Tomo Fujita Guitar Wisdom

Just getting started with Tomo's program, but I ran into an unexpected snag: in the middle of practicing I found that I suddenly couldn't press down on the fretboard with my ring finger. Felt like I slammed my fingertip in a car door if I applied any pressure. I have calluses and I'm not using heavy gauge strings and, oddly, nothing preceded it. Feels like a nerve issue actually. 24 hours later, I have to type this with my right hand! Strangest thing that's happened in years of guitar playing.

Anyway, just wondering anyone's dealt with that before.

The internet Doctors will say.... REST, ice, probably try a NSAID (advil). See if that helps. If it is a tendon issue from overuse then it can take some time to heal depending on the severity of the injury. There's a reason people warm up before playing. You wouldn't think you could hurt yourself playing guitar, but...! I battled a pretty severe case of tendonitis in both arms from sports and could only manage the pain for years before it just went away on its own. The first step is to rest it and if nothing improves over a week or so- go see a doctor. Hopefully you just have a mild injury from overuse.

Yes, rest is definitely the right idea. It's completely better now after another 24 hours of not using my left hand. I know what tendonitis is, but this was different. It felt like when you throw your back out lifting something you shouldn't have...except in your finger tip.

Anyway, a proper warm up sounds like good advice. Does Tomo have a warm up routine?

Here is Tomo's comment:

"Thanks so much for subscribing to my Guitar Wisdom. When you feel pain, you should stop playing. Please be careful. If you are playing an electric guitar, I recommend that you use a 10-46 string set. In order to make a bigger tone, please play (pick) around the front pickup!"

rest for sure, but also stretch the fingers and wrist area. do some wrist rolls clockwise/counterclockwise. do full arm circles to get blood flowing in your arms. twirl your fingers like you're seasoning a steak with salt & pepper.

i've had that happen to me before, but it went away after a day of resting and stretching it out. no idea how that happened, but i dance so it was probably overextending myself somewhere on the floor.