If you want to develop a well-rounded jazz guitar skill-set, learning and practicing jazz guitar scales will be critical. However, it is important to keep in mind that as with any other discipline, you will encounter roadblocks and hurdles along the way. Let’s dive into four all too common struggles you may face as you progress your way toward jazz guitar mastery.

1. Hand Cramps

While cramping and soreness are ubiquitous problems for every guitarist, they can be especially troublesome when you are playing through jazz scales. Many of the major scale positions outlined by our jazz guitar instructor, Chuck Loeb, here require a fair amount of stretching, so be mindful of what your hand is telling you while practicing to avoid injuries and fatigue. Stretching your fingers will be your best tool to keep your hands in the proper condition for playing scales.

One simple stretch is to hold your hand in front of you with your palm facing outward and pulling each finger back towards you, for five to ten seconds each. Another way to reduce the chance of cramping is to shake your left hand out and let it hang by your side. This will help to increase circulation, and gives your hand a brief chance to relax.