Its Been Awhile Need Help Playing Again

[capitid]

I started Weight Training almost 3 yrs ago. What happened was I was coming home from the gym, relaxing then start practicing and/ or playing. Within 15 minutes my fretting arm starts to hurt and my fingers dont move as well. My picking arm is fine. I’d have to stop playing. i have now my found myself playing occasionally and cant play to the level i left off at. i dont want to stop working out because healthwise i have benefitted from it. At the same time I still love to play. I know there are guitarists that weight train but can still play. Any tips out there from a instructor and/or member? Ive grown frustrated but i believe i can do both knowing my level will eventually come back. I still consider myself at an intermediate level on a lower end now. Thanks.

[superblonde]

Maybe try working on grip strength instead of curls, like try doing weight “luggage carry”. But that is just a guess. Many muscle builders get excellent results without many reps or repetitive motions.. more weight fewer reps, or, alternating muscle groups to failure to lower total reps..
Look up the story of dave mustaine getting extreme nerve damage to his fretting arm and being told he will never play again.. it is really ‘food for thought’ to pay attention to form.

I'm an intermediate student of Metal Method. I play seitannic heavy metal. All Kale Seitan! ♯ ♮ ♭ ø ° Δ ♩ ♪ ♫ ♬
And on the Seventh Day, Mustaine said: ∇ ⨯ E = - ∂B / ∂t ; and there was Thrash; and it had a ♭3; and it was good.

[Igglepud]

I lift and play guitar. Same thing happened to me, especially when playing power chords. It was a technique issue. I stopped laying my ring finger down and fret power chords with middle and ring. I also focus on not squeezing the neck and get more strength from pulling back (this is somewhere in the program, but I don’t remember exactly where.)

Look at technique. It could be using the wrong fingers, using fingers poorly, your wrist angle, lots of variables.

MY ROCK IS FIERCE!!!

[Anonymous]

I had the same problem when I lifted, but it was temporary. I started a warm up routine and it went away. Mainly stretching both hands and fingers.

[Will Flaherty]

Are we talking a diagnosed injury or you’re just feeling pain or numbness while playing?

Metal Method Guitar Instructor

[capitid]

Thanks Everyone for the input. Will, not a diagnosed injury per say. It feels like my arms are still pumped up. As i keep playing my left arm starts to feel sore and my fingering speed starts to slow down as a result. My Gym has been closed due to COVID19 so the home routine isn’t as intense. its a maintenance program. it was an off day I played last night for 15 min and it felt good. I have a ways to go but at least it was positive. I’m reading everyone’s suggestions and I’m gonna start doing them. I appreciate all the help.

[Will Flaherty]

That’s normal then, as long as there’s no pain. I often teach right after training myself and/or clients at the gym.

Most strength training uses a fair amount of grip strength. I know I can’t play as well afterwards and my hands definitely fatigue faster. Definitely spend some time stretching beforehand and that really goes for your whole body as well. Most people neglect stretching after their training routine and this results in overly tight, inflexible muscles. Not good for health and certainly not good for speed.

Metal Method Guitar Instructor

[Byron]

Oh, yeah. Stretching AFTER a workout is even more important than before.

[Author]

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