Pain in palm area from holding pick

[Ginsly]

I'm not sure if this is the right place for this post, but I've been having some hand pain related to holding my pick. I've looked into Carol Kaye's picking technique, and it seems like I more or less follow her instructions. I use a large, heavy pick and hold it between my thumb and the side of the first joint on my index finger.

It might be the cold weather (Chicago), but after last practice the area between the base of my index finger and the base of my thumb really hurts. Part of my palm, too. I'm not doing anything differently, so I don't think it's my technique (could be wrong, though - I do anchor my pinky). Can anyone suggest some pre/post playing therapy regiments that might help me with this? Vitamin supplements, exercises, ice, anything - I really don't want this to be a problem during shows. Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[bassybeenz]

Try stretching your hands out, grab the finger tips with both arms extended and pull them back forming an "L" shape for about ten seconds, this worked great for my left and right hand pains, as for the technique, Karol Kay, although a very accomplished and respectable player, is not god. Play around with how you hold the pick to find a stress free grip. If you can find a way to loosen up the grip do so.

[nazroth]

I use to git a pain in my fret hand like that. You may be bearing down to hard on the pic that was my problem with my fret hand and you just have to be firm yet relaxed its a hard habit to break.

[nazroth]

Originally Posted by bassybeenz

Try stretching your hands out, grab the finger tips with both arms extended and pull them back forming an "L" shape for about ten seconds, this worked great for my left and right hand pains, as for the technique, Karol Kay, although a very accomplished and respectable player, is not god. Play around with how you hold the pick to find a stress free grip. If you can find a way to loosen up the grip do so.

+1 stretching is the key

[Ginsly]

Wow, that was fast! All good suggestions, I cannot thank you guys enough for helping me with this. I'll certainly do the "L" stretch and work on loosening my grip on pick (won't be easy!). Maybe I'll look for a nice heavy thumb pick to use, that way I'll hardly have to put any pressure on it..

[Ginsly]

Originally Posted by bassybeenz

Try stretching your hands out, grab the finger tips with both arms extended and pull them back forming an "L" shape for about ten seconds, this worked great for my left and right hand pains, as for the technique, Karol Kay, although a very accomplished and respectable player, is not god. Play around with how you hold the pick to find a stress free grip. If you can find a way to loosen up the grip do so.

Should my thumb be in any particular position when I do this?

[JimmyM]

who is karol kay?



anyway, it could be one of several things...you're either using a death grip, you're moving your thumb when you pick, you're not picking at the loosest part of the strings by the neck, you're not doing all down/up, etc. you need to check all of carol's instructions for it, and go over each point and make sure you're doing it. carol may not be god , but if you follow her method to the letter you will be pain free. if you miss something, you won't be.

[bassybeenz]

who is karol kay?

lol sorry about that, at work/ having a cold will do that to ya

listen to jimmy, try his pointers out and see if that works, but theres nothing wrong with trying to find what works for YOU.

as for your thumb muscles, im sure it can't be a bad idea to just loosen up before playing and adapting the "L" stretch to the thumb only with alot less pressure.

also my apologies for the "god" comment, came across as a little snarky, i assure you i have the utmost respect for a player as accomplished as her and aspire to be half the player she is

[JimmyM]

sorry man, sometimes i like to bust balls when something strikes me funny. i don't mean anything by it