I'm sure this has been answered elsewhere on UTGF, but...

[esmitty]

I'm in the market for something other than what I am currently playing.  Don't get me wrong, my guitar is very nice, but as of late I have had some comfort issues, and yes I'm sure that it isn't a posture issue.

What I'm experiencing is pain in my chording hand.  I play (finger, flat pick, and strum) at church, and many of the chords that I play are open style barre chords much like guys like Paul Baloche plays, not to mention about everything else.  The pain is in the hand first and some second knuckles of my pinkie, ring, and middle fingers.  Like I said, I play these chords a lot, but this last Sunday was the first time that I noticed it while play just regular chords.

That all being said, I don't have this pain while playing my Les Paul with the 60's neck or my Telecaster with the soft V neck.  Now, I'm no expert, but my dumbed down reasoning tells me that the Tele is easier because I put 9's on it and the fatter neck helps because it is easier to press down on the strings with the leverage that happens because of the bigger girth.  Again not an expert, but I have come to conclude that the Les Paul is easier on the hands because of it's lower action, the Tele and Alvarez are just a smidgeon higher, and the shorter scale length.  I'm no expert though.

I guess what I'm wondering is this, and right now I'm very confused, what are my best options?  I thought I had this figured out and after over thinking it, I still don't know what to do.  Of course I know that playing them all is my best bet, but I'm hoping that someone else has some experience in this and can help out.

What I was thinking is that a 414ce or even a 514ce would be the answer but realize that a shorter scale like one of the 12's might be helpful, but then started over thinking it on nut width and heck there is the whole neck profile thing to add to the confusion.

Anyhow, any thoughts would be helpful.

[Soaz]

If you're into Taylors, you might try and play a Grand Concert model, 312, 412, 512,...depending on wood preference.

It is a short scale guitar, smaller body sized.

I have 11's on my 412, Custom Lights. I'm not much of a player but it's definitely the easiest guitar I own to do bar chords.

Might also try and play a twelve fret guitar, I have one, not a Taylor and I like it a lot. The geometry is different, I like it.

I always wonder what a nice 512, twelve fret would be like with a Spruce top,...not Cedar. It might be Nirvana for me.

Rick

[esmitty]

I want a 12th fret guitar, but that is a whole different story.   

[Edward]

Aging here (not to say you are) and I've experienced hand/wrist issues from time to time, typically from extended playing.  Take that seriously ...don't try to "tough it out" as you could turn a minor problem into a major one.  At the risk of stating the obvious, pain is talking to you, so listen up or you risk even more later.

So that said, ice and ibuprofin may help with internal swelling/muscle issues (this from my Dr, not just personal advice ).  But then address the real issue which is likely your hand stress.  It may be time to go to lights on the Taylor, and definitely have your tech setup the guitar to play as low as you can get away with ...which also will necessitate you changing your style/attack since lower action will more easily incur buzzing, but that low action can still be had successfully with a lighter touch.  Maybe pay attention to how you play your electrics, and try to emulate that hand position with your acoustic. As well as perhaps raising the guitar on the strap to straighten your wrist angle as much as is practical.  And with bar chords, perhaps resting more on your palm (and less on your thumb) when fretting the chord can offer you some relief: the goal is trying to minimize your hand's "clamping" pressure while still being able to fret cleanly.  And here's a dumb one, but seems to help too: relax!  Breathe and be conscious of keeping your whole body as relaxed as possible ...that may sound a bit ridiculous, but when we wince in pain from one part, sometimes the whole body responds with tension.  One of the band guys (a serious musician who I respect much) told me I was clenching my jaw ...didn't even notice it!  When I became more conscious of my overall posture and relaxed as I played, I found myself playing easier, longer, with greater comfort

FWIW, I've had to do a few things for a while, then after regaining strength/normalcy, I brought the string gauge back up to normal on the acoustics and electrics.  So far so good, but I am mindful of wrist position and I "listen" to any hand pain, and do occasionally use a cold pack afterward if I feel it merits, though thankfully it's rare lately.  Sorry if I'm rambling with stuff, but hope something of what I've been through may be of help

Edward

[esmitty]

Thanks Edward.  I should say that I currently don't own a Taylor, but know that they have very comfortable necks and was hoping that maybe someone had some advice in that direction as well.  One thing that I noticed while playing the last time was that my palm doesn't even touch the neck.  Man I wish I would have made a totally different decision on what guitar to buy when I was a much younger man.

