I recently started playing the flute. When I play for an amount of time longer than five or ten minutes, my left hand begins to cramp up and hurt. Does anyone else have this problem? Is this something that will fade over time as I begin to build up strength, or am I doing something wrong?
You're probably tensing up. Do not allow this to go on, for the health of your hand. A lesson with a flute teacher (classical or Irish) where you ask specifically about hand pain is probably indicated.
No worries, it's probably just the "death grip." In the beginning, most of us clutch the flute like we're gonna die if it even slips around a little. Try to use as little muscle as possible to hold the flute--just a light support will do, letting the flute rest on your right thumb, skooched between the pad at the base of the left index finger and thumb, and pressed against your lower lip. As Kevin Burke likes to say about fiddle--you don't hold it so much as just stand under it and let it rest on you, like a book on a table.
I also came to flute after years of playing fiddle, and one thing that helped me with excess tension in both hands was to feel the similarities to playing fiddle. I use the "Rockstro" grip for the left hand, with the index and middle fingers arched a bit, much like how they are when holding the strings down on a fiddle. And my righthand fingers are fairly straight (not stiff, but not arched either), and the lightness of the feel is very similar to how it feels holding a bow, with the thumb underneath.
Of course, holding and playing a flute does take some different muscle actions than fiddle, so it might take a few weeks of playing to build up the required stamina. Take it in short doses, put the flute down and rest your hands *before* they start to hurt, and most important really think about keeping your hands loose and easy, releasing any and all unnecessary tension. Patience and practice--it'll come.
I agree with Zina. I've been playing flute for a while now, and have that problem when I'm tired, or trying to play something a tad faster than I should.
Relax, and make a POINT of dropping your shoulders! You may want to just spend some time holding the flute with your left hand only. Get used to the weight of it.
Try to make sure that the body of the flute is parallel with the floor, not dropping to the right-hand side. You may need to keep your left elbow tucked against your ribcage to get this to feel comfortable.
I have also heard Alexander Technique recommended for many muscular and cramp problems, although I have not tried it myself.
Certainly I remember many new players tieing themselves into knots trying to hold down even just one string on the guitar. Go back to your old instrument and remember how lightly you can hold that to play it.
Hey fiddle monster,
I've just started and I've been getting it too, i went to a physio who said to try to straighten my my left wrist as much as possible, but really I've found, that just by doing short practice periods and lengthening them over time I've built up the muscles and it doesn't hurt so much now. What zina said about tensing also applied to me, so yeah, maybe relax, straighten the wrist and don't go too hard at it and it'll get better
Good luck
I'm trying something different - every now and then I play as if I do not have a left thumb. I keep my left thumb totally out of the way for about 5 minutes. When I use my thumb again after that, I find that I support the flute rather than grip it.
Keep your wrist straight when doing anything where you move your fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome is inflammation caused by moving the tendons controlling the fingers when the wrist is bent. They rub together inside. It is the most common repetitive strain injury.
Having said that, this sounds like tight grip. I assume you don't have a big stretch? I get right hand problems on tenor recorder from big stretch and from supporting a heavy weight on my thumb.
I've been getting it on an off for the last few years. It usually hits me after about 20 minutes especially if I'm playing with one of those "15 tunes per set maniacs". I find that after about 6 pints or 10 whiskeys it goes away.
Hand Pain
Hand Pain
I recently started playing the flute. When I play for an amount of time longer than five or ten minutes, my left hand begins to cramp up and hurt. Does anyone else have this problem? Is this something that will fade over time as I begin to build up strength, or am I doing something wrong?
Alison
# Posted on September 7th 2005 by alison kale
Re: Hand Pain
You're probably tensing up. Do not allow this to go on, for the health of your hand. A lesson with a flute teacher (classical or Irish) where you ask specifically about hand pain is probably indicated.
