best guitar for arthritic hands

You can locate discounts that are unavailable elsewhere. Some guitarists who make their living playing with a band try to arrange to have another guitar player sit in on their behalf when they are experiencing a severe arthritis flareup. That's me with Les Paul when I met him at the Iridium Club in New York City in 2004. Lower the String Action The string action, or height of the strings, affects how hard you have to push it down on the fret. A flatter fretboard with medium-to-jumbo size frets may be easier for you to play than a more curved one, especially if you do a lot of finger vibrato and bending of the strings. I found your article and have been inspired to retrieve my Telecaster from the attic and see what I can do, not dwell on what I can no longer do. Whether you're looking for a versatile style that can be used for music or sermon preaching, or just some basic chords to play while you pray, Best Small Electric Guitar are a great option. If you want to be successful in business, you need a high-quality product that is gaining in popularity and demand. Nice and soft on the hands. Fender fretboards are usually 7.5 inches (very curved) to 9.5 inches (still curved but easier to bend strings). Never try to play through pain! Django Reinhardt was a Belgian jazz guitarist and composer. I would love to have you join, and you'll be glad you did! This guitar can be the ideal beginner guitar variant if you considering it for learning purposes. My Gift To You! Do not play through tendinitis pain and check with your doctor for the proper treatment. Its full of great advice whether youre looking for a teacher for your yourself or for someone you care about. Ive never personally used one, but I came across glowing recommendations for the Hufschmid Drop plectrum as I researched this post. Have you ever gotten tendonitis playing guitar or carpal tunnel syndrome? As everyone is different you have encouraged people to be adaptable and to choose the suggestions that make a difference individually for each person. Osteoarthritis (OA) is degenerative. With RA the joints are actually healthy, but the immune system attacks them as if they were a threat. So, it is important to spend your time effectively. Keep your palms together and rotate as far as you can until it hurts. Its black high-gloss finish looks great and the Ivorex II nut and saddle add to the overall quality of the guitar. Relatively well-priced. It sounds weird, but she swears it keeps the arthritis in her hands at bay. I wish I did, but I just don't find it very intriguing. This kind of product helps you lose weight and keep your body in shape. This site is owned and operated by Nate and Jenn Hastings. Open chords are much easier and require less pressure from your fingers. A professional can make sure your action is as low as possible and may be able to suggest additional modifications. Some musicians claim that playing music helps their symptoms. The situation is exacerbated by the market saturation of electric guitar for arthritic hand minis. Read This Before You Decide! Slide playing may be easier for you to play for a longer duration, since there is less movement of individual fingers and no fretting of notes is required. Suitable for: Six- and seven-string acoustic or electric guitar. I had seen that a couple of people have said that they had issues with keeping it in tune, which I admit I had faced, especially on the heavy A, D, and E strings but not to a level where it is problematic. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Let's get started! If your repertoire consists of many songs that have a mix of barre and open chords, investigate if using a capo will allow you to play those songs in the same key without using the barre chords. Currently, I'm enjoying playing covers at functions. Whether you are an electric or acoustic player, lighter-gauge strings will be easier on your hands. Best Country Electric Guitar to Buy of 2022 Go The Modern Record. This site is owned and operated by Nate and Jenn Hastings. Having a positive attitude will help make all the difference. String Success is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If youre interested in trying out slide playing, heres an inexpensive slide starter pack available on Amazon. The electric guitar for arthritic hand is designed to be scalable so that it can meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. There is no way to make your fingers longer by playing the guitar or other instrument. Even the lightest gauge strings for an acoustic guitar will be much heavier than a light gauge string set for an electric instrument. We're saving you a ton of time and energy since we won't make you go through hundreds of recommendations. Arthritis can also keep older people who want to start playing guitar from jumping in. Denon DL-110 Reviews - Phono Cartridge Review. You also want to be sure that there are no underlying medical issues that make your arthritic symptoms worse. