Strength Training
Been working on my hand strength quite a bit this past week. I'm playing more SRV than usual, and I've probably mentioned that I want to incorporate his power, more than anything else, into my own playing. And it's not just about finger calluses. Stevie had huge hands and Popeye forearms, easily twice the meat between elbows and fingers that I have. So I need to beef up.
Enter pictured exercise tools. I got a simple gripper and a Dyna-Flex PowerBall. I use the gripper for about 5 minutes, starting with 1 squeeze with each hand, then 2, 3, up to 15, and back down. My hands tire in strange ways. My right hand feels stronger than my left on the way up and weaker on the way down. It makes sense that my grip is stronger in my dominant hand while my fretting hand has more stamina, but I didn't think it would be so obvious.
I use the gyroscope more for therapeutic purposes than building strength. I imagine it loosens a lot of tiny muscles that are otherwise only used for guitar. Definitely helps keep the tendinitis away.
Now I'm just trying to establish a permanent habit of using these guys a couple times every day. Both are great for taking care of morning fatfinger.
Paul (8 Feb 2008 at 5:17am)
Morning fatfinger? What's that? Swollen fingers? On which hand? My right hand fingers get quite swollen if I play a lot... I figured it was just because I'm getting old -- my family doctor said it was arthritis (but I don't think he's right). Is this common???
Joe (8 Feb 2008 at 8:25am)
Morning fatfinger is swollen fingers after sleeping. No idea how common it is, but you might notice it if you try clenching your fists or playing guitar first thing when you wake up. Doesn't last more than an hour.
Stratoblogster (10 Feb 2008 at 5:19pm)
Thanks for stopping by Stratoblogster!
I've had some success working out SRV. The fluidness of his left hand vibrato is a huge factor. Most SRV clones out there actually play more notes than SRV, possibly because they misinterpret his fluidity for velocity.
Do you see how that would be? A shredder plays many more notes per bar, but SRV stuffed a bar with plenty of oscillation.
So really work on your fretting hand vibrato and get the idea that the vibrato is always there. In other words, the notes are something that you "sneak" in between the waves.
Fretting hand vibrato can employ various joint positions as pivot points, i.e.: finger joints, knuckles, wrist & elbow. For me, I've found the elbow works best for push-up vibrato on the G,B & hi-E strings. Pull-down tech, particularly on the low E & A strings is a hand squeeze utilizing the middle knuckle-- 2nd joint from finger tip- as the pivot point. (Check out Steve Morse's low E & A string vibrato.)
SRV also used the trem, which probably helped offset left hand fatigue and callus wear.
Either way, it's gotta flow all the time. SRV was all about vibrato flow. Remember that the friction of a string against the fret surface enhances sustain, without having to muddy your signal with too much OD.
Go with the flow!
Easy does it with the exercise devices though. There's nothing like playing for conditioning your muscles-- plus you get better. Staying relaxed is critical, remember you "play guitar"-- not "work" guitar. Also, don't play it slung so low that your fretting side wrist is bent more than just slightly. Notice how high players like Hendrix, SRV & Scott Henderson set their straps. A Jimmy Page strap length will eat your tendons for lunch, esp if you solo a lot.
cheers!
jp
Jared (25 Feb 2008 at 7:13pm)
Where can I find me one of those Gripper things, or what is their actual name so I can go and find one instead of just asking people where I can get one of "those grippy things"? Please and thank you.
Joe (25 Feb 2008 at 8:06pm)
> Where can I find me one of those Gripper things
Sorry, can't help you there. I got it from my dad. I think he got it when he was a kid. No logos or writing of any sort on it, so I've no clue what it's really called either. But you'd probably get the same workout from any toy that's supposed to exercise your grip.