How to Play Guitar After Rotator Cuff Surgery

• Step 1

  Check with your doctor. Before you attempt to play guitar or perform any activity that requires use of the shoulder, ask your doctor whether it is appropriate, and how soon after the surgery you can expect to do it.

• Step 2

  Play sitting down. Many players prefer to play standing up---some simply refuse to play sitting down. Shoulder surgery is a legitimate excuse to play sitting down; it affords you more ways to keep weight and gravity off your recently repaired joint.

• Step 3

  Pick with your wrist. If your recently repaired shoulder is attached to your pick hand, use the opportunity to practice picking with small, precise motions. Initiate your attack on the strings with your wrist rather than your elbow or shoulder. Developing an aggressive and controlled wrist attack can improve your technique tremendously.

• Step 4

  Limit your fret-hand positions if it's too painful. Sliding your fret hand up and down the neck may cause pain, especially right after surgery. Find a position on the fretboard that is comfortable, and use the opportunity to practice different notes and scales in that position. For example, if you use standard tunings, you may find that you prefer an E scale in the open position, as opposed to the 7th or 12th position.

• Step 5

  Use alternate tunings. Limited use of your fret hand may call for alternate tunings, such as dropped tunings or open-chord tunings. For example, playing in drop-C tuning (tuning a standard guitar down a whole step, then tuning the low E string to an octave below the fourth string) adds depth and richness to open-position chords.

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• Guitar
• Guitar

References & Resources

• University of Maryland Medical Center
• University of Washington Medicine
• Steelguitarforum.com