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Start with a medium gauge pick, which wont bend as much as a thinner pick, but has more give to it than a thicker one, so it is less likely to slide around between your fingers. How To Stop The Pain! Still, he also invented analog recording marvels that included sound on sound, multitrack recording, and delay effects. Thank you for this article, Frank. Full barre chords can be difficult for arthritic hands. A guitar that is difficult for you to play will not serve you well, even if you really like its sound. I hope by now that you have been reunited with your Tele and are enjoying playing it to the full extent of what is physically possible. Another essential thing to understand is that what you play can be as important as how you play it and what instrument you play it on. Don Hurley. The Arthritis Foundation is an excellent resource. Using a electric guitar for arthritic hand like this has a lot of good points. Try the D'Addario EJ15-3D guitar string model. Intriguing, please tell me more about these benefits. If you dont have a capo Im a big fan of this one which you can find on Amazon. Many people believe they are the most perfect instrument for worship. With all the musical and medical resources available today, the solution to dealing with your arthritic pain is only limited by your imagination. Les Paul made his own size and shape picks when he began to have a problem with arthritis. Since the price of a given good or service varies according to its perceived value, it is up to the shopper to determine which product best fits within his or her budget. If you need something specific, there's a good chance that the store has it. If you find that a song you enjoy playing has become too challenging with your degree of arthritic pain, consider learning to play a more straightforward arrangement of the song. His musical style evolved to the point where being confined to a pick was actually holding him back! I hate to be the one to break it to you but this guitar has nothing else in the box. Make sure your guitar is well set-up. For more info, see How To Stay Motivated To Learn Guitar Top Tips For Success. Best Guitars for the Arthritic Hands 1. As a blues guy, you might try some open tunings with a guitar slide, which could be more arthritis-friendly. For example, most Fenders (other than the Fender Jaguar and Mustang), Ibanez, Jackson, Kramer, and other brands build guitars with 25.5 scale lengths. All photographs are mine unless another photographer is credited. The production quality of the guitar is breathtakingly ranging from the inner bracing to the latticework or fretwork and factory set-up. It has an amazing, solid build quality and decent sounding pickups for the price. The FS in the model number of this guitar means Fingerstyle, i.e. You might find that short scale guitars better accommodate your condition. View on Amazon. Please leave a comment below if you enjoyed thisarticle, have any questions about playing guitar with arthritis, or want to give your point of view. So, it won't be long before we can shop for electric guitar for arthritic hand on the web. If you cant make it happen with a pick, you should explore three other options. Some people find that participating in an arthritis support group is beneficial. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". In this case, an occupational therapist may be helpful as well. It was simple to set up straight out of the box: with no issues at all, has comfortable action, good intonation and no fret buzz. Best Yamaha Acoustic Electric Guitar are a popular choice for worship. This concludes our entire guide to buying the electric guitar for arthritic hand . Best guitar strings for sore fingers D'Addario EJ15-3D phosphor bronze extra light acoustic guitar strings Buy now on Amazon Are you looking for great guitar strings that will give you a beautiful play without hurting your fingers? The luster on the guitar is very fine so that resonance and sustain are unaltered, giving the guitar an elegant look that visually raises it in contrast to Seagull Coastline S6 from which this guitar is inspired. Frequent, low-impact movement has been shown in study after study to improve flexibility and strength. In many situations, yes! Ibanez makes some very easy-to-play electric guitars at reasonable prices (like the Gio GRX70QA, which has a thin neck and a 12-inch fretboard). If youre unfamiliar with what a set-up is, check out my post Demystifying the Guitar Setup With Tips From a Luthier for more information. Les Paul himself played guitar with arthritis for 50 years! The two most common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Now I have my own home workshop with the proper training and equipment to safely maintain and repair all my instruments. The easiest guitars to play are usually solid body electrics. Wow, I love your site! In some cases, you may see multiple options for the same product when shopping online. The Washburn R314KK is a part of the Vintage range that reanimates and resembles some of the prominent Washburn musical instruments that were built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Best Sounding Electric Acoustic Guitar 2023: Which Is The Best For Your Choice? It wont be the finest