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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ A Little Help Please

Posted by: chrisn May 21 2008, 06:42 PM


Recently when I have been gigging, toward the end of the set my left hand(I'm right handed) has started to cramp and sieze up when playing bar chords. Ive not had this problem before and wondered what I could do to sort it?

I play a Rickenbacker 330/6 live, but we not playing live it stays in it's case and I practise on a Strat around the house. The rickenbacker has a thicker neck than the strat and I think this may be part of the problem but am not sure.

Any ideas?

Cheers in advance

Posted by: Iluha May 21 2008, 06:59 PM

QUOTE (chrisn @ May 21 2008, 07:42 PM) *
Recently when I have been gigging, toward the end of the set my left hand(I'm right handed) has started to cramp and sieze up when playing bar chords. Ive not had this problem before and wondered what I could do to sort it?

I play a Rickenbacker 330/6 live, but we not playing live it stays in it's case and I practise on a Strat around the house. The rickenbacker has a thicker neck than the strat and I think this may be part of the problem but am not sure.

Any ideas?

Cheers in advance


Can you practice with the rickenbacker at home? it defintly sounds that the problem is because the neck is thicker, it also could be because you'r playing live in a diffrent pose than while siting down, maybe try tightening the strap a bit to make it more comfortable.

but if it keeps happenins or even gets worse than you should stop for a while and let you'r arm rest.

Posted by: chrisn May 21 2008, 07:07 PM

Cheers

Yeah I can play the Rickenbacker at home, just been a bit protective of it. That'll need to change!

Cheers


Posted by: DeepRoots May 21 2008, 07:09 PM

I agree with Iluha, practise using your Rickenbacker at home, or use your strat standing up while playing at home. Or use the Rickenbacker standing up practising at home! Doesn't sound like a major problem- just need to get used to how you play live.

Also, you may be tempted with this different neck to "squeeze" the barre to apply pressure. For barring i reccomend that all the pressure for making the barre stay on the fretboard should come from you pulling your left arm backwards while barring (as opposed to using you hand muscles to squeeze). This way you'll find you'll get far less cramp in your hand. Try it out!

Posted by: chrisn May 21 2008, 07:33 PM

Cheers biggrin.gif

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic May 21 2008, 08:23 PM

Definitely is the problem of playing a diffrent guitar on stage and home..Just practice home with the same instrument..Also I'm sure when you are playing live- you apply more pressure to the neck because of adrenalin and everything , and than get tired more easily smile.gif Just practice playing chords at home to build up endurance smile.gif

Posted by: Hisham Al-Sanea May 21 2008, 08:36 PM

changing guitar is a one thing from your problem and the other thing how long you didnt gigging from the last
gig .thats also make a problem some times

Posted by: chrisn May 21 2008, 08:41 PM

I also do no stretching or warm ups

Is this something you guys all do?

Posted by: DeepRoots May 21 2008, 08:45 PM

QUOTE (chrisn @ May 21 2008, 08:41 PM) *
I also do no stretching or warm ups

Is this something you guys all do?

!!!!

Yes, you should always warm up! Especially before i gig! (also every practise session)

Check here:
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guitar/warming-up-with-marcus-siepen/

Posted by: Iluha May 21 2008, 08:53 PM

QUOTE (chrisn @ May 21 2008, 09:41 PM) *
I also do no stretching or warm ups

Is this something you guys all do?


Well it really depends on the player, because some players don't want/need to warm up, but if you want to be on the safe side than you defintly should spend some time backstage warming up!

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic May 21 2008, 10:16 PM

You should strech and warm up fingers before you gig. Also be sure to practice everything you play on a gig with a metronome while standing at home. This will make your standing playing technique much better.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic May 22 2008, 12:40 AM

You should definitely do some stretching and warm up before a gig...That is must and we all do it...Just do regular routing and play around guitar slowly..That gets you both relaxed and warmed up for a gig smile.gif

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