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Just thinking. My fretting hand is getting fatigued with some songs. They are new songs. Then I get sloppy and have to stop myself to correct the matter. Or do you think it could be a matter of muscle memory? Do you think switching from 9’s to 8’s could be the answer?
Just on the deck trying to learn to duck walk with my guitar. Coffee. Lol
 
Lola said:
Just thinking. My fretting hand is getting fatigued with some songs. They are new songs. Then I get sloppy and have to stop myself to correct the matter. Or do you think it could be a matter of muscle memory? Do you think switching from 9’s to 8’s could be the answer?
Just on the deck trying to learn to duck walk with my guitar. Coffee. Lol
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My days of leaping and playing guitar, "duck walking" and any other antics and acrobatics will never see the light of day. My extremities bear the kinks of far too many abusive performances long before the guitar came into my world. Shoot, I never play in front of friends or small gatherings without having a stool or chair handy to easy my weary bones and take the load off. That would require a whole different level of conditioning to stand for an entire evening or even an hour's worth of playing.
I totally get the weariness of the fretting hand, I went through a couple days (yesterday and the day before) where my left hand told me in no uncertain terms that it wasn't going to happen. Don't know what changed, but somewhere in the last 6 months my carpal and/or maybe a more severe arthritic thing has taken place. I now have this disjointed thing going on in the main joint of the middle finger where it meets the hand and it hurts like Hell, or it just feels weird, like it's out of place. And of course, getting in to see my doctor is like trying to walk upwind in a full on gale. And it's strange, that's one of the few parts of my body I have no recollection of ever injuring...
 
Daryl Jones said:
My days of leaping and playing guitar, "duck walking" and any other antics and acrobatics will never see the light of day. My extremities bear the kinks of far too many abusive performances long before the guitar came into my world. Shoot, I never play in front of friends or small gatherings without having a stool or chair handy to easy my weary bones and take the load off. That would require a whole different level of conditioning to stand for an entire evening or even an hour's worth of playing.
I totally get the weariness of the fretting hand, I went through a couple days (yesterday and the day before) where my left hand told me in no uncertain terms that it wasn't going to happen. Don't know what changed, but somewhere in the last 6 months my carpal and/or maybe a more severe arthritic thing has taken place. I now have this disjointed thing going on in the main joint of the middle finger where it meets the hand and it hurts like Hell, or it just feels weird, like it's out of place. And of course, getting in to see my doctor is like trying to walk upwind in a full on gale. And it's strange, that's one of the few parts of my body I have no recollection of ever injuring...
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In all sincerity ever since I got back into weight lifting I have seen some noticeable improvements in everything physical that I do. My stamina and strength have improved quite a bit compared to being sick for the last 2 years. It made me sit up an realize it’s now it never!! I may not be able to this in the coming years so now is the time. I realize that I am very fortunate. I am going to start some other cardio other then walking the dogs 2 or 3 times a day. I want to go all out and be the best I can be. I need cardio stamina which I half arsed it. I have to be serious now.

I am going to the music store at one point to check out the Archon amps that @DreamTheaterRules suggested. I will pick up a set up 8’s to see if that makes things a little less stressful.

I just have to keep my chin up and walking towards my goal.
 
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So since my hand was so sore/difficult to play, yesterday I embarked on the pick guard replacement on my NF3. Was certainly a lot more interesting than I expected. NOt sure just what I expected but I was mildly taken aback at how little work space I had with things. But a first time doing something I knew it wouldn't be a slick breeze for a non guitar tech doof like me. Had to walk away a couple times and get my s**t together and regroup but the guard is done and mounted back in place. Haven't checked to see if the trem arm will hit the lampshade knobs yet either. Of course the new strings need to be fully stretched and tuned (just a basic workup so far), and they seem OK. But I haven't really gotten aggressive at all with it, just worked it as usual with the stretches along the neck and then some bends and stuff (no trem action) unplugged. And I'll likely have to reset the pickup heights. Another first for me, but I gotta get over my fears and get more comfortable with it. Hundred miles each way to my store tech and if I make a balls of it, well, I can tie it in with another trip into the big smoke, the guys still owe me my free full setup. Once I get it completed and playing like I think it should, I'll post a photo or two of the completed "new" machine.
 