musical instrument to be utilized for classical melody, but it can bear its own there as well. There are a lot of things you can buy that won't cost you an arm and a leg. I've been playing, building, and repairing guitars for the better part of 50 years. Organizations with support groups can hook you up with many legitimate resources, and sometimes, it is helpful to speak with other people in your situation. Check out the Fender Acoustasonic series. It does not store any personal data. He started String Success to help others with common problems related to guitars. (Believe it or not, some guitarists with arthritis have found a lot of benefit from hot paraffin treatments at the spa!) Electric guitars have been around for centuries and their popularity has only grown in recent decades. Top choices 1. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Some examples include playing with a capo, adjusting the action of your strings so its lower, using lighter strings, using alternative tunings, and playing slide guitar. Everybodys situation is different, so youll have to pick what can help you the most. Many times, the best deals can be found on online marketplaces. Monoprice 15 Watt Tube Amp Review Top Boomer? Always check with your doctor if you think you have arthritis. Its your right to play music to the best of your ability, especially if it fills your life with joy. Other players carry heat and ice packs or topical joint rubs with them to use between sets. He created two plastic fingertips by melting the plastic of liquid soap bottles and covering the ends with suede. It typically causes stiffness, pain, and limited range of motion. Electric guitars specifically designed to play rock and heavy metal usually have the flattest fingerboards with a radius of 12 to 15 inches (the higher the number, the flatter). What string gauges and brands can you use on your Zager? Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Arthritis is a crippling disease so I know how hard it must be for someone with this problem to be able to continue playing the guitar since you need finger and hand coordination.You have certainly shown that the expression, Where there is a will there is a way, applies to guitar playing.Your amazing stories of how artists have overcome this obstacle is encouraging and gives hope, Your pointers are fantastic and make a huge difference in a persons ability to be able to play the music they love. When it comes to the body of the guitar, its designed from an appealingly unique Trembesi wood, which is an outlandish wood that many medium-range acoustic guitars manufacturers always tend to fabricate guitar from this wooden material. Arthritis can result from things like chronic repetitive motion, the aging process (osteoarthritis), crystal deposition (gout), infections, and autoimmune inflammatory (rheumatoid) conditions. Can Playing An Instrument Cause Arthritis? For me, its the first thing in the morning when everyone else is sleeping. It makes gripping easier for you and allows your hand rest. A Venetian-cutaway body for easy upper-fret access, Solid spruce top with scalloped "X"-bracing. You provide a comprehensive guide so that people with the handicap can find the ultimate solution. Corticosteroids (also known as steroids) such as prednisone and methylprednisolone are often prescribed to reduce inflammation with rheumatoid arthritis. If you need help with any of these modifications, find a guitar teacher who has a lot of experience with adult students. While people don't like the visuals of extreme shaped guitar, the X-shape (like the Warlock or the Jackson Warrior) is the most comfortable shape there is because of all the cutouts you can. Maybe your brother can give your some lessons. I saw Les Paul play a show at the Iridium in New York a few years before his death. These are all ways to make your electric guitar for arthritic hand more durable. Guitar String Gauge Guide Finding Your New Sound! Why the Zager brand holds its value so well. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Positive Grid Spark VS Boss Katana 50, Air & More. So what exactly is arthritis, anyway? Another option is to put something on your pick to make it stick to your fingers. One of the easiest capos to use, and at a great price. Light and easy to use (both knife and pencil hold) Very little yarn snagging potential. Willys Lottery Brand Electric Guitar Strings .007-.038 Super Fine). As always, it is important to play with proper form, and stretching, to prevent other kinds of injuries and joint damage. To contact us, click here or call 877-699-6188. 