How Much Warm Up Do You Really Need ? |
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How Much Warm Up Do You Really Need ? |
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Aug 7 2014, 12:02 PM |
Here's a good video interview with John Petrucci. About 15 minutes in he talks about the stamina involved in playing a live show. The ironic thing is that most of us focus our practise time on lead guitar techniques. During band practise or live shows, we're going to be spending the least amount of time on lead playing and most of it on rhythm.
http://www.iguitarmag.com/magazine-edition...i_interviewmp4/ In case the video link doesn't work, you can find it the latest issue of Guitar Interactive http://www.iguitarmag.com/ He also talks about warming up before shows and how there doesn't seem to be a consistent way of ensuring a good night of playing. For a long time I've believed that our psychological approach when going to the guitar has a lot to do with whether we feel like we can 'do it' or not. I was pleased to see that John also comes to this conclusion too. The reason I think this way is because I've gone through different periods of effectiveness and non effectiveness in my playing over the years. During the times where I believed that I needed to go through a specific routine for X amount of time, my playing would feel non confident, hesitant, unsure, weak. Physically I would feel like I was not as capable. I had psychologically set a scene and my hands followed it up. In short, I think that believing we need such a massive and extensive warm up is undermining our actual abilities. I remember seeing some people saying things like if they didn't warm up for 1 hour 30 mins that would not be able to play. They said these things with such conviction too. It wasn't "If I don't warm up for 1hr 30 mins I might not feel ready" it was ".. I won't be able to play." Notice how definitive that statement is. That kind of thinking sets a definite negative outcome on a situation. Ask yourself if you think that would improve your guitar session or make it less effective ? I might be divisive in saying this but I'll say it anyway. If you think you've got to warm up for an hour or more just to play guitar then something's wrong. Somewhere along the line, you've either done something or experienced some sort of disappointing event in order to sap your confidence in your abilities to the point where you believe you have to go through some obsessively long compulsive ritual in order for things to 'go right'. This is not hyperbole or conjecture. I know it to be true because I've lived it. Warm up is really just about blood flow. And mindset. If you've got those two things happening then you're ready. |
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Aug 7 2014, 04:51 PM |
I agree.
For me, 10 to 15 minutes of playing before a gig lets my head and hands realize that in fact I do know how to play the guitar. If I can hear everything when I'm up there and my sound is where I want it to be then I'm much more apt to play well. Definitely a 'comfort' thing for me. A lot of folks have various rituals they go through before the gig that are more important to them than warming up on their instrument. Adrian Belew likes to change his own strings. Pat Metheny goes running. Mike Stern swims. It also (IMO) depends on how much you play/gig in general. If you gig 4 to 6 nights a week - ? Trust me, you're warmed up. If you only play once or twice a month you probably 'feel' less confident. Playing a lot the day of the gig is probably really important to get your head and hands into the place they need to be. Though it doesn't need to be right before the show. This post has been edited by klasaine: Aug 7 2014, 05:04 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Aug 7 2014, 10:03 PM |
On bigger tours you do get a lot time between sound check and show.
You can definitely 'take your time' in those situations. -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Aug 8 2014, 08:02 AM |
I often have to gig with no warm up, and it's work. The days I play lots or have time to spend with my guitar before the gig, then it seems effortless, part of it is being warmed up but the most part is feeling at home on the neck, that it is an extension of you
-------------------- My SoundCloud
Gear Tyler Burning Water 2K Burny RLG90 with BK Emeralds Fender US Tele with BK Piledrivers Epiphone 335 with Suhr Thornbuckers PRS SE Custom 24-08 Ax8 Fessenden SD10 PSG Quilter TT15 |
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Aug 8 2014, 02:10 PM |
I gently pull back each finger and hold it there for around 10 seconds. Really helps me loosen up the finger muscles and helps with fluency before starting a show or gig!
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Aug 8 2014, 05:07 PM |
I've pretty much given up on even trying to warm up before a show. There's too much going on to find a quiet place - loading equipment, and then there's people who walk up to chat, etc. These days I just make sure that the firs 2 songs don't have a difficult solo right out of the gate - I pretty much just warm up on stage.
In terms of having good/bad days - not being able to find a consistent routine - I've found that to be true of sport - some days your metabolism is "on fire" and able to do amazing things, and other days it's just not. Your physical "mood" is not something you can control (I don't think), so learning to deal with its valleys are typically the focus of pros - the mental aspect of the game, as you say. My 2 cents. Here's a good video interview with John Petrucci. About 15 minutes in he talks about the stamina involved in playing a live show. The ironic thing is that most of us focus our practise time on lead guitar techniques. During band practise or live shows, we're going to be spending the least amount of time on lead playing and most of it on rhythm. http://www.iguitarmag.com/magazine-edition...i_interviewmp4/ In case the video link doesn't work, you can find it the latest issue of Guitar Interactive http://www.iguitarmag.com/ He also talks about warming up before shows and how there doesn't seem to be a consistent way of ensuring a good night of playing. For a long time I've believed that our psychological approach when going to the guitar has a lot to do with whether we feel like we can 'do it' or not. I was pleased to see that John also comes to this conclusion too. The reason I think this way is because I've gone through different periods of effectiveness and non effectiveness in my playing over the years. During the times where I believed that I needed to go through a specific routine for X amount of time, my playing would feel non confident, hesitant, unsure, weak. Physically I would feel like I was not as capable. I had psychologically set a scene and my hands followed it up. In short, I think that believing we need such a massive and extensive warm up is undermining our actual abilities. I remember seeing some people saying things like if they didn't warm up for 1 hour 30 mins that would not be able to play. They said these things with such conviction too. It wasn't "If I don't warm up for 1hr 30 mins I might not feel ready" it was ".. I won't be able to play." Notice how definitive that statement is. That kind of thinking sets a definite negative outcome on a situation. Ask yourself if you think that would improve your guitar session or make it less effective ? I might be divisive in saying this but I'll say it anyway. If you think you've got to warm up for an hour or more just to play guitar then something's wrong. Somewhere along the line, you've either done something or experienced some sort of disappointing event in order to sap your confidence in your abilities to the point where you believe you have to go through some obsessively long compulsive ritual in order for things to 'go right'. This is not hyperbole or conjecture. I know it to be true because I've lived it. Warm up is really just about blood flow. And mindset. If you've got those two things happening then you're ready. -------------------- The more I practice, the more I wish I had time to practice!
My Band Forum: http://passionfly.site/chat |
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Aug 8 2014, 06:47 PM |
Your physical "mood" is not something you can control (I don't think), so learning to deal with its valleys are typically the focus of pros - the mental aspect of the game, as you say. This is super important. I'm sure 'some' folks can actually control their physical mood by some mental process. I can't - other than to mentally prepare for the task at hand. Knowing what you can or cannot pull off is a key element in performance. When you're just not getting it, how do you deal with it? Do you 'go for it' and potentially urinate all over the song/show? Or, do you simplify and adjust? *We've all seen the figure skaters who don't go for the triple in the compulsory program. This post has been edited by klasaine: Aug 8 2014, 07:06 PM -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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Aug 9 2014, 06:58 AM |
In regard to 'practicing' I consider warming up part of practicing.
A lot of the time my practice consists only of exercises. -------------------- - Ken Lasaine
https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/foolin-the-clouds https://soundcloud.com/klasaine2/surfin-at-the-country-hop Soundcloud assorted ... https://soundcloud.com/klasaine3 New record ... http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/kenlasaine Solo Guitar ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...5iIdO2tpgtj25Ke Stuff I'm on ... https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXZh...b-dhb-4B0KgRY-d |
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