Hi Tomas, I’m really loving these songs! Do you happen to have a download of the words with the cords that I can print out so that I can further my practice? I can’t seem to find it.
Knocking On Heaven’s Door
Stand By Me
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
We’ve changed the links above in this lesson under Optional Practice, to now bring you to where you can download what you need. Also, you had mentioned Brown Eyed Girl and that wasn’t linked on this lesson, BUT we do have it as one of our other song lessons, here is that link where you can access the download as well! https://realguitarsuccess.com/courses/brown-eyed-girl/
I like this three chord progression. Even though I am. When changing fingers from D to C add 9 my mind takes a micro second to think the finger positioning. But, after play along with you its ok. I like it.new to C add 9
While playing this song, my left thumb hurts. The problem is that I start with a straight thumb, and while I switch the chords, it moves towards the direction opposite to the headstock. After a while, it really starts to hurt. I tried keeping it towards the direction of the headstock, but then the strings are muting. Can you please advice as to what I can do play well and not hurt my thumb?
It’s inevitable that you will experience pain at some point. This is normal and it’s the body’s response to doing something new. The first place you’re likely to feel pain is in the fingertips of the left hands. Then come the left thumb and wrist. And when you think you finally got that behind you it often returns with a vengeance when learning barre chords.
For now, let’s talk about the pain in your left thumb and wrist. Many of these suggestions will apply to the process of dealing with pain in general.
Pain in the left-hand thumb and wrist is usually created by a combination of over tensing your muscles, using new muscles that are not accustomed to being used, and not having the optimal positioning of your hand. In most cases, the three things (tensing, muscle strength, and position) will come together over time little by little, and the pain will go away.
Here are a few tips that’ll help you along the way.
Tip #1 – When you feel pain it’s best to do short sessions (5 minutes) and try to make small adjustments. You can practice longer but try to only work on the part that creates pain for a few minutes at a time. This is important. The idea is not to damage yourself while slowly working out the issue.
Tip #2 – Start by watching closely to what the left-hand looks like in the lesson videos. You’ll find some views that make this easier. Look for them and try to loosely imitate the position.
Now pay attention to how it feels. Listen closely to the sound of the guitar as you do this. Make small adjustments. Continue doing this a little at a time. This is a process. Seeing another person’s hand position is not enough. It’s a starting place. Everyone’s hands and muscles are slightly different. You will find the right position for yourself over time while you learn to relax unnecessary tension and strengthen the muscles needed.
Tip #3 – Isolate the parts of an exercise or song that seem to create the pain. Work on those parts separately instead of continuously playing the entire piece. Slow down. Try to relax your hand.
When you feel pain stop. Check the position. Look at the video. Adjust your hand position. Do it again.
Are you tensing up? Relax or stop and shake out the hand (depending on the severity). Now start again.
5 minutes are up? Stop and work on something else. Come back at it again later… even later in the same day if the pain has subsided.
Tip #4 – Some of us (yes, I mean me) have been known to try to endure the pain and muscle through it. I can tell you from experience this is not the right place for that.
By ignoring the pain you can create a situation where you don’t want to practice for days. Even worse you may incur an injury that could put you out of business for much longer.
On the other hand, avoiding pain is not the solution either. Your body is giving you feedback. Use it and keep at it. Slow and steady wins the race here.
Thank you for the great tips, Tomas. After posting the comments, I actually very carefully observed your left hand position and a few others and seem to have found a position, which may bring peace to this issue. And I’m doing the exact same things, breaking down sessions into small sessions, working on stuff piece by piece, making observations and trying to make adjustments, slowly as possible.
This is going to be a long journey, but I hope to make it worth every minute of it.
Thank you and we’ll keep in touch 🙂
Hi Tomas, I’m really loving these songs! Do you happen to have a download of the words with the cords that I can print out so that I can further my practice? I can’t seem to find it.
Knocking On Heaven’s Door
Stand By Me
Brown Eyed Girl (Van Morrison)
Thank you!