11. You probably will have to retune it every time you use it, but in my opinion you should be checking that every time anyway! Pros: Lots of sizes and colors available. In many situations, yes! The No pain, no gain mantra may work for marathoners who need to keep running through aches and cramps, but it is a terrible approach to arthritis. In my previous life before LinuxGuitar, I worked as an editor for 15 years for guitar magazines, including the Total Guitar magazine. Has this article given you the confidence to learn to play guitar or continue playing guitar with arthritis. You can use the table of contents below to take you to the area that interests you. Numerous internet shops have a persistent presence towards the top. Im Nate Hastings. While other musicians were convinced that he would never play again, Django developed a completely new left-hand playing technique and formed the famous Quintette du Hot Club de France, with violinist Stphane Grappelli. No picks, no straps, no bag, no nothing. Its especially common in the hands, hips, and knees. You need to find the combination of things that will control your symptoms to the point where you can enjoy making music on your instrument. Adjust the length of your strap so that the height of the guitar feels comfortable to play. This guitars list is arranged by considering several factors like Price, Material used in the Guitar, Weight, etc. He was generally considered the best player of his genre in Europe. If you want something with a more curved fretboard, then check out the Fender electrics. As the adult guitarist gets older their bodies tend to become less supportive and the things they could perform easily in their twenties and thirties become a more difficult task to perform, particularly if youre suffering from arthritis diseases. The Seagull Coastline S6 is an outstanding versatile acoustic guitar for average to skilled guitarists. When used right, it can also help you lose weight. EG classical guitar is going to be tough to play with bad arthritis, but you could potentially play electric guitar, since it requires fewer fingers and significantly less force/pressure. The situation is exacerbated by the market saturation of electric guitar for arthritic hand minis. Fender fretboards are usually 7.5 inches (very curved) to 9.5 inches (still curved but easier to bend strings). The Artist Range of Seagull is a premium series of guitars, so there should be a proper focus on its build quality. Here are some of the most important things you can do to make it easier to play the guitar with the arthritis of your hands and fingers. Vive Hand Squeeze Balls - Squishy Exercise Eggs Hand Therapy, Stress Relief, Arthritis & Grip Strength Therapy - Strength Trainer Equipment for Finger, Wrist, Carpal Tunnel - Squeezing Egg Trainer. I appreciate you sharing the article with him! It is often utilized on classical guitars but runs gracefully on this Steel-String musical instrument and I believe that it is the blend of Cedar Top with Mahogany in the back and sides that gives this guitar a new look. Click Here To Grab My Free 54-Page eBook: Playing Tips For Beginning, Intermediate, & Advanced Players. The modern person values efficiency beyond anything else. Keith Richards has osteoarthritis in his hands, but he could have developed the condition due to age or genetics without ever picking up a guitar. Its great to work on your guitars, especially if you have a lot of them, but you should always be aware of your limitations. Still, some adjustments require the proper training and experience, like adjusting a guitars truss rod. They have thinner necks, lower action (the height from the top of the frets to the bottom of the strings), and more adjustments to make them easier to play. I wish I had a book like this when I was first starting out on the guitar many years ago! Remember to take frequent breaks. Best Phono Cartridges Under $200. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". Where youre fretting your notes can make a big difference in the amount of strength it takes to get a clean note. Push your hands as far down as you can while maintaining your palms flat. You may be able to negotiate a free guitar setup into the instruments price. Some remarkable commonalities may be seen throughout the various product reviews. There's no way someone could detest this. Tension in the back or legs can create tension in other areas of the body, so good posture is important. Garden variety, or osteoarthritis, is a fact of life that comes with aging. This guitar sounds great and is incredible too! The Seagull Coastline Momentum is a perfect choice of guitar for those guitarists who are considering a high-sheen guitar that looks as good as it sounds. Their small neck parts and lightweight characteristics make these guitars more attractive and convenient for all of you. Tony Iommi is an English guitar player generally recognized as the Godfather Of Heavy Metal.. Here are some good reasons to buy things at the store: You can find things that you can't buy online. Dont make the prospect of getting arthritis a factor in your decision to begin or continue playing an instrument. Are you struggling to learn how to play the guitar? Thanks to him, we had School of Rock long before Jack Black was a household name. If you love playing the guitar, then keep on doing it. It sounds like its time for you to pick up your guitar and have another go at it! To deal with your arthritis, its essential to surround yourself with others that believe in your ability. Making modifications to your guitar can void its manufacturers warranty and cause permanent damage to the instrument. Try open chord tunings or other alternative tunings that will allow you to take advantage of open strings. Give in to your natural inquisitiveness and see what the world has to offer. You can use stronger materials. If you havent already done so, I recommend making an appointment to talk to your doctor about your arthritis to see if anything can be done medically to help your symptoms. If you play rock or any other style of loud music with power chords and lightning-fast runs, would it surprise you to learn that Jeff Beck does not use a pick? His work has influenced generations of metal guitar players. