My second month's progress

[rjgoos]

I bought a used 10-string Stick (Classic tuning) two months ago. After one and two months of ownership, I plugged the output into a T-adapter, into a mono effects pedal, and the output of the pedal into my wife's iMac (obviously a humble recording set-up).

I simply wanted to document my progress, mistakes and all.

For those interested, I uploaded the one and two-month files at:

http://members.ifmcs.net/rjgoos/Public/Music/

Click on "Stick-Music".


RJ Goos

(P.S. I don't intend to keep doing this every month, don't worry.)

[okie623]

Hey RJ,

I think you have made quite good progress. You obviously have some natural talent for the instrument. Keep up the good work and by all means keep posting your progress. It will be very good for you to listen to yourself and it may assist other with ideas. I just don't have the time to do the kind of recording necessary for computers. I do make cassette tapes of my practice sessions, and some performances, because I have always found it helpful to listen to myself when I'm not trying to play and listen critcally at the same time.

Okie

[Jersey Ray]

RJ,

you're a natural! After 2 months, I played my first gig, but it didn't sound anything like this! I cranked up the distortion to hide my mistakes.

Congrats!

RA

[rjgoos]

Thanks, Ray for the kind words.

Progress over my third month has not been so rapid, though. I've developed some left wrist pain that limits how long I can play each day.

I've posted my woes on other forums, and have received a lot of good and generous advice, but I am still a bit of a loss to find a way of positioning and playing my Stick that doesn't eventually lead to wrist pain.

This is a major bummer, believe me. I really want to put in an hour per day of practice time, but just can't until I get this wrist problem figured out.

If I can't, by next spring or summer, figure out a playing postition/style to get over this, I may need to experiment with other (Carpentier?) tunings, or something like that, to change the ergonomics of play completely. It is odd that even if my left wrist is sore from stick playing, I can switch to playing a regular guitar with essentially no pain.

RJ Goos

[okie623]

RJ,

The wrist pain issue is one of the primary reasons that I switched to a non-5th's tu ning instrument - my Solene. Good luck to you! I didn't play anything for years due to left radial neuropathy. Its no fun at all!:(

Okie

[rockola]

RJ,

try videotaping yourself while you play. You might be able to spot what's wrong with your posture.

[murphy]

Originally posted by rjgoos

This is a major bummer, believe me. I really want to put in an hour per day of practice time, but just can't until I get this wrist problem figured out.

RJ Goos

I see the birth of a future Solene player
(whispered) "join us" :cool:

murph

[rjgoos]

murphy wrote:

>I see the birth of a future Solene player <


One has to admit that there is a minimalist "coolness" about the Solene....at least a curiousity. If it had a longer scale length (and 8 strings), it would be of greater interest to me. I do prefer a more mellow sound over the bright sound of a Solene. Still, I would love to see and try one.

Right now, here is my plan...I have received some comprehensive advice from some in the Stick community on hand positioning and arm positioning that I am trying. I'm going to give that a few months to work (it really does take a while to see if such things will work). If that doesn't work, I am thinking of going to an uncrossed tuning, either having my Stick re-worked or with a different instrument. It is so odd that my left wrist can be sore from Stick playing, but I can switch immediately to a regular guitar with no pain. An uncrossed tuning should allow for a straighter left wrist and a hand formation more like playing a regular guitar. Anyone else find that going to uncrossed play reduced a wrist problem...or the opposite???


RJ Goos

[Jersey Ray]

RJ,

playing position and tunings are hot button issues, too hot for me to touch! But I have some general advice I don't mind givin'. Try mixing up your tapping with other musical instruments that you play. Play the acoustic guitar for a half hour, then tap. If you play keyboards, mix that in with your routine. Some healthy stretching before and after can't hurt either. Hopefully I am not overstating the obvious.

Ray

[okie623]

Hey RJ,

My Solene EQs beautifully! Actually, the ability to have a glassy top end that can be EQ'd is an attractive side benefit of the Solene for me. My 10 string, all mahogany AD was not capable of that upper register sheen. I would have been happier with a swamp ash/maple 8 string, but... Oh, well...

My Solene covers all the registers I want (7 - string guitar territory) and EQs to give me the tones I want. I do enjoy the lack of physical complaints when I play my Solene. I suffered with left radial neuropathy, and other assorted mechanical ailments, for ages. My Solene hasn't caused me a bit of trouble in the several years I've been playing it. A standard guitar causes me a bit of trouble still, if I overdo.

Good luck with your problem, I feel (literally felt) your pain!

Okie


I do prefer a more mellow sound over the bright sound of a Solene. Still, I would love to see and try one.

RJ Goos [/B][/QUOTE]:

[Rayzcane]

Originally posted by rjgoos


Progress over my third month has not been so rapid, though. I've developed some left wrist pain that limits how long I can play each day.

I've posted my woes on other forums, and have received a lot of good and generous advice, but I am still a bit of a loss to find a way of positioning and playing my Stick that doesn't eventually lead to wrist pain.

This is a major bummer, believe me. I really want to put in an hour per day of practice time, but just can't until I get this wrist problem figured out.

RJ Goos

Hi Jay,

Last night I started reading ALL of the past posts in the Playing Forum. I was wondering if you ever figured out the "wrist pain" thing? Due to many years of living on the edge and multiple accidents over the years, I also have wrist, shoulder, and back pain to contend with, while playing.

My own "solution" is to play lapstyle. Progress is slow but steady. This is a thread that probably should be revived since many others here must have the same problem(s). Since this thread is about 2 years old, and you are still playing..... do you have any words of wisdom to impart to us on this serious subject?

Ray Langley

[rjgoos]

Ray,

Wrist pain is not uncommon with players of tapping instruments. I cannot play the Stick for long periods, but the situation is better than it was. Most importantly, when things start to hurt, I quit for a while and do something else.

I didn't find a single answer to the problem. Bob Culbertson (who has logged more hours on a Stick than any person alive), told me that the solution is not finding the one ideal position, but varying one's positioning. I have sat with him at street fairs, when he'll play for 4+ hours per day. He'll play seated, he'll play standing, he'll play with thumbs on top, and he takes breaks.


Jay

[Rayzcane]

Thanks Jay.... it is an important subject. I was hoping that you (or someone else) had found the Magic Bullet.

I imagine the day will come when we will have "Player Megatars", like Player Pianos. :) Then, we could just sit back and watch the dang thing play itself. Actually, the idea may not be so far-fetched.

A laptop computer, a CNC program, and 250+ solenoid operated felt hammers should do the trick.

Even lapstyle playing can cause some discomfort after a while. I have found that switching off instruments can help some in this area. My eventual goal is to play several instruments at once. So, I practice a little keyboard, drums, etc. in between touchstyle practice.

Ray