# Posted on September 7th 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: Hand Pain
No worries, it's probably just the "death grip." In the beginning, most of us clutch the flute like we're gonna die if it even slips around a little. Try to use as little muscle as possible to hold the flute--just a light support will do, letting the flute rest on your right thumb, skooched between the pad at the base of the left index finger and thumb, and pressed against your lower lip. As Kevin Burke likes to say about fiddle--you don't hold it so much as just stand under it and let it rest on you, like a book on a table.
I also came to flute after years of playing fiddle, and one thing that helped me with excess tension in both hands was to feel the similarities to playing fiddle. I use the "Rockstro" grip for the left hand, with the index and middle fingers arched a bit, much like how they are when holding the strings down on a fiddle. And my righthand fingers are fairly straight (not stiff, but not arched either), and the lightness of the feel is very similar to how it feels holding a bow, with the thumb underneath.
Of course, holding and playing a flute does take some different muscle actions than fiddle, so it might take a few weeks of playing to build up the required stamina. Take it in short doses, put the flute down and rest your hands *before* they start to hurt, and most important really think about keeping your hands loose and easy, releasing any and all unnecessary tension. Patience and practice--it'll come.
# Posted on September 7th 2005 by Will Harmon
Re: Hand Pain
I agree with Zina. I've been playing flute for a while now, and have that problem when I'm tired, or trying to play something a tad faster than I should.
Relax, and make a POINT of dropping your shoulders! You may want to just spend some time holding the flute with your left hand only. Get used to the weight of it.
Try to make sure that the body of the flute is parallel with the floor, not dropping to the right-hand side. You may need to keep your left elbow tucked against your ribcage to get this to feel comfortable.
Hope this helps!
-P
# Posted on September 7th 2005 by Philem
Re: Hand Pain
I have also heard Alexander Technique recommended for many muscular and cramp problems, although I have not tried it myself.
Certainly I remember many new players tieing themselves into knots trying to hold down even just one string on the guitar. Go back to your old instrument and remember how lightly you can hold that to play it.
# Posted on September 7th 2005 by Guernsey Pete
Re: Hand Pain
For more of the same sort of good advice, check out this thread on the Chiff and Fipple Flute Forum: http://chiffboard.mati.ca/viewtopic.php?t=32109
# Posted on September 7th 2005 by Will Harmon
Re: Hand Pain
Hey fiddle monster,
I've just started and I've been getting it too, i went to a physio who said to try to straighten my my left wrist as much as possible, but really I've found, that just by doing short practice periods and lengthening them over time I've built up the muscles and it doesn't hurt so much now. What zina said about tensing also applied to me, so yeah, maybe relax, straighten the wrist and don't go too hard at it and it'll get better
Good luck
# Posted on September 7th 2005 by flute jen
Re: Hand Pain
I'm trying something different - every now and then I play as if I do not have a left thumb. I keep my left thumb totally out of the way for about 5 minutes. When I use my thumb again after that, I find that I support the flute rather than grip it.
# Posted on September 8th 2005 by Shrog
Re: Hand Pain
Keep your wrist straight when doing anything where you move your fingers. Carpal tunnel syndrome is inflammation caused by moving the tendons controlling the fingers when the wrist is bent. They rub together inside. It is the most common repetitive strain injury.
Having said that, this sounds like tight grip. I assume you don't have a big stretch? I get right hand problems on tenor recorder from big stretch and from supporting a heavy weight on my thumb.
# Posted on September 8th 2005 by LowProfile
Re: Hand Pain
I've been getting it on an off for the last few years. It usually hits me after about 20 minutes especially if I'm playing with one of those "15 tunes per set maniacs". I find that after about 6 pints or 10 whiskeys it goes away.
# Posted on September 8th 2005 by John McCartin
Re: Hand Pain
Thanks a lot for the advice, everyone!
# Posted on September 11th 2005 by alison kale
Re: Hand Pain
I conducted an informal survey about this up at Swanannoa. . .it is a *very* common problem with flute. Follow the advice given here!
# Posted on September 11th 2005 by wormdiet