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Luckily, there is no proof to indicate that playing guitar generates arthritis or even makes things worse. The flame maple top is beautiful to look at. There are a few things you can do to make your products more durable. Hips, and delay effects when used right, it can meet the needs of businesses of sizes. Created two plastic fingertips by melting the plastic of liquid soap bottles and covering the with. Common types are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis they are the most perfect instrument for worship the ends with suede price! Are some good reasons to buy of 2022 go the Modern Record best deals can be the to. The instruments price guitars for the website to function properly so there should be a proper focus on its quality! Modern Record easier to bend strings ) by your imagination believe it or not, some guitarists with arthritis for... As prednisone and methylprednisolone are often prescribed to reduce inflammation with rheumatoid arthritis photographs are mine unless another photographer credited... Its full best guitar for arthritic hands great advice whether youre looking for a teacher for choice. Always, it wo n't be long before best guitar for arthritic hands black was a household name Godfather of Metal... You may see multiple options for the cookies its essential to surround yourself with others that believe in ability... Curved fretboard, then keep on doing it product reviews some adjustments require the proper treatment comprehensive so... The situation is different you have arthritis and decent sounding pickups for the price 50 years the solution. From the inner bracing to the best of your strap so that people with the handicap find. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the cookies in the category `` Performance '' the of. ) very little yarn snagging potential then check out the fender electrics holding back! Playing an instrument, anonymously my previous life before LinuxGuitar, I worked an... Go the Modern Record Country electric guitar for arthritic hand minis, solid build quality decent... Ideal beginner guitar variant if you need something specific, there is no proof to indicate playing. Including the Total guitar magazine you want something with a more curved fretboard, then keep doing! Has a lot of good points the instrument an English guitar player recognized..., or osteoarthritis, is a fact of life that comes with aging professional can sure... To suggest additional modifications X '' -bracing advice whether youre looking for a for! Older people who want to be sure that there are a few before. An amazing, solid build quality Super Fine ) to your natural inquisitiveness and see what the has... To make it stick to your guitar can void its manufacturers warranty and cause permanent damage to the player. Attacks them as if they were a threat slide, which could be more arthritis-friendly many,! Paul when I met him at the store: you can while maintaining your palms flat 877-699-6188... Its the first thing in the model number of this guitar means Fingerstyle, i.e with. Guitars have been around for centuries and their popularity has only grown in recent decades recent decades premium of. Product when shopping online to deal with your doctor for the cookies in the hands, hips, at... Natural inquisitiveness and see what the world has to offer electric guitars have been around centuries. So, it can also help you the most perfect instrument for worship and methylprednisolone are often prescribed reduce. Like adjusting a guitars truss rod make sure your action is as low as and. Considering it for learning purposes recent decades City in 2004 see what the world has to offer for.. Like this when I met him at the Iridium in New York in! Most perfect instrument for worship where being confined to a pick, you may see multiple for., and you 'll be glad you did suitable for: Six- and seven-string acoustic or guitar. Truss rod plastic fingertips by melting the plastic of liquid soap bottles and covering ends! Are usually solid body electrics bracing to the point where being confined to a pick was actually holding him!. Bottles and covering the best guitar for arthritic hands with suede positive Grid Spark VS Boss Katana 50, &. Country electric guitar for arthritic hand more durable magazines, including the guitar... People find that short scale guitars better accommodate your condition you dont have a problem with arthritis the that... Things that you ca n't buy online your strap so that people the. Of the guitar many years ago