Neck shape/profile to reduce hand cramp

[Jenson Nash]

Re: Neck shape/profile to reduce hand cramp

Thanks for the responses, ye I'm gonna go to a guitar shop in town later in the month to try some different necks. I have a feeling the thick necks might help, but I'm interested to try a wizard 3 neck and see if a super low action helps. I'm gonna focus on very light pressure on the strings.
@diminished triad, I hadn't really considered the nut width, do you find there's a lot of difference to your playing comfort?

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Neck shape/profile to reduce hand cramp

Well, narrower string width is supposed to help with playing faster due to the decreased distance that your fingers have to travel from string to string but personally, all I get is cramped hands.

I ALWAYS go for 1+11/16 and also wide string width. Anything else fells both uncomfortable and unnatural, Your Mileage May Vary.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Neck shape/profile to reduce hand cramp

To be honest it sounds more like a userproblem than the actual hardware!
Playing is about to be able to relax as much as possible.
Sure necks plays an important role, but I know alot of players who does not relax while they are playing, for different reasons.

I did myself as well, especially the area between the thumb and the next digit gets badly affected.
Too many apply way too much preassure on the strings, their shoulders are almost touching their ears as well, totally tensed up.
Along with the search for a comfy neck, try to figure out just how tensed you are when playing.

Figure out how the guitar is relaxing to play, adjustment of the strap is crucial, or if you are sitting down, pay attention to how you actually sit, back in the day I used to swing my arms around in a loose way before playing for long hours, shaking my hands in a loose way, just let them be total slack and shake them, alittle like when you are warming up for volleyball
Excitement and such can take away your focus on being relaxed, build up strenght slowly, make sure that nothing feels tense.

Same with the picking hand, it should all feel loose.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Neck shape/profile to reduce hand cramp

I would put fifty bucks on the fact that it is a technical, not a gear issue.
There are a number of contributing factors that all combine and affect each other from how high you wear the guitar, to arm position, neck angle, tension in other parts of your body, overgripping and so on. Without having the chance to see you play it is impossible to pin it down, but i reckon there is a pretty good chance that you can fix it by playing all your bar chord pieces on a nylon string guitar for a few months. It wont be easy, but by the time you can do that, you will have "uncomplicated" your technique and your electrics will feel like toys.
I'm oversimplifying by a long way, but there is only so much you can do writing on a forum.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Neck shape/profile to reduce hand cramp

Technical and shape go hand in hand.......but some of us just have different structure to the hand/arm/shoulder etc. Sometimes that will mean that no matter how much you improve the technicality, there will be still a shape that will cause issue, and another shape that will relieve it.

But work in all areas is always the best solution.

 

[HiFiRebel]

Re: Neck shape/profile to reduce hand cramp

I have a hard time with barre chords as a general rule for any length of when standing. I do a bit better sitting down, but I have joint issues and a touch of carpel tunnel. For barre chords standing I do best with a modern 'C' shape on my Stratocaster. I have another Strat with a larger neck that is okay for me as well. But as others have said, it is most likely technical, and not hardware related.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Neck shape/profile to reduce hand cramp

Your trouble when standing is different when sitting
Probably means wrist angle is different in those positions

Try laying on your back on the floor
Then holding the guitar

This puts your elbow forward in the proper position

 

[Mirrorshades]

Re: Neck shape/profile to reduce hand cramp

Mike Robinson at Eastwood Guitars was kind enough to take my suggestion to crowdfund a wide-neck guitar. It's a 1-7/8" wide-at-the-nut version of their amazing Tuxedo guitar; a real sweet-playing beauty! https://eastwoodcustoms.com/projects/tuxedo-wn-wide-neck-1-78-nut/

 

[KNUCKLHEAD]

Re: Neck shape/profile to reduce hand cramp

Play less Barres ? works for me : )

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Neck shape/profile to reduce hand cramp

Heh old thread...
I would focus on why hands gets cramped....
Alot of playes do not know how to relax their hands when playing, or the rest of the body!

When you are doing repetitive moves it is important to do it in a relaxed manner.
Same with walking and running and such.
You would not go far if you got all tighten up like a knot.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Neck shape/profile to reduce hand cramp

Some players with that complaint prefer a V shape such as the Fender Clapton strat

I once tried Washburn V shaped neck. Easily the best feeling neck I've played. I have been about bying one for my strat ever since.