Arthritis and steel string guitars

mellowsun · June 2015

I've now got arthritis in both hands so I can't play my steel string Lowden S23 any more. So far, I'm still OK playing electrics, and also nylon string with a low action.

Anyone else dealt with this and how did you find giving up playing the steel string? I'm sad not to be able to play the Lowden any more, so it'll probably be on the classifieds here soon!

Sassafras · June 2015

Oddly, I find it easier to play a 12 string now that I've got arthritis and nerve damage in my hands. Admittedly, it's got a surprisingly low action and tuned down a semitone.

I also lowered the action on my 6 string and that makes it easier to play and with little sacrifice to the sound.

octatonic · June 2015

Have you tried changing your technique to avoid string bending?

Sorry to hear it mate- I know your pain.

rossyamaha · June 2015

I started getting it in my left hand a few years ago. I was only doing acoustic gigs at the time so wasn't the best situation to be in. I went for lighter strings and tuned down half a step. Made a big difference but I also downed a ton of ibuprofen before any gigs to get me through. It's become manageable now but still gives me jip especially when it's cold.

I would suggest going for lighter strings and tuning down but also trying a few different guitars to see if they feel more cofortable. Smaller necks and lower action will be your friend. Other than that hope you can keep playing. Artritis is a bitch and she can kiss my ass.

mellowsun · June 2015

octatonic said:

Have you tried changing your technique to avoid string bending?

Sorry to hear it mate- I know your pain.

Thanks, appreciate that. I tend not to bend strings on the acoustic. So far, I've been downtuning to D but kept with 12s. Perhaps I should try 11s or 10s.

At least I can still play the electric and nylon.

Sassafras · June 2015

Definitely try lighter gauge strings.

xSkarloey · June 2015

Is it so bad that you need to give up full stop?

If not it might be worth a gauge change and/ or using lower tension strings. Newtone strings do a lower tension range which are very good.

thomasross20 · June 2015

What age are you guys with arthritis?
Do you think maybe playing heavy steel strings has contributed?
Now that I think about it, my right hand gets worse after I've played my larrivee (but I might be talking bollocks)

rossyamaha · June 2015

thomasross20;684506" said:
What age are you guys with arthritis?
Do you think maybe playing heavy steel strings has contributed?
Now that I think about it, my right hand gets worse after I've played my larrivee (but I might be talking bollocks)

I'm 37 and it started when I was about 33 or 34. I was gigging twice a week playing two hour long acoustic sets. 13 gauge strings, playing lead etc. It runs in my family but I can't help but think playing has contributed to the onset.

thomasross20 · June 2015

See my thread in this section on steel vs nylon strung acoustics.

It was a joy to play the nylon strung guitars yesterday. VERY easy to play, sounded great - a joy. I can't help but think that'd be much better for me to play. The bummer is that my Larrivee sounds so damn good - I'm going to lower the string gauge but there's a lot of fight in most steel strung guitars and if I thought they were causing any serious problem I'd sell it and buy a nylon-strung guitar.

That's quite young - sorry to hear it!!

I also think bad technique can be a cause - at times my forearm goes taught when I try fast picking lines - I'm sure that's not helping either

mellowsun · June 2015

I'm 45 and the problems started about a year ago, and has slowly been getting worse. Annoyingly, it's also affecting my grip strength. I've had exercises from the physio which do relieve things temporarily but it quickly returns.

My Lowden is up for sale here if anyone is interested

http://thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/44779/ft-fs-lowden-s23-cedar-walnut

thomasross20 · June 2015

Man, gutted for you - that guitar looks amazing!

Any nylon string guitars you fancy?

What exercises are you doing to help?

mellowsun · June 2015

Massaging my forearms relieves some of the pain between the fingers, but not the pain in my wrists or thumb joint.

I already have a lovely Lowden nylon string. Having another nylon with a different voicing would be great, not sure which one yet.

thomasross20 · June 2015

What do you mean by different voicing?
Can you tell me the nylon string model you have?
Was your fave the steel string one?

digitalkettle · June 2015

Judging by his profile pic, it's the S32J.

