Guitar string gauge and forearm pain!?

[papersoul]

Hi guys,

I stopped playing guitar for a number of months recently due to lack of desire, working through depression and some left arm pain.

Today I decided to see if I could spark some interest again. I am using 10-52 gauge on my PRS and Gibsons tuned to Eb and noticed playing fast runs with lots of bends was panful for me. I have suffered a lot of wrist and forearm pain in the last 5 years and wonder if I should go as light as possible on strings.

My buddy Mark who is a great guitarist and has some of the best local tone of any guitarist I know only uses 9-42 on all guiutars but he plays in standard tuning. I tune to Eb but I also for some songs will tune to drop D so the low Eb becomes C#.

With this in mind, what gauge you guys think I should try? 9-49? I would love a hybrid set of something like 9-50 but again this would be mostly in Eb.

Maybe the next band I join if I get back into playing will be in standard tuning and could go 9s.

Thoughts on this?

Thanks all.

[SteveAlysis]

Just a regular 10-46 gauge should be goodJ

[papersoul]

Just a regular 10-46 gauge should be goodJ

Well, that is basically what I do now. I use 10-52 and the 10-46 set is the same in terms of the plain strings and I get the most pain on bending and that all happens for me o nthe plains strings. The wound strings are not an issue and I like the tight, feel and chunk of the heavier wound strings.

[Varg]

9-52 will work, but personally, I can find strings a lot cheaper if I just use standard sets so Im moving back down from 10s to 9s. I like to bend a lot and 9s feel so much nicer to me, even in Eb.

[papersoul]

9-52 will work, but personally, I can find strings a lot cheaper if I just use standard sets so Im moving back down from 10s to 9s. I like to bend a lot and 9s feel so much nicer to me, even in Eb.

Really, so you use 9s in Eb? Do you notice a loss in tone? I would think you may but like I said my buddy uses 9s and his tone is fat! They play in standard. I would worry my wound strings would be floppy!

Is anyone using 10-46 in Eb or drop C#? Maybe I can try the hybrid sets out there - 9-46.

[papersoul]

I will pick up some 9-46 and maybe some extra 48s because I am afraid the 46 might be a little to floppy in drop D.

[Varg]

Really, so you use 9s in Eb? Do you notice a loss in tone? I would think you may but like I said my buddy uses 9s and his tone is fat! They play in standard. I would worry my wound strings would be floppy!

Is anyone using 10-46 in Eb or drop C#? Maybe I can try the hybrid sets out there - 9-46.

You MAY notice a little flubbiness on the bass strings, which is why I prefer Hybrids but...if I can get 3 packs of 9s for £6 and 3 packs of hybrids are £11 well....I'm not worrying about flubbiness.

[Jay 77]

I play nearly everything in Eb, with some Drop-Db as well. 9-46's (DM Blue Steel, Dunlop, or GHS Boomers) on all my guitars and there's no tension issues. Just avoid EB's (since they're like wet noodles at any gauge) and you'll be fine!

[Quencho092]

get 13's, flatwounds, bust out some Joe Pass tunes, never look back

[SlyFoxx]

Umm...see a doctor. Seriously, playing guitar can hurt a bit from time to time but real pain is a definite concern.

[papersoul]

Umm...see a doctor. Seriously, playing guitar can hurt a bit from time to time but real pain is a definite concern.

I have been seeing doctors for 5 years. I have an underlying blood disease that cause nerve and muscle pain that can't be avoided. I have almost gone broke seeing doctors even though we have decent health insurance. I take pain medication, that is it. I have to live with it. But, things aggravate the pain, such as typing and guitar playing. I type with one hand.

I stretch a lot too.

[SlyFoxx]

I have been seeing doctors for 5 years. I have an underlying blood disease that cause nerve and muscle pain that can't be avoided. I have almost gone broke seeing doctors even though we have decent health insurance. I take pain medication, that is it. I have to live with it. But, things aggravate the pain, such as typing and guitar playing. I type with one hand.

I stretch a lot too.

So sorry to hear that. Chronic pain is just not fair.

One thought. Perhaps lap style slide might be less stressful to your left hand muscles but still a way to keep having fun with guitar.

[nicholaspaul]

I don't know any guitarists who play regularly who don't experience some forearm or elbow pain. I have tendinitis and arthritis.

Make sure you warm up before every single practice. Spend a couple of minutes massaging your forearms and hands. Stretch your fingers lightly against your other palm. Then play scales and exercises before you get into anything else.

If I do this, I can play for hours. If I don't, I can play for about 5 mins.

[Diego]

I've even used 9-42 for Drop D and Drop C#.

It all depends on how light you can go with your right hand, and if you can tolerate the bland strings.
I can, but I'd rather have a 46 there.

[papersoul]

I've even used 9-42 for Drop D and Drop C#.

It all depends on how light you can go with your right hand, and if you can tolerate the bland strings.
I can, but I'd rather have a 46 there.

Exactly, and why wouldn't you? 9-46 sounds like a plan.

[Quencho092]

When I've been on a taxing rehearsal/gig schedule, I fill my sink with hot water and dunk my forearms and hands in until I feel the increased blood flow in my fingers before I warm up. I strongly recommend this along with a regimen of glucosamine and chondroitin.

I don't know if it might be your thing or not, but they sell silk wound strings for electric guitar that have less tension than nickel wound strings. 10's would feel like 8's, etc, perhaps a set of silk wound 9's tuned to Eb would feel manageable.

I wish you the best with dealing with your pain dude, as well as being able to continue to express yourself through guitar.

[verbotenco]

Go to the gym and lift some weights. That should do it. I never go smaller than 11s on my guitars. One has 12 gauge with wound third string.

[papersoul]

Go to the gym and lift some weights. That should do it. I never go smaller than 11s on my guitars. One has 12 gauge with wound third string.

Go to the gym and lift weights??? I have been a bodybuilder and power lifter since 1986. I am currently training for a natural bodybuilding contest.
Trust me, that has not helped.

My Oncologist says it could be the disease process. I have MGUS which can cause odd muscle and nerve pain. Could also be tendonitis. One doctor suggested a steroids shot.

[Jackson Distortion]

I know (also heard) that Ernie Balls and Dunlop strings have low tension and so sticking with those brands might help to ease your pain, OP. Sorry about your luck in life.

[lex666]

I have 2 guitars tuned to drop D.

Fender MIM strat w/floating trem gets 9-46.

Gibson Explorer get 10-50.

I have an SG tuned to C# that uses 11-52.