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Topic: Age/Warm Up Time |
Roual Ranes
From:
Atlanta, Texas, USA
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Posted 23 Dec 2008 6:19 am |
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First of all I am a wannabe and will never be much else. I have found though that age or something is causing a longer warm-up time just to do what I normally could do. It seems that it is half way through the first set before the fingers go where I want them even though I try a warm-up time before we begin.
Any ideas? |
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Larry Bell
From:
Englewood, Florida
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Posted 23 Dec 2008 7:13 am
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Interesting observation.
For those of us who don't play 5 or 6 days a week it can be a challenge. I play shows 2 or 3 times a week on average and that's just not enough (on its own) to keep my chops up. When I sign on to a 6 day/wk gig, like a musical (like Patsy or Whorehouse), after the first week, I can sit down to my guitar at ANY TIME and play at the top of my game. I will not practice religiously -- I guess it's just not part of my religion. I will learn new stuff or work on arrangements for new instrumentals, but I won't just sit and play scales or finger exercises on a daily basis.
The only solution is PLAY MORE and play until it flows right. Play a variety of stuff that challenges you. Forward rolls, backward rolls, inside out patterns -- all the way up and down the neck. Don't just play along with rhythm tracks with no purpose. As soon as you miss a day or two you will lose something. Been there. Done that. Also, be aware that it's not HOW LONG you practice, it's WHAT you practice and the fact that you practice CORRECTLY. If you keep making a certain mistake FIX IT. If you don't you will make it forever and the more you play it wrong the more ingrained it will become in your playing.
With all that said, in many cases, you will be the only one who notices the 'cement fingers'. ALL musicians make mistakes from time to time. Learn not to make faces or gestures that let the entire world know "I just screwed up". Find a quick warmup for a gig situation that will get your fingers moving. I start on the bottom string and just play TIM on the bottom three, then move the pattern up a string -- in rhythm -- when I get to the top (or the third string on E9) I go up a fret and do it backwards (MIT on 345 then 456, etc). Start open and end at the 12th or 15th fret -- as fast as you can play it -- CLEAN. Works for me. But I still make mistakes on stuff I know I can play perfectly 9 out of 10 times (that 10th out of 10 ALWAYS seems to be onstage). It's a struggle but it's worth it.
_________________
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
My CD's: 'I've Got Friends in COLD Places' - 'Pedal Steel Guitar'
2021 Rittenberry S/D-12 8x7, 1976 Emmons S/D-12 7x6, 1969 Emmons S/D-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Quilter ToneBlock 202 TT-12 |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 23 Dec 2008 11:22 am
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As a general rule, I do several sets of scales before I plug in. Start out at medium speed and work up to where I can speed pick without messing up too badly.
After that, it's run through some simple melodies on and off amp. I am one of those from the old school where I will do a warm up no matter where I am playing or in front of how many people. |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 23 Dec 2008 1:31 pm
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I think we should all heed what Larry wrote here.
When a picker of his ability says it is like this or that, we can take it as the law because it obviously worked for him.
Great advice Larry and thanks! |
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Tom Quinn
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Posted 23 Dec 2008 4:56 pm
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| I was at a classic honkytonk on Sunday and decided not to play because there were so many musicians there and I figured I'd never get warmed up enough to really pick. Welcome to my 60s... -L- |
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Pete Finney
From:
Nashville Tn.
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Posted 23 Dec 2008 5:15 pm
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Unless I've been playing a lot (like at least a few hours a day) I try not to play in public or in the studio without playing at the house first for at least a half hour or so. Sometimes it's not possible, but it sure helps prevent those times when you feel you don't quite have it together.
I agree that warming up is best not done in public! |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 23 Dec 2008 6:46 pm
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| Quote: |
| It seems that it is half way through the first set before the fingers go where I want them... |
Then just "lay out", or fiddle with your amp 'til the second half of the first set, and no one will know you have a problem.
Seriously, try washing your hands in warm water just before you play. The added warmth may help loosen them up. |
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Jim Bob Sedgwick
From:
Clinton, Missouri USA
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Posted 23 Dec 2008 8:06 pm
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| As usual, Donny's right on!!! especially this time of year, it pays to get your hands warm. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 24 Dec 2008 5:14 pm
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nobody's right or wrong. i'll set up and not play a note til the first song is kicked off..it's not a problem for me, and i'm old, and i may not have played a lick for two weeks.
maybe it's different if you're in over your head or something. |
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David Pinkston
From:
Hendersonville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 25 Dec 2008 3:45 am Warming Up
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| The older I get the better I used to be... |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 26 Dec 2008 7:31 pm
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| I only play a couple times a month (if that, lately), but I tune up and play maybe a minute or two to make sure I am in tune. Never "warm up" by playing scales or anything prior to playing. I don't have any problem just taking off and playing when it's time to start. |
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