Build a Guitar Warm-up Routine

Comment

Comment by Walt Pilcher on May 13, 2009 at 6:38am

I'm with you, Bill!

Although I subscribe to AG, I hadn't noticed this article/video until Derrick over in the Acoustic Newb group, pointed it out to us today. I've just printed out the article and bookmarked this video. Thanks, editors!

Comment by Bill Deskin on April 20, 2009 at 10:40am

I really appreciate these warm up exercises...At age 67 it takes me a while to get these fingers to moving the way I would like......This helps a bunch............Thanks, Bill

Comment by Doc Fleetwood on February 18, 2009 at 8:19am

Mr. Gabel, Mr. Gerkin & Mr. Perlmutter
Thank you for an excellent article and video posting on the subject of warm-up/conditioning exercises for the guitarist. Let me preface by saying that I know a little bit about human anatomy and the biomechanics of the human body. Doc is not just a nickname and, though I no longer actively practice, I, for years, addressed the injuries and the prevention of injuries with performing artists, especially muscians. I was pleased to to see the article begin by addressing playing guitar as an athletic endeavor. I actually equate guitarists/musicians to, and teach my students that they are, elite athletes. We do the same activities, repetative fine and gross motor motions, during hours of practice to attain a very high level of skill execution in our sport/art. This, as with any athlete, often leads to acute and chronic injuries especially of performed inefficiently or without requisite conditoning. The problem I saw in my practice, and as a guitar teacher for the last 38 years, is that most guitarists don't realize this and, rather, are notorious for avoiding that conditioning. After all how often have we heard someone say, “I was never a 'jock' but was in (a) band or played music”, and, unfortunately, were never taught the need to condition as was the athlete. I've also noted that many guitar teachers, who were never taught this need and subsequently don't perform as much as they used to because of their own playing injuries, don't teach their students to condition. After all you can't teach what you don't know. I would love to see more articles with a focus on this subject in your, and other guitar/music magazines, that could help the young player start out right, and help the older player, who is beginning to feel the results of years of playing, return to playing without the pain and limitations they've come to accept as “getting old”. Thanks again for addressing a subject that is too often glossed over in the artistic world.
Doc Fleetwood

Comment by Dan Gabel, Editor & Group Publisher on February 17, 2009 at 10:36am

Thanks for the additional tips, Jeff.

And here's the link to the Warm-up Routine story on our website.

Comment by Jeff Williams on February 17, 2009 at 1:22am

to further clarify my TIP ..
Once you lay all your fingers down .. pick up one finger at a time and place it on the next note on the next string.
Continue down all the strings and then try the same example in descending order.
Try it in several locations on the neck .. the lower frets will be a bit harder because of the increased distance of the frets ..
It also helps with finger and hand strength ..
Have Fun ..
Jeff

Jeff Williams
www.jeffwilliams-usa.com

Comment by Jeff Williams on February 17, 2009 at 1:16am

i thought this might be a companion to some of the luthier tips .. hehe ..
Great tips ..
I find the 3rds example very beneficial
here is one of my own ..
Ever had a problem of "flying fingers" or "curling fingers" . this will help
Use the same chromatic example as demonstrated in examples 1 & 2 ..
BUT .. once you lay your fingers down KEEP all of them down ..
When you play example 2 lay all your fingers down and don't move them till you need to play the next note on the string above.
it's quite difficult but it will teach you to keep your fingers a few millimeters from the strings and your fingers will have less distance to travel.
This will make your faster since your closer to the intended note ..
Hope this you have fun with this one ..
I'm happy to help ..
Cheers
Jeff

Jeff Williams
www.jeffwilliams-usa.com