What are some passages in music you play that cause pain and/or tension?

[ialaban]

I'd also like to know what you think would solve that particular issue in that passage.

[lelle]

No passage in the repertoire should cause pain. A very small number of exceptions can cause some tension that might be unavoidable (looking at you, Erlkönig).

In my mind, any problems with pain or tension are caused by too much tension in too many muscles and movements that are not coordinated right. With relaxed and efficient  use of the body, these issues can be avoided.

[flyusx]

Still working on reliving tension from the coda of the Op38 ballade.

[ialaban]

No passage in the repertoire should cause pain. A very small number of exceptions can cause some tension that might be unavoidable (looking at you, Erlkönig).

In my mind, any problems with pain or tension are caused by too much tension in too many muscles and movements that are not coordinated right. With relaxed and efficient  use of the body, these issues can be avoided.

I would agree. However, I disagree on Erlkonig. If you let gravity be the downward force to play the repeated octaves, there will be no more tension.

[furr104]

Chopin's op. 10 no. 8, bars 41-45. The right hand has no problem, but the left... It's a hit or miss. No pain, just tension and at times even notes

[danesi]

Chopin op 10 no 2… my arm always cramps up when I try to play those tricky chromatics.

[ranjit]

I feel like some passages can cause that burning of the forearm, such as fast and loud octaves,  but I can't think of anything that would cause tension. Perhaps constant extreme stretches like playing Rachmaninoff with small hands might fit the bill.

[hichew]

For me, fast arpeggio passages

I have relatively big hands (can play 10ths at tempo and comfortably play 11ths), so I've developed a really bad habit of just stretching fingers out to hit further away notes instead of moving my hands, so when I play arpeggios my pinky/other fingers just end up stretching far out to hit notes instead of my wrist and hand moving to support the fingers more. This means that the sound is generated entirely by my knuckles instead of the rest of my body which is a lot of extra strain.

[anacrusis]

I feel like some passages can cause that burning of the forearm, such as fast and loud octaves,  but I can't think of anything that would cause tension. Perhaps constant extreme stretches like playing Rachmaninoff with small hands might fit the bill.

Fast and loud octaves do not cause any burning sensation in the forearm if done properly. It should feel quite comfortable and effortless.

[transitional]

The tremolo at the end of the Hanon exercise book.

[anacrusis]

The tremolo at the end of the Hanon exercise book.

Is it the one with the chords? Haha that one looks awful.