It's not a 'classical guitar' although George Lowden has been known to make one once in a blue moon

http://www.lowdenguitars.com/guitar-spec-jazz

Sorry to hear about your problems Phil...you're a lovely acoustic player.

thomasross20 · June 2015

OK I restrung the Larrivee with 11s tonight.

Definitely easier to play and a tad less projection.

To be honest though... I ask myself how often I play acoustic and it's pretty rare. The Larrivee sounds sooooooo sweet when strummed hard. But it's damn loud and I live in a flat. I'm 99% an electric player. I'm thinking about possibly selling and just playing electrics....

BigLicks67 · June 2015

When I problems with RSI I went down to 10's on the acoustic, problem is with a short scale like your Lowden I can't imagine you'd be happy with the tone, but worth trying none the less. Richard Hawley has arthritis and he says he uses open tunings more and dropped D to make things easier. Nevertheless, a nice nylon string guitar is probably the way to go.

Sassafras · June 2015

Using a capo at the second fret helps take the strain off a wee bit.

Jez6345789 · June 2015

Hi

Plagued me since the age of 40

I think its worth noting that it started during a serious bout of SRV homage when I upped my Strat to a heavy 13/14 and spent ages trying to nail that muscular sort of style he had. It was a total mistake and I would warn people that the consultant who I saw at the time reckoned it was very much related to repetitive usage and wear and tear. She quoted a couple of studies done on people in the US cotton factories where they are all from a related gene pool and where the people who sat using the machines with their left hands in the facotry and those that sat on the opposite row used their right all exhibited arthritus to the particular work side they sat on.

I have had some success with steroid injections between the joints, I had 10 micro syringes in my finger joints which looked super weird and the guy would not let me photograph it.

In some ways the pain comes and goes as does the swelling but there is for some reason a considerable loss of muscle stregth as well making for playing over an hour really difficult and after that time no matter how much I practice I cant hold down harder chords.

Light strings, shorter scale, and a detune all help these days.

My next step down is open tunings and a good dose of Keef finally ending my playing life by bothering to learn slide. That my road map to the future. Ha Ha

mellowsun · June 2015

BigLicks67 said:

When I problems with RSI I went down to 10's on the acoustic, problem is with a short scale like your Lowden I can't imagine you'd be happy with the tone, but worth trying none the less. Richard Hawley has arthritis and he says he uses open tunings more and dropped D to make things easier. Nevertheless, a nice nylon string guitar is probably the way to go.

Thanks. I've got a couple of sets of Elixir 10s on order so let's see how these perform.

thomasross20 · June 2015

Oh man, tonight I was the total opposite regarding playing acoustic. LOVED it! New lighter strings sounded LUSH when played with a light plectrum. Maybe I'm just not a big fingerstyle player!

Gru · July 2015

I had reactive arthritis about 10 years ago and still some of my joints are not quite right. My hands/fingers are ok but I am very weary of pushing things too much.

On my 25.5 scale I use recommended 12s but tuned down 2 steps (D to d)
On my 3/4 (23" scale) it recommends 13s, but have just switched to 12s in standard tuning and actually prefer the slightly softer tension for my strumming and finger style. I have no idea what 10s would be like, but I would consider it if necessary.

Don't forget that a good setup is key for easier playing, maybe more so on an acoustic with higher tension.

mgaw · July 2015

Newtone strings low tension strings might be worth a look

BigLicks67 · July 2015

@mellowsun - This version of Altiplanos meant tempt you into the world of nylon strings.

.

seany65 · July 2015

Perhaps 'silk and steel' strings may help? They are of a lower tension than normal steel, or brass strings I believe. I'm awaiting delivery of a lefty hand electro-acoustic(as the index finger on my left hand is a bit delicate these days. Maybe the start of artheritis?), and I'm thinking of going to 'silk and steel' 11's or 11.5's as I've always liked the softer sound of nylon strings.

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Arthritis and steel string guitars

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