Tension and holding your breathe

Playing Technique
#1

Hi guys,
Im new to the forum and the site. For years I struggled to play fast passages but now my eyes are open. My issue is that I hold my breathe and tense up when I play. I don’t even realize that I am doing it at the time. Then I will feel pain after my practice session. Has anyone else experienced this and if so does anyone have any tips? thanks

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#2

Maybe try talking, singing or counting as you play? It might help “short circuit” the mental aspect of your breath control and trick you into breathing more regularly to accomodate the speaking. If it works, maybe the breath-holding pattern will get broken and you’ll be able to transition to breathing normally without the talking after a while.

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#3

This is a huge problem and it’s great that you’ve decided to nip it in the bud.

I’d recommend the following resources

  • Guitar Principles website

  • This video from Rick Graham

Tension can and will destroy your guitar playing if left unchecked. I’d even argue all of the inefficient motions or motion paths that we see on this forum are the result of tension and the contraction of certain muscle groups, but that’s debatable and probably not the best use of your thread so I won’t go there.

In general, I’d recommend sitting in your chair as relaxed as possible without playing anything, and then from there trying to memorize and replicate that feeling while you do play.

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#4

Thanks so much for your reply guys. Im exploring all options. It’s greatly appreciated

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#5

Singing helped me tremendously. Before that I couldn’t even talk and play at the same time.

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#6

Yeah, I think this is common. It may be more of a symptom than a cause. Often times… we get into this ‘mode’ where we tense up before we play something challenging, and holding your breathe becomes part of that.

But I do agree that breathing in a relaxing way helps the rest of you relax.

As Rick Graham says… try to ‘dial in’ to the right tension level. And that level is WAY less than most people normally play at. There are many lines that are basically impossible to play unless you are at the super relaxed playing level.

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