Lola said:
Just thinking. My fretting hand is getting fatigued with some songs. They are new songs. Then I get sloppy and have to stop myself to correct the matter. Or do you think it could be a matter of muscle memory? Do you think switching from 9’s to 8’s could be the answer?
Just on the deck trying to learn to duck walk with my guitar. Coffee. Lol
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IMO, 8’s are too light. I won’t go there until I absolutely have too. Even chords can be hard to play in tune, as it’s too easy to bend notes sharp while chording. And I’m a lighter touch player, not a hammer.

I’d suggest grip strengthening exercises
 
DreamTheaterRules said:
IMO, 8’s are too light. I won’t go there until I absolutely have too. Even chords can be hard to play in tune, as it’s too easy to bend notes sharp while chording. And I’m a lighter touch player, not a hammer.

I’d suggest grip strengthening exercises
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I was just talking to one of my old band mates and told of the problem I am experiencing. He said my grip was too tight. It’s the fretted part of this particular bar chord. I just picked up my guitar now and modified my finger placement. It’s a little awkward but with practice tonight I should be fine. Using the old noggin or what’s left of it. It just feels a tad weird!!

I have this but I hate it. I think I used this maybe once or twice in over 13 years. I can’t even do a full compression with my left baby finger that I broke almost two years ago. Adapt and adjust.
I adjusted the spring setting on this as well. I guess I could use it for 3 fingers. I think with the amt of time I am spending playing nightly I don’t really think I need this. Maybe I do. Idk.

 
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Lola said:
I was just talking to one of my old band mates and told of the problem I am experiencing. He said my grip was too tight. It’s the fretted part of this particular bar chord. I just picked up my guitar now and modified my finger placement. It’s a little awkward but with practice tonight I should be fine. Using the old noggin or what’s left of it. It just feels a tad weird!!

I have this but I hate it. I think I used this maybe once or twice in over 13 years. I can’t even do a full compression with my left baby finger that I broke almost two years ago. Adapt and adjust.

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I have been struggling with lightening my grip for 2.5 years now. In Jan of '22, I was starting to get some real pains in my fretting hand (left) and I already was aware that my grip was way too tight. One of the exercises I started doing was, playing some basic stuff with NO thumb on the back of the neck. I needed to brace the body of the guitar a bit with my right arm, but was able to play simple stuff with no thumb on the back of the neck. That experiment only lasted a couple of weeks and I stopped just because I don't like practicing, I like playing ;~)) So since then, I have just tried to notice when I am pressing too hard, and lighten up. Now I have not really concentrated on this (more concentrating on learning and playing material), but I would say I have an "appropriate" grip level 30% of the time, but have not been able to push past that. For me, the biggest problem is me getting REALLY into a song and all thoughts of a lighter grip go out the window. Could be the intensity of the song, my enthusiasm for the song, etc., but I usually fall into my monkey grip status. When I do lighten up, I can recognize that "this is the way" yet it pulls me back in. Whatever the case is, me lightening up even for that 30% of my play time has held at bay, any hand issues that interfere with my playing or comfort. Stopping pick use helped my right hand feel better as well ;~))

The strengthening exercises outside of the playing are good (though I have done none of that like other exercise in long time), and I personally like the rubber balls and putty for that kind of exercise, the spring loaded stuff like the grip you have above has never felt right to me. I would say the putties (in different firmness levels) feel like the best solution to me when I am using them.

Best wishes on resolving this. Whatever you do KEEP ON ROCKIN'! And have a GREAT weekend ;~))
 
@Moondog Wily you always have my number dialed. Thank you!! ❤️Tonight is Girls got Rhythm. I take one single song and pick the snot out of it.(not ladylike I know) Until I totally understand all the how’s and why’s. To the general population listening to their music this is some hard stuff for me personally. Ppl think it’s easy. To some it is. I am picky about the way I sound. I have been recording myself this afternoon. Either you get it right or you don’t. There is a very fine line between what is acceptable and what is not. I have a hard time being realistic about my personal expectations. I am always thinking I can do better but sometimes I just have to accept my playing for what it is.

When I let the cat out of the bag and told my friend what I was doing and the way I practiced he asked me, you’re serious aren’t you?
 
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