[Edward]

Well if an LP with a 60s neck feels good, then you should have no problem with any Taylor neck should you decide to go that way  

Seriously, though, one of Taylor's hallmarks is their playability: the low action, yes, but the overall feel of a Taylor neck is a good part of their allure.  And ask a bunch of guys who play lots of electric and many will tell you (including myself) that Taylor necks' action and carve make it a very easy transition to/from electric ...and my modest experience over the years definitely bears this out.

That said, some feel an even chunkier neck helps with hand issues.  So a Martin (the more traditional, not their performance series which sport more Tayloresque neck carves) "fills" the fretting hand more, allowing more palm/less thumb to do the work; likewise an LP with 50s neck is a Martin's electric analogue.  I know you have an Alvarez, but maybe you're looking for another?  Food for thought, anywho.  BTW, report back to us what you find has helped you ...I know I'd be interested. 

Edward

[M19]

Try playing a Taylor 12-fret GC:

[MB]

 Ibuprofen is your friend. These days I always take 800-1000 mg before the gig starts. As Edward said....when the pain speaks....listen...and fight back!
This regimen seems to work well for me. I go thru the same thing with my fretting hand. On the gigs I stick to my easiest playing Taylor which is a 2012 814ce. It's still strung with Elixir lights but plays like a dream. Had it set up.

I agree with having a pro set up your guitar to play as easy as it can. This is really an under-rated move. It makes a huge difference when the guitar is set up for YOUR needs and playing style.

A 12 fret might help too. They are a bit tighter length-wise so if you use a capo you might want a cut away so you have a bit of room up the neck.
12 frets are a tad easier to play barr chords on but they also make me feel a bit cramped for space at times.

Keep after it and good luck with the hand!

[esmitty]

Try playing a Taylor 12-fret GC:

Is that a 522ce 12 fret?

[Earl]

Long ago dealing with sports injuries, an orthopedic surgeon told me that if joint pain (not muscle fatigue) continues more than 5-10 minutes after stopping an activity, evaluate how to change it.  You are damaging the joint and it will only get worse over time.  Stretching is also very, very good to help avoid repetitive motion injuries.

Comfort and neck size / shape are critical too.  For example, I played Martin guitars for many years.  Suddenly around age 47 or so, my left hand really began bothering me - it felt like I was getting arthritis in my knuckles and palm.  I switched to Taylors for the neck shape and for the 1-3/4" neck width.  I can play a Taylor guitar for 2-3 hours comfortably.  But playing almost any standard Martin hurts my left hand after about 20 minutes maximum.  It seems like 1/16" should not make that much difference, but it does, especially combined with the neck shape.

Looking at the picture, I see one obvious thing that is very common - the guitar is sitting on the right leg.  I usually suggest making a barre chord at about the seventh fret, holding it long enough to feel the stress in your body, then moving the guitar onto the left leg.  You will immediately feel the release of tension in your hand, wrist and shoulder.  In other words, the classical position has some benefits which is why they do it that way.  A variation of that theme is to use a strap and let the guitar hang naturally at the center of your body.

[esmitty]

Looking at the picture, I see one obvious thing that is very common - the guitar is sitting on the right leg.  I usually suggest making a barre chord at about the seventh fret, holding it long enough to feel the stress in your body, then moving the guitar onto the left leg.  You will immediately feel the release of tension in your hand, wrist and shoulder.  In other words, the classical position has some benefits which is why they do it that way.  A variation of that theme is to use a strap and let the guitar hang naturally at the center of your body.

That pic is not of me, it is one that M19 posted.

[Ironhead1977]

If your Les Paul works for you, go get a Peavey Vypyr amp and set it for acoustic mode ,your LP will sound just like an acoustic. I do this with my ES 339 all the time.
http://peavey.com/products/index.cfm/item/1192/118346/Vypyr%26reg%3BVIP2

[GreysSonicPlayground]

Ibuprofen or any other pill will only hurt your liver function. Get Topricin for localized pain and inflammation. And, go try a x12 GC sized Taylor or two(or three)
Good luck!!

[esmitty]

It looks like I'm going to have to venture over to Sweetwater to give some 12 frets a try.  Poor me. 

They don't seem to have any 12th frets that are CE though.  Not sure I'm going to miss that though since I only play one song above the the 12th fret.

[Strumming Fool]

My advice would be to start with Taylor's x14s (grand auditoriums), since they sit in the middle of the road of Taylor's line: not too big, not too small, set up for light gauge strings. I strum/pick and also play in church. It seems that X14s are widely used in church ensembles and solos, so it's probably a good place to start. I find the neck to be very comfortable, but if it still doesn't feel quite right,  you can certainly move down a step in size to the x12s (grand concerts).