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Topic: “Dry Hands” What can I do |
Larry Ball
From: Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 2 Jan 2024 11:00 am
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I have researched the archives and found little info on the subject. I am working with a group that is playing a lot of songs that requires “Hammer Ons and Pull Offs”. The weight of the bar is not the problem, it is trying to hold on to it doing a “Pull Off”. I find as the gig wears on my hands warm up and it is easier to control however the “Bands” opening set requires lifting the bar. During setup etc especially in summer months my hands are fairly warm so it helps but winter months are a bearcat for dry skin types. I don’t like rubbing my hands with creams and then tying to hold the bar.. I use moisturizing creams later .
This post my sound a bit off centre but it is a problem associated with playing a Steel.
Thx
Larry _________________ Mullen SD10, Sho~Bud SD10 LDG, Show-Pro SD10 LDG, Peavey Nashville 112, Boss Katana 100 MK11, Telonic's F100 Multi-Taper Super Pro V/P, |
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Duane Becker
From: Elk,Wa 99009 USA
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Posted 2 Jan 2024 11:15 am
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Larry, I do have the same problem from time to time. I use moisturizing creams alot, but just before I play, I'm like you, I don't like the cream feeling on my hands, and I don't want to get it on my bar, picks, or strings. But I get dry hands all the time-the creams do help. I tend to wet my bar hand with water and dry it off just before I play. Do the same with the finger picks, but with the finger picks, I use my saliva-spit for the fingers-it does seem to weld my finger picks to my fingers. |
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Jon Light
From: Saugerties, NY
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Posted 2 Jan 2024 11:19 am
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Not miracle solutions but there are several polymer-type bars out there. Among them is the Clinesmith (that I've not tried) and a Telonics bar that I may be mislabeling as polymer -- it may be a bakelite sort of material. Which may be a polymer. I haven't a clue. Anyway, they are grippier than steel (or my #1 bars, Zircs). I've got a Telonics. It sacrifices a small amount of tonal shimmer but it feels a little less slippery, both summer (wet) and winter (dry). |
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Larry Ball
From: Airdrie, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 2 Jan 2024 12:07 pm
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Duane
I use Silva-Spit also which glues my finger picks on, I also try to spit on my left hand which helps.. I just try to hide that event from on lookers who would think that is a bit gross to be doing on stage.. Although I saw the “Late Great “ Buddy Emmons do it on stage in a video I was watching but that was at a Steel Guitar Convention. I only play with BJS Bars so I guess that will have to do… _________________ Mullen SD10, Sho~Bud SD10 LDG, Show-Pro SD10 LDG, Peavey Nashville 112, Boss Katana 100 MK11, Telonic's F100 Multi-Taper Super Pro V/P, |
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Bob Blair
From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Posted 2 Jan 2024 6:01 pm
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I do find the Clinesmith bars (and a couple of old Tribotones that they replaced) are a bit easier to hang onto. I like them quite a lot, but I like chrome bars like the BJS also. Having humidifiers where I sleep and where I do most of my playing at home seems to help a bit. Winters in Central Alberta get real dry - the colder it gets the dryer it gets. This year it's not been very cold so far. I play a lot of dobro as well as pedal steel and reverse slants with dry hands are a good way to send you bar flying. One thing I discovered by accident was that if I peeled a mandarin orange it made things less slippery - make of that what you will! |
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Duane Becker
From: Elk,Wa 99009 USA
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Posted 2 Jan 2024 9:25 pm
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Larry:
I think wetting my fingertips with my mouth silva is kinda bad hygiene. Being a clean freak, aways washing my hands and using hand sanitizers, I still do it. I seen Emmons do it several times, over a period of two or three Scotty shows, so that's why I started doing it. It's strange, and I tend to lean over and turn my body from the crowd, so they won't see. That's weird too, I guess. |
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Brian Lee
From: Washington, USA
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Posted 2 Jan 2024 9:30 pm
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I've had the exact same problem! Glad I'm not the only one. My hands have always been dry. It's great for regular guitar because my strings last a long time, but for holding on to the bar it's a real drag. I've only been playing pedal steel with a conventional round bar for about a year, so I'm still a real novice. I started with a 7/8" BJS bar, and have fairly large hands. It's beautiful, but I had a heck of a time doing pull offs with that bar, just a you describe. It seemed like the contact point of my fingers along the sides was even with the center of the bar so I couldn't get much purchase on it. I tried another brand 1" steel bar that I had around, but it's heavier than I like in general, and even though my fingers fit under the sides enough to get a better grip the extra weight worked against the better grip- so it was still hard to do pull offs. I made a 1' diameter bar with the center bored out to cut the weight down to about the same as the 7/8" bar and it has worked much better - haven't dropped it since. It's not as nice as a BJS, so I'll probably get one of their 1" lite bars when they are back in stock. The larger diameter with weight comparable to a 7/8" made a big difference for me. _________________ 52 Fender Dual 8, 2022 Jackson Pro V, '67 ZB 12 string, other guitars, amps. Harmonica player too. |
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Brian Spratt
From: Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 3 Jan 2024 12:27 pm
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Brian Lee wrote: |
... BJS, so I'll probably get one of their 1" lite bars when they are back in stock. The larger diameter with weight comparable to a 7/8" made a big difference for me. |
Glad to know I'm not the only one that has this issue as well. I've considered getting a larger diameter bar for this very reason. If I was gigging, I'd have to keep a wet rag handy during a set. |
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John Hyland
From: South Australia
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Bobby D. Jones
From: West Virginia, USA
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Posted 3 Jan 2024 5:11 pm
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There was someone making a bullet nose bar called a John Huey bar that has some weight drilled out of the center. |
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Raybob Bowman
From: S. Lake Tahoe, CA, USA
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Posted 3 Jan 2024 8:14 pm
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Coconut oil is best thing I've found for anything skin related. _________________ Sierra U12 4+5 / 1933 Dobro / homemade Tele B-bender |
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Andrew Frost
From: Toronto, Ontario
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Posted 5 Jan 2024 6:47 am
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Vaseline and toothpaste.
This mixture is also a good emergency studio trick if you need to 'age' a replacement flatwound bass string in a hurry... |
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Bobby D. Jones
From: West Virginia, USA
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Posted 6 Jan 2024 10:06 pm
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Washing dishes with dish wash soaps that cuts grease good will wreck your hands, Use Playtex/Rubber gloves.
Since COVID hit, Using the hand sanitizers with an alcohol base, Will dry your hands too.
Growing up on a farm milking cows. I still use Bag Balm when my hands get dry. |
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Ron Funk
From: Ballwin, Missouri
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Posted 7 Jan 2024 11:23 am Emmons Rosinit
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Larry Ball -
"Way back in the day" Emmons Guitar Company sold a small spray can of 'Rosinit' which, when sprayed on the underside of your index and middle fingers, allowed your extended fingers to literally raise the bar up from the strings, but still allowed your extended fingers and bar to provide great vibrato.
'Rosinit' was great for doing pull offs - and also really helpful when playing outdoor gigs on hot summer (sweaty) days....
I'm interested in finding a similar product currently available.
Anyone know of something currently avaiable?
Thanks,
Ron |
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Tony Dingus
From: Kingsport, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 7 Jan 2024 4:28 pm
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I have the same problem so I keep a damp rag or a small spray bottle to keep my hands damp. Works for me.
Tony |
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