Any tips on bar hand fatigue

Ransom Beers · Posted 21 Apr 2010 7:00 am

How to keep your bar hand from getting fatigued? After playing awhile my hand gets fatigued & I have a tendency drop my hand then I get string buzz.Any body got any tips to correct this?

Ransom Beers · Posted 21 Apr 2010 7:34 am

Hmm,guess not!!

Paul E. Brennan · From: Dublin, Ireland

Are you holding the bar too tightly?

Jay Seibert · From: Woodland, WA, USA

You might think consider using a lighter bar for less hand/muscle stress...

I make ceramic bars in three diameters and four lengths... they have excellent sustain, a warmer tone than steel and weigh a bit less than steel.... only $20! You can check out player reviews and comments in other posts on the Forum (search Paloma Stone Slides) and my web site... www.stoneslides.com/products

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Stephen Silver · From: Asheville, NC

Ransom,

I had not played steel in many years when I had the calling again 5-6 years ago.

I was amazed as I started to play again how weak my left hand was. It would cramp and it was difficult to play more than 30-45 minutes at a time.

The only thing I could figure out to do was to work the muscles just as if I were in training for a sport. nothing specific, but I played for as long as I could, would take a break, then get back to it again.

After a month or two the symptoms disappeared. I don;'t know how long you've been playing orwhat your playing schedule is but I think you just need to move through it, play as much each day as you can and strenghten your left hand through exercise to build up the muscles.

IMHO using a lighter bar is not the answer. As so many have said before, and Jeff Newman has stated this clearly, a lot of the tone of your instrument comes from your left hand. Build it up with repetition and exercise.

YMMV
SS
YMMV
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Olli Haavisto · From: Jarvenpaa,Finland

Experiment with different seat heights.
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Brint Hannay · From: Maryland, USA

I'm no master player, but my approach is to think of the left hand as just resting on the bar and guiding it, holding it lightly, not really gripping it, or pressing it on the strings. The weight of the bar itself is enough (I use a solid stainless steel 15/16" bar), so pressing isn't necessary. So from my perspective a lighter bar wouldn't be the way to go.

Naturally, it's not an absolute; no doubt I use a little pressure at least sometimes, but I find cultivating a mindset of "relaxed hand" avoids fatigue and actually leads to better sound as well. Proof: Just let another steel player be in the audience and my sound goes to hell and my left hand gets tired really quick!

Chris Dorch · From: Wisconsin, USA

Perhaps you are holding the bar incorrectly? Don't look for me to educate you since... well... I am not that good... But, I don't think I have ever experienced bar-hand fatigue. Maybe it's the 20+ years of 6 string playing... *shrug* Best of luck...

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

I hold my bar weird (so I've been told) with my thumb way back. I can't seem to control the placement of my thumb. Anyway, when I haven't played in a while, my bar hand begins to cramp between thumb and fore finger. I find that the more I play, the less of a problem it becomes. Holding bar loser might help. I don't know. I am just offering an opinion. Take it for what its worth. It and a buck and a half outta get you a cup of coffee. Smile

Joe
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Stephen Silver · From: Asheville, NC

Ransom, another thought. In Jeff Newmans Pedal Steel Guitar Techniques Jeff holds the bar oh so loosely; the bar is actually 'wiggling in the back. In fact I don't recall having seen anyone else doing this, but it is something I have been doing the past year or so and it requires little if any pressure eaither side to side or downward.

Hard to explain, easier to watch the DVD.

SS
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Life is mostly Attitude and Timing

Don Brown, Sr. · From: New Jersey

Ransom, Playing long hours, my hand would at times cramp. The trick to that was to have your regular playing bar, but to also have another that is larger. In my case, I would just grab the 1" bar and instantly, the cramping would be gone. After finishing out that set, I'd go back to the smaller bar, and no more cramping. Winking

Hope that helps you......... Don

Ransom Beers · Posted 21 Apr 2010 10:51 am

I use a John Pearse "Big Daddy" drilled out to almost the end & I have it stuffed full of foam material.I also have a Dunlop I" bar I got from Tom Bradshaw that I use to stregthen my hand but it still gets fatigue.As someone mentioned I may be putting to much pressure on it when I don't really need to.Thanks for the advice & help,I'll try some of the approaches mentioned here & see if that helps.

Jonathan Cullifer · From: Gallatin, TN

It would seem to me that a heavier bar would require less downward pressure than a lighter one.

Ransom Beers · Posted 21 Apr 2010 11:22 am

Thats my way of thinkin' too but too heavy makes it harder to control don'tcha think? I haven't weighed the "Big Daddy" since I had it drilled out but it feels almost as light as my 3/4 Dunlop bar.I find the bigger bar & less weight has a better feel & more control at least for me but it still fatigues my hand after awhile.Oh well,practice,practice ,maybe I'll even be able to tell what song I'm trying to play.Might even get one "O" them thar plastit un's'.

Steve Broatch · From: Newcastle, England

Ransom I know what you mean. I occassionally get some fatigue/cramping in my bar hand if I'm practicing some difficult phrasing or lick repeatedly.

I start gripping the bar tightly when I'm really concentrating and I don't realise I'm doing it until my hand begins to hurt.

Bit like some guitar players who unconsciously pull all kinds of strange faces when they're playing something intricate. Alien

Ransom Beers · Posted 21 Apr 2010 2:25 pm

I sat down behind that blue monster awhile ago keeping in mind some of the advice given here & it wasn't too bad then.Maybe I'll get it right one day,then look out you guys,I'll come a gunnin fer ye!!

Paul Sutherland · From: Placerville, California

I have found that a clean, oil-free bar is much easier to hold. I wash my bar (and finger picks) almost everyday. A slippery bar take more muscle tension to control. That certainly contributes to left hand fatigue. That may not be your issue; but then it could be.

Ransom Beers · Posted 21 Apr 2010 3:50 pm

Well I don't think my hands are greasy,course they do say its finger lickin' good.Hee,hee.I think the main thing is I'm gripping too hard,I'll try to be more relaxed & see if that helps.I do thank everyone for the advice & it is well received.

Rick Barnhart · From: Arizona, USA

Ransom, a good friend of mine fell and broke his left wrist. He had to wear a wrist brace while he healed and his "bar" hand became pretty weak. He couldn't hold his bar for very long. I recommended that he use a soft exercise ball to strengthen his hand. It seemed to work for him.

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Ransom Beers · Posted 21 Apr 2010 4:56 pm

I've got a clamp thats spring loaded,I use that sometimes but haven't for awhile ,might have to dig it out & start back useing it.

Steve Palousek · From: Holland. Texas, USA

Find the biggest sob in the beer joint and hit him(bar in hand)as hard as you can.

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

Ransom Beers · Posted 22 Apr 2010 2:30 am

All good advice & I will take into consideration.Thanks! ~Nick~

I wanna gal just like the gal that ran off with dear ol' dad!!!

Joe Drivdahl · From: Montana, USA

Jamie Lennon · From: Nashville, TN

I had same problem starting using a longer bar, solved the problem straight away
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