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Topic: Exercising the bar hand |
Ransom Beers
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Posted 14 Feb 2012 1:14 pm |
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| When I play for long periods my hand gets fatigued & I've found a way to strengthen it by using a 1 in. spring clamp & repeatedly squeezing to help build up muscle.Do any of you use a similar exercise? |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 14 Feb 2012 2:31 pm
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I used to use one of those units that is similar to the pic below. I got it after I had surgery on my right arm and hand. The Physical Therapist got it for me. I used it with both hands though. I think they work great for strengthening both hands for the steel guitar. The spring clamp probably works just as good.
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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 14 Feb 2012 3:02 pm Cramping/tiring bar hand
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I don't do any special exercises, nor do I recommend them unless there is some underlying physiological problem. Holding and guiding the bar actually requires very little effort - it should be a lot less strenuous than writing with a pen or pencil.
If someone can't take the bar out of your hand easily when you're playing, you're holding it too tight!  |
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Ransom Beers
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Posted 14 Feb 2012 3:08 pm
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Last edited by Ransom Beers on 14 Feb 2012 3:09 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 14 Feb 2012 5:16 pm
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If the hand fatigue comes with cramping and/or numbness, your guitar (or your chair) is the wrong height.
Your wrist should neither dip nor arch in the transition from arm to hand.
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2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Clete Ritta
From:
San Antonio, Texas
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Posted 15 Feb 2012 1:37 am
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Pull-ups/chin-ups on a bar in a door jamb. Its a great general upper body exercise, and increases grip strength too. I agree with Donny though about being relaxed with the bar and also with Lane about wrist angle. I think that was the cause of my problem when I first started. Also, bar size can affect it too. I went to a larger 12 string bar. It was just so much more comfortable for me that I never went back to the normal size and weight of the 10 string bar.
Clete |
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Ransom Beers
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Posted 15 Feb 2012 4:43 am
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"Pull-ups/chin-ups on a bar in a door jamb"
Clete I used to do a lot of chin-ups & pull-ups on a bar stool back in the day,doesn't seem to help my steel playin' tho.(jus' kiddin')
Thanks for the advice & comments. |
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Ransom Beers
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Posted 15 Feb 2012 4:49 am
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| Lane Gray wrote: |
If the hand fatigue comes with cramping and/or numbness, your guitar (or your chair) is the wrong height.
Your wrist should neither dip nor arch in the transition from arm to hand. |
Thanks for that advice Lane,since I kicked the back of my guitar up 1 1/8 in. it doesn't get as tired as before.I have adjustments on my seat so maybe I'll experiment some with that also. |
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