Hi Bobbie,
We’ve changed the links above in this lesson under Optional Practice, to now bring you to where you can download what you need. Also, you had mentioned Brown Eyed Girl and that wasn’t linked on this lesson, BUT we do have it as one of our other song lessons, here is that link where you can access the download as well! https://realguitarsuccess.com/courses/brown-eyed-girl/
I like this three chord progression. Even though I am. When changing fingers from D to C add 9 my mind takes a micro second to think the finger positioning. But, after play along with you its ok. I like it.new to C add 9
Hello Tomas,
While playing this song, my left thumb hurts. The problem is that I start with a straight thumb, and while I switch the chords, it moves towards the direction opposite to the headstock. After a while, it really starts to hurt. I tried keeping it towards the direction of the headstock, but then the strings are muting. Can you please advice as to what I can do play well and not hurt my thumb?
Thank you,
It’s inevitable that you will experience pain at some point. This is normal and it’s the body’s response to doing something new. The first place you’re likely to feel pain is in the fingertips of the left hands. Then come the left thumb and wrist. And when you think you finally got that behind you it often returns with a vengeance when learning barre chords.
For now, let’s talk about the pain in your left thumb and wrist. Many of these suggestions will apply to the process of dealing with pain in general.
Pain in the left-hand thumb and wrist is usually created by a combination of over tensing your muscles, using new muscles that are not accustomed to being used, and not having the optimal positioning of your hand. In most cases, the three things (tensing, muscle strength, and position) will come together over time little by little, and the pain will go away.
Here are a few tips that’ll help you along the way.
Tip #1 – When you feel pain it’s best to do short sessions (5 minutes) and try to make small adjustments. You can practice longer but try to only work on the part that creates pain for a few minutes at a time. This is important. The idea is not to damage yourself while slowly working out the issue.
Tip #2 – Start by watching closely to what the left-hand looks like in the lesson videos. You’ll find some views that make this easier. Look for them and try to loosely imitate the position.
Now pay attention to how it feels. Listen closely to the sound of the guitar as you do this. Make small adjustments. Continue doing this a little at a time. This is a process. Seeing another person’s hand position is not enough. It’s a starting place. Everyone’s hands and muscles are slightly different. You will find the right position for yourself over time while you learn to relax unnecessary tension and strengthen the muscles needed.
Tip #3 – Isolate the parts of an exercise or song that seem to create the pain. Work on those parts separately instead of continuously playing the entire piece. Slow down. Try to relax your hand.
When you feel pain stop. Check the position. Look at the video. Adjust your hand position. Do it again.
Are you tensing up? Relax or stop and shake out the hand (depending on the severity). Now start again.
5 minutes are up? Stop and work on something else. Come back at it again later… even later in the same day if the pain has subsided.
Tip #4 – Some of us (yes, I mean me) have been known to try to endure the pain and muscle through it. I can tell you from experience this is not the right place for that.
By ignoring the pain you can create a situation where you don’t want to practice for days. Even worse you may incur an injury that could put you out of business for much longer.
On the other hand, avoiding pain is not the solution either. Your body is giving you feedback. Use it and keep at it. Slow and steady wins the race here.
Thank you for the great tips, Tomas. After posting the comments, I actually very carefully observed your left hand position and a few others and seem to have found a position, which may bring peace to this issue. And I’m doing the exact same things, breaking down sessions into small sessions, working on stuff piece by piece, making observations and trying to make adjustments, slowly as possible.
This is going to be a long journey, but I hope to make it worth every minute of it.
Thank you and we’ll keep in touch 🙂
It’s an ongoing process. As time goes on you gain more confidence that when an issue comes up you’ll be able to deal with it.
Your 80% keeps me going and Im amazed how things that when you go back and practice things really show improvement. Thanks!
I’m glad to hear that Peter.
Practice is good 🙂 But don’t forget the 80% rule… I am going to come back at these same chords again.
Thus is going to take lots of practice. 😉