunch Of Coconuts http://abunchofcoconuts.com |
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| Posted: Tue Feb 17th, 2009 05:22 pm |
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14th Post |
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UkeForever Approved 
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Sustained pain is a bad thing, especially joint pain in the fingers. Skin pain is minor, and everybody has a different tolerance. Like Will says, work on developing good technique. When I first started playing uke, it was in the summer, and I simply played too much. (I have summers off.) I felt joint pain in my fingers, so I did what an athlete would do after a joint injury: I iced my hand and took some time off. If you are bending your wrist while you fret, you can develop tendonitis. Music is fun, but physically, it is a repetitive motion. Technique helps to minimize the negative side-effects. Check this out: http://www.petermayer.net/press/view?id=14 Last edited on Tue Feb 17th, 2009 05:23 pm by UkeForever |
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| Posted: Sun May 10th, 2009 03:47 pm |
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15th Post |
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Cosmic_penguin Approved
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Thanks for the link ukeforever. I seem to be developing the symptoms of carpel tunnel syndrome, and that link has inspired me to focus on the ergonomics and wrist positioning (particularly on the left hand) of my playing. Before, there were songs that no matter what, my hands hurt afterwards. In retrospect, it was because of poor ergonomics and hand positioning.
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| Posted: Sun May 10th, 2009 04:31 pm |
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16th Post |
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UkeForever Approved
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Excellent! When I was in college, there was a class offered called "Movement in Music" which I never took, thinking it was hooey (it addressed this very idea of body/hand positioning while playing). I was wrong about it being hooey. I do notice that in some positions, my whole body tenses up. I also lock my jaw tight when I'm concentrating on fingerpicking. I think it takes an extra effort to listen to the body and really relax while playing. My hypothesis is that when most of us play, chemicals are released in the brain that kill pain--at least music has that "drug-like" effect on me--and so we tend not to feel the way we're hurting our bodies sometimes. I can't say I'm there yet, but part of my practicing routine now involves standing and playing in a position that is comfortable for me. I do a lot of reachunders with my thumb (ala Merle Travis), so I'm not quite there yet on the left-hand ergonomics. Best of luck with your journey.
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| Posted: Mon May 11th, 2009 02:50 pm |
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17th Post |
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Jim Yates Approved 
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Bev, you said," The distance from the last fret #18 to the string is 1/4" ." This tells me that Leakydesk is right. Your action is too high. I'd take it to a luthier or get some advice from someone on this forum who knows how to lower it.
____________________ Jim http://www.myspace.com/jimyates http://www.myspace.com/mapleleafchampionjugband |
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| Posted: Tue May 12th, 2009 02:03 pm |
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18th Post |
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OctoberSky Approved
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hi bevhale yes u should have the instrument set-up by a professional AND do not hesitate to tell the tech your problem. all of us should do no less. as for the pain/numbness. i think it is relative. some players have claimed to have played until they started to bleed.
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