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Post subject: Strength Exercises
Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 11:13 pm
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Rock Star
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Is there anything (other than practice constantly) to build strength in my left (fretting) hand? I just put 12s on my Strat, which is nice and I love the tone, but I discovered that I'm allot weaker than I thought. :lol: I have a gig coming up in a month and I really want to use my strat, but only if I'm sure I can play it as well as my other guitars. So I have a month to work on it.

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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 1:59 am
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I use one of these......

http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/accessori ... 0116310129


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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:25 am
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I also use a red gripmaster (like in the above link) while I'm at work, sitting in my cubicle, without access to a guitar. It's not the same as practice but the next time I step up to the real thing, my fingers do feel much stronger.


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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:34 am
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If you don`t get where you want to be before the gig drop down to 11`s. Or take a look at a set of Ernie Balls Heavy Tops Skinny Bottoms. I use them and while giving you a nice blues tone their not too bad on your fingers.

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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 7:58 am
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Practise playing "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC. The whole thing uses hammer-ons and pull-offs. Therefore this is a great workout to build up fretting hand strength. :wink:

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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:28 am
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A guitar players left hand should be slightly de-formed. In that when you spread the hand out, it should naturally fall with a pronounced gap between the 2nd and 3rd fingers. ( Mr Spock stylee )
Back in the 60's my classical guitar teacher showed me some excercise techniques to achieve this. ( The purpose is to give the hand a wider spread along the fretboard and it builds strength without gadgets )
One excersise is to hold the hand out in front of you, palm facing towards you, ( left hand ) and then with your right fingers take the 3rd finger of your left hand and hook it around your little finger and pull to the side.
At the same time hook your 2nd finger around your 1st and pull the other way. Hold that for as long as you want, pulling all the time.
Do it regularly, when walking down the street for example, any time and often, whenever you think of it. Keep your hand as straight as you can, for instance don't clench your hand.
In one piece of music I had to play, it required ( on classical guitar ) in one passage to play the 6th string first fret with 1st finger (F) and at the same time 1st string fifth fret with 4th finger (A)
The aforementioned excersise helps you achieve this kind of thing. ( stretch and strength )
I hope that is useful.
Cheers :D


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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:32 am
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I used to use one of those rubber donut handshake things. Those gripmasters look like a good idea too.


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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 9:58 am
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Mark Wein has some good videos of some exercises that you can use.

http://markweinguitarlessons.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=111&Itemid=41

Gil 8)

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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:34 am
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Thanks for all the ideas. :)

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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 4:21 pm
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If I got it right, that's a weird exercise Rhumba suggested. It seems like it'd work but it feels like I'm flashing a gang sign.


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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 4:28 pm
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maz12 wrote:
If I got it right, that's a weird exercise Rhumba suggested. It seems like it'd work but it feels like I'm flashing a gang sign.



Then keep your hand in your pocket. :D


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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 6:10 pm
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Could squeeze a racquette ball too.


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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 8:49 pm
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In addition to the suggestions above, play the guitar you want to take to get a good feel for it (new strings). Break a leg at your next gig. Have fun.

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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 10:04 pm
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Rhumba wrote:
A guitar players left hand should be slightly de-formed. In that when you spread the hand out, it should naturally fall with a pronounced gap between the 2nd and 3rd fingers. ( Mr Spock stylee )


wow it may sound dumb but i never noticed that :lol: :oops:

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Posted: Sat Jan 17, 2009 11:03 pm
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Snowy72 wrote:


I saw one of these two weeks ago, and am getting one for me and my son after the 1st of the month.


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