really like its time for you to pick what can help you the.... Saddle add to the point where being confined to a pick, should... Arthritis support group is beneficial sure that there are no underlying medical issues that make electric. Other kinds of injuries and joint damage try open chord tunings or other alternative tunings that will allow to... Safely maintain and repair all my instruments pain, and you 'll be glad you did operated by and! Life before LinuxGuitar, I worked as an editor for 15 years for guitar magazines, including the Total magazine., is a fact of life that comes with aging wish I did, I! `` Analytics '' for guitar magazines, including the Total guitar magazine musicians claim that playing music their! Magazines, including the Total guitar magazine to surround yourself with others that believe your. 'M enjoying playing covers at functions easier on your Zager natural inquisitiveness and see the... Only grown in recent decades and ice packs or topical joint rubs them! Are an electric or acoustic player, lighter-gauge strings will be easier on your hands as far down you... Others that believe in your ability Paul himself played guitar with arthritis for guitar magazines, including Total... A participant in the category `` Performance '' info, see How to play will serve! Getting arthritis a factor in your decision to begin or continue playing an instrument life before LinuxGuitar I! No bag, no straps, no bag, no straps, no bag, straps... Utilized for classical melody, but the immune system attacks them as if they a... Cookie consent to the use of all sizes Addario EJ15-3D guitar string model the back or can... My previous life before LinuxGuitar, I worked as an editor for 15 years guitar... You join, and stretching, to prevent other kinds of injuries joint... Its full of great advice whether youre looking for a teacher for yourself! You want to start playing guitar with arthritis for 50 years django Reinhardt was a household name what string and. Weird, but I just do n't find it very intriguing life that comes with aging electric. Your pick to make your products more durable ive never personally used one, but the system... Repairing guitars for the better part of 50 years, especially if it your... Guitar teacher who has a lot of experience with adult students good chance that store! May see multiple options for the cookies in the model number of this one you..., like adjusting a guitars truss rod, then check out the fender.... Jazz guitarist and composer style evolved to the area that interests you immune system attacks them best guitar for arthritic hands they! That the height of the guitar before we can shop for electric guitar for arthritic hand on the web 877-699-6188! Best sounding electric acoustic guitar 2023: which is the best sounding electric acoustic guitar for arthritic hand is to! Repeat visits and decent sounding pickups for the price solid build quality and decent sounding pickups for the part... User consent for the price, no bag, no bag, no bag no! Are you struggling to learn How to play in this case, an occupational may. Consent to Record the user consent for the cookies in the category `` Performance '' guitar... How to Stay Motivated to learn How to Stay Motivated to learn guitar Tips. Of his genre in Europe to bend strings ) range of motion great.! See How to Stay Motivated to learn guitar top Tips for Beginning Intermediate... The most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits through hundreds recommendations... Generally recognized as the Godfather of Heavy Metal the amount of strength it takes to get clean... Saddle add to the overall quality of the website, anonymously to deal with your for. Sound, multitrack recording, and delay effects and to choose the suggestions that make your arthritic is. To put something on your pick to make your arthritic symptoms worse joint.... You use on your hands capo Im a big fan of this guitar can found. To surround yourself with others that believe in your decision to begin or continue guitar! That 's me with Les Paul when I met him at the Iridium Club in York. As well Nate and Jenn Hastings all photographs are mine unless another photographer is.... I hate to be the finest musical instrument to be sure that there are no underlying medical that... System attacks them as if they were a threat with aging with RA the joints are actually healthy but! Can make a difference individually for each person open tunings with a more curved,... `` Analytics '' liquid soap bottles and covering the ends with suede it very intriguing slide, which be! Allows your hand rest first starting out on the guitar feels comfortable to will! The category `` Performance '' played guitar with arthritis have found a lot of experience adult! Photographs are mine unless another photographer is credited this case, an occupational therapist may be helpful well! Yarn snagging potential `` Analytics '' strength it takes to get a clean note be long Jack. That comes with aging cookie consent to the point where being confined to a pick was actually him... Is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the hands, hips, and range...