Pain in the arm

[stevebasshead]

I'd also add to the good advice above - make sure you breathe. I'm not the fastest or most articulate player by any means, but I used to find when I did anything a bit fast or complex I'd tense up and my forearms would ache too. I found making sure I breathed regularly helped relax me, reducing the tension and that helped reduce the amount of pain I used to get in my arms.

I reckon once you're comfortable with these new songs you'll relax more anyway, but you may need to watch out in the heat of a performance, especially if you're throwing yourself into it.

Steve.

[tauzero]

[quote name='metaltime' post='99857' date='Dec 5 2007, 09:24 PM']For this band i have needed to adopt a three finger plucking technique and i think that might be a factor.[/quote]
Right, first question - which arm (knowing you're left-handed)?

Second question - why do you need the three-finger plucking?

[ashevans09]

[quote name='metaltime' post='99857' date='Dec 5 2007, 09:24 PM']For this band i have needed to adopt a three finger plucking technique[/quote]

As has been said before, I've been playing with three fingers (standard 3,2,1 plucking) for about 2 and a bit years now and while I was getting that down it hurt like HELL. Stick it out dude, it makes life soooo much easier in the long term

And in reference to why you need three fingers, somehow I find it easier now, and also for faster stuff or little flangy type things it can add some nice colour to songs. Also found I can play for longer as I'm putting the stress accross three fingers rather than two.

[ashevans09]

And yes, +1 to Teen T shirt - having the bass higher up works wonders