Study the following list that presents the most common tension points for guitarists.
- Hunching shoulders
- Applying excess pressure of the right arm to the guitar (This common problem arises from trying too hard in order to control the right hand.)
- Excessive tension in the muscles of the face and neck (The muscles around the mouth, the jaws, and the neck often tighten in sympathetically with those of the arms and hands, during difficult passages.)
- Tension in the legs (This generally comes from an improper sitting position.)
- Back tension (Excess tension in the back often comes from sitting too long without breaks, or from poor posture. Back tension also enters the picture when the guitarist twists the spine excessively and sits with the right leg extended too far out to the right. Many players also have tension from back problems not related to the guitar. Seek medical attention if you have corrected the more obvious causes stated here.)
- Neck tension (Neck tension is usually a result of turning the neck stiffly to the left and trying too hard to watch and control the left hand.)
- Tension in the left arm (The common cause for this problem is faulty hand-arm position.)
When you have further developed your sense of body awareness, you will be able to gently release whatever excessive physical tension that you discover.
Feel free to visit LA Guitar Academy's website for professional guitar lessons in the Los Angeles area, or go to LAGA Online's home page to take online guitar lessons from the LAGA Faculty.
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