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GMC Forum _ PRACTICE ROOM _ Physical Exercise Questions

Posted by: sigma7 Apr 23 2008, 08:27 PM

is it true that when you play guitar, you cant do weight bearing exercises such as pushups or weights?...or else your hand cramps up

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Apr 23 2008, 08:29 PM

I heard this one too..Can't wait for answers .. wink.gif

Posted by: PolackHax0r Apr 23 2008, 08:30 PM

huh.gif I've never heard this before. I lift and don't have any problems. Dad's a bodybuilder and doesn't have any problems....

Posted by: ZakkWylde Apr 23 2008, 08:40 PM

I do bodybuilding and I have no deficits at all.

Besides there are guitarists who don't look like they never lifted a weight and play guitar or Bass:





Posted by: SinoMan Apr 23 2008, 09:33 PM

I would say it might even be beneficial.

When I think my hand hurts from playing bass, I lift some weights in the gym and then I see what's a real overuse pain laugh.gif

Posted by: Harris Sopovic Apr 23 2008, 09:38 PM

From my own experience i can say that you will get cramps when playing guitar if you havent stretched properly after lifting weights. But aslong as you do that, there shouldnt be any problem at all.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Apr 23 2008, 11:03 PM

QUOTE (SinoMan @ Apr 23 2008, 10:33 PM) *
I would say it might even be beneficial.

When I think my hand hurts from playing bass, I lift some weights in the gym and then I see what's a real overuse pain laugh.gif


Yeah bass requires some extra effort when playing it smile.gif
I lifted weights a long time ago...Didn't notice anything but I heard the story..

Posted by: rokchik Apr 23 2008, 11:35 PM

I think in the recent issue of Guitar World George Lynch talked about this in the "dear guitar hero" section. Said basically that when he was into bodybuilding he cared more about it then playing guitar. He eventually found that if he played an extended solo his hands would cramp up.

Personally I think this could be true but it would depend on your training and practice routines. If your lifing heavy and not giving your muscles time to rest before you jump in and play well you could certainly experience some muscle fatigue which could cause you to cramp up. Also with lifting you'd be targetting different muscle groups then when you play guitar. If your more focused on lifing and not guitar well the muscles you use while playing will be weaker so you could increase your chance of fatigue when you do play.

I think exercise would certainly benefit your playing more then hurt but it all centers around a good balance and good routine. As long as you give your muscles adiquate time to rest, you exercise yourplaying muscles and incorporate a good stretching routine into both your playing and lifting you should be OK.

But I'm no expert, just my opinion. smile.gif

rok

Also with regard to your hands with lifting you really don't move your fingers around, your mostly just gripping the bar. This could also lead to fatigue in the hands and arms if your fingers are not getting a good work out on the fret board:) Just think of the first time you started practicing guitar, if your like me my hands got tired pretty quick. More I practiced the less tired they got.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Apr 24 2008, 12:39 AM

I heard that wightlifting can slow down hands and fingers. Is this true?

Posted by: Gus Apr 24 2008, 01:07 AM

I myself have been bodybuilding a lot recently and also playing guitar. I never been so good on both of them and reason is that I've been practicing them harder than before.
But, looking at Jimmy Page and Zakk Wylde I would say:

It doesn't matter , as long as you stretch and warm up properly for both guitar and weight lifting...

Posted by: RIP Dime Apr 24 2008, 04:23 AM

I work out and have no problems. Doesn't seem to have slowed down http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbAGN1tb8xM&feature=related. Even though his tone is garbage these days, his vibrato is amazing, and he can still shred.
Maybe this is an excuse for all the really skinny guitar players out there. laugh.gif

Posted by: stratman33 Apr 24 2008, 04:27 AM

ya i lift weights, and i have no problems at all smile.gif

Posted by: Nemanja Filipovic Apr 24 2008, 06:40 AM

I think you can do any thing you want,as log as you do exercise for your wrists,palying tennis I think it could slow you a bit,because your hand position when you hold a racket.

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