Thank you, these were both very helpful and very clear!

 

I appreciate the vids!!!  Just watched them, and after the second one?  Well, crap.  LOL!  ~I have work to do~  Especially when I also saw the fretting ones to boot....

updated by @hugssandi: 09/09/16 07:40:41PM

That's good advice from Ken.  I don't drink, so I just have to remind myself to not tense up.  Even after many years of playing on various instruments, I still catch myself tensing now and then in some area.  Being aware of it however really does help us to 'check in' on what we're doing regularly.  Like any bad habit, simply becoming more acutely aware of it is half the way towards correcting it.

--
Site Owner

Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach.
-Strumelia proverb c.1990
updated by @strumelia: 09/09/16 01:01:04PM

Thank you. I saw those videos a while back and forgot about them. Watching the 2nd video made me aware of the elbow up thing that I do.  I'll have my husband take a video of me so I can see what I'm doing.  Not sure I'll actually post it.  I have learned that wine and playing don't mix for me.  I make more mistakes than usual.  So I practice before happy hour.  Thanks again.

Get someone else to take pictures of you, from the front and from the side, spontaneously, so you aren't posing for us.  Then maybe we can see what you're doing.  Lisa's strumming habit posts are spot on.  

Stop trying to hard.  I'll bet you have a 'death grip' on your pick, and are fretting so hard your finger tips are white and hurt like Hades after a few minutes of practice!!  Perhaps a glass of wine will loosen you up a bit.  This is supposed to be fun!! 

I wrote about this and included some videos here on beginner strumming habits: tips, posture, shoulder pain, etc:

http://dulcimer-noter-drone.blogspot.com/2010/01/video-tips-for-beginners-strumming.html

http://dulcimer-noter-drone.blogspot.com/2010/01/video-tips-for-beginners-strumming_08.html

--
Site Owner

Those irritated by grain of sand best avoid beach.
-Strumelia proverb c.1990

I think I'm developing some bad habits while practicing.  I mostly have neck pain and am very stiff.  I loosen up before and after playing but still have lots of stiffness.  I take breaks and have played in front of a mirror to see what I'm doing.  I know I cock my head to the right and am trying to correct that.  What advice and suggestions do you have for good form and ergonomics.  Nina