Is this a sign of Repetitive Strain Injury? (RSI)

[triptych32]

Hi guys, I can't seem to coordinate my fingers properly after trying to stretch my pinky using the index,middle and pinky with these shapes: 1-3-5 and 1-2-4.

I realised that my ring finger sticks to my middle finger instead of moving along naturally with the motion of the hand as I use my pinky to fret the 5th fret. Instead it's rubbing side to side with the middle finger. I realised this caused my legato and fretting 3 note per string to suffer, as i just somehow can't fret the notes properly anymore.

On top of that I also feel pain around the mid joint region of my middle and ring finger when i straighten them after playing. After resting for 2 weeks, it still feels alittle painful though.

My questions are, does this all mean I suffering from some form of RSI? Does your ring finger 'sub-consciously' have to move along whenever you fret shapes involving your index,middle and pinky? Sorry for the long post!

[UKRuss]

Finger independence is something that needs to be practiced.

RSI is something that needs diagnosis by your GP.

If you're worried seek his/her advice.

[eastwood]

I struggle with 1 2 4 when decending esp from the high E......I think the trick is to relax your left hand as much as possible and not make so much of an issue of it when it goes wrong - you will tense up even more

I also think all of us who put the hours in practising suffer with some degree of R.S.I - but if its worrying you go and see the quack.

[newamerikangosp]

No offense man, but I've doing some crazy stretches involving pinky/ring/middle fingers, so I don't understand how you would be "injured" unless you were doing these at insane speeds without 1) working up to these speeds, or 2) not warming up. More than likely when you work your fingers ways they're not used to going, you are going to stretch your tendons and muscles. More then likely the "pain" is your tendons, and is just a sign that you are using these more then you have before, or in ways you haven't before. BUT anytime you stretch tendons you are at risk of tendonitis, which is where small tears occur in the tendon, and because of the material that the tendons are made out of, these small rips and tears take along time to heal.


If it is bothering you that bad, go to a doctor. I would (because I am insane, and don't not want to continue playing guitar/any instrument) recommend that you go to a doctor just in case

[triptych32]

I believe I'm just as crazy as you do man. Will share with you guys what the doc said when I go for my appointment next week.

[newamerikangosp]

I believe I'm just as crazy as you do man. Will share with you guys what the doc said when I go for my appointment next week.


Hahaha


Well, this is the perfect place for my new practice

I have devised some symetrical finger practices that encompass any scale I have ever ran across

Run these such as the first example. up on one (index finger) down on two, up on three ect.



1st position Phyrgian

E-------------------------------1-2-4-5-3-2------------------------------

B-------------------------1-2-4-------------5-3-2------------------------

G-------------------1-2-4-------------------------5-3-2------------------

D-------------1-2-4-------------------------------------5-3-2------------

A-------1-2-4-------------------------------------------------5-3-2------

E-1-2-4-------------------------------------------------------------5-3-2



1st position Aeolian

E----------------------------1-3-4---

B-----------------------1-3-4--------

D------------------1-3-4-------------

G-------------1-3-4------------------

A-------1-3-4------------------------

E-1-3-4------------------------------



1st postion Phrygian Dominant

E-------------------------------1-2-5

B-------------------------1-2-5------

G-------------------1-2-5------------

D-------------1-2-5------------------

A-------1-2-5------------------------

E-1-2-5------------------------------


1st position ? (2nd position Phrygian dominant, 5th position harmonic minor)

E-------------------------------1-4-5

B-------------------------1-4-5------

G-------------------1-4-5------------

D-------------1-4-5------------------

A-------1-4-5------------------------

E-1-4-5------------------------------



1st position Major pentatonic

E-------------------------------1-3-5

B-------------------------1-3-5------

G-------------------1-3-5------------

D-------------1-3-5------------------

A-------1-3-5------------------------

E-1-3-5------------------------------


1st position major pentatonic

E-------------------------------1-3-6

B-------------------------1-3-6------

G-------------------1-3-6------------

D-------------1-3-6------------------

A-------1-3-6------------------------

E-1-3-6------------------------------