The TuneUp Program

It's important that these exercises be taken in the proper context, they are listed here purely for reference, you'll be guided to them throughout the program or by me directly, either through the forum or via an online consultation. Don't work through them without any supervision.

The primary problem, and one that is, to varying degrees, unavoidable is the displacement of the right scapula as the arm reaches forward over your guitar. The classical position is undoubtedly the best way of avoiding this scapula displacement, unfortunately as the guitar has evolved it’s become less practical to always play it this way and we’ve been forced to adopt a less ergonomic position. The photo gallery shows some of the problems that we now face in positioning our right shoulder.

Throughout the relaxation program you learned to switch off areas of tension and allow your body to readjust it’s shape accordingly. That’s what you’ll do again here. Your guitar will provide a distraction but that should be all, the same principles will apply:

It's important that these exercises be taken in the proper context, they are listed here purely for reference, you'll be guided to them throughout the program or by me directly, either through the forum or via an online consultation. Don't work through them without any supervision.

The rhomboids originate on the upper thoracic vertebrae and run obliquely onto the medial border of the scapula. They share a fascial connection on the inside of the medial scapula with serratus anterior, the lower serrations of which extend this oblique line onto the side of the rib cage.

The deltoid muscle is named for it's triangular shape, like a delta. It has there distinct sections the anterior deltoid attaches on the clavicle, the middle deltoid on the acromion process of the scapula and the posterior fibres on the scapula spine. All three insert on the lateral side of the humerus about a third of the way down.

Supraspinatus is named for its location, superior to the scapula spine. It attaches along the medial section of the supraspinous fossa, the hollow above the scapula spine, and inserts onto the top of the humerus. It assists in abduction of the humerus and plays a significant role in stabilising the shoulder joint as gravity pulls the arm down.