| Author |
Topic: Hangin on to the bar |
Gary Reed
|
Posted 21 May 2010 6:52 pm |
|
My hands are always very dry.
As you know this make the bar hard to hold on to.
Any suggestions? |
|
|
|
Morgan Scoggins
From:
Georgia, USA
|
Posted 22 May 2010 3:02 am
|
|
Hi Gary,
I have had the same problem since I started playing non pedal steel almost three years ago. I have to use a small Jerry Byrd style bullett nose bar because of the need to make reverse slants. I struggled for almost three years with moderate results, but I was always having issues with gripping the bar.
A few weeks ago, I purchased a pair of small exercize hand grips that you can buy in any drug store or Wal Mart. I kept one of them near my home computer and one next to my Remington Steelmaster. I got into the habit of picking them up 8 or 10 times a day and doing about 20 or so squeezes.
I have finally had some good results. My problems were due to a weak left hand due to age and some arthritus. I could move the bar around alright, but picking it up was the problem. I think I have begun to solve that problem.
_________________
"Shoot low boys, the're ridin' Shetlands" |
|
|
|
Don McGregor
From:
Memphis, Tennessee
|
Posted 22 May 2010 4:19 am
|
|
| Just like it sometimes helps when turning pages of a book to moisten the tips of your fingers, I find that just slightly moistening the tips of my thumb and first two fingers helps a lot. |
|
|
|
Bill Hatcher
From:
Atlanta Ga. USA
|
Posted 22 May 2010 6:48 am
|
|
| i dont use round bars. no problem |
|
|
|
Mel Taylor
From:
Alabama, USA
|
Posted 22 May 2010 7:11 am
|
|
Gary I have the same problem. I have a very strong grip so that's not the problem but it's very dry skin so that I have to be careful with anything I pick up because it just slips right out. I found a product called SORTKWIK that I use that works real well. I just put a light coat on the thumb, index and middle finger and it works great. It doesn't make your fingers feel sticky but provides just enough moisture to keep the bar from slipping out. I think I found this product at Office Depot it's been a while since I purchased it. Hope this suggestion helps out.
Mel Taylor |
|
|
|
Rick Collins
From:
Claremont , CA USA
|
Posted 22 May 2010 9:44 am
|
|
Gary, if your hands are chronically dry try this:
Get some surgical gloves, moisturize your hands and wear the gloves over night. You may have to repeat this a few times, until you habitually avoid soap.
Wash them with plain water in the morning.
Don't use soap washing you hands, use Cetaphil Lotion (OTC from the pharamacy).
Before eating wash them in plain water and use Gold Bond Hand Sanitizer Moisturizer.
Don't use soap (unless you have been working and they are really dirty) or anything alcohol based.
After taking a shower (in which case you will use soap) Use the G.B. Sanitizer Moisturizer on your hands afterward.
Wash your hands in plain water and dry them before you begin playing.
Wipe your strings down with a dry cloth when you finish playing (which you would do anyway).
It takes a short while to establish this as a habit. __ works for me. |
|
|
|
Lynn Oliver
From:
Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.
|
Posted 22 May 2010 9:53 am
|
|
| I have the opposite problem, and I find that my TriboTone bar is much easier to hold. They may work better for you as well. |
|
|
|
Steve Ahola
From:
Concord, California
|
Posted 22 May 2010 5:20 pm Re: Hangin on to the bar
|
|
| Gary Reed wrote: |
My hands are always very dry.
As you know this make the bar hard to hold on to.
Any suggestions? |
Gary:
Well, this is my suggestion and the solution for my own problem- it should also work for dry hands or sweaty hands. I know that it encourages poor "steel posture" but it does work and allows me to easily lift the bar up from the strings. My left hand is very strong from playing regular guitar but medical issues limit what it can do. I have the JD 918 and 919 bars but as the diameter gets smaller I find it difficult to get my thumb and diameter below the "equator" of the steel. Securing the metal thumbpick to the bar with Radio Shack's Heavy Duty Super Fasteners gives me the assist I need. And I find that it allows me to move the bar around a lot faster, without worrying about it flying off and injuring someone.  Note: I no longer wear the fingerpick so tightly on my index finger but just insert the tip loosely so that I can rotate the bar as needed.
The National NS finger pick was coated by Andy Hinton- I flattened it out with pliers and used Gorilla Glue Epoxy to help out the self-adhesive properties of the Super Fastener. BTW those Super Fasteners work great if you want to secure one piece of equipment on top of another, but still need to be able to remove it. I believe that they are mfg'd in EU and I have not seen them in any other store.
Good luck!
Steve Ahola
P.S. You might also look into Jay Siebert's ceramic bars; I don't know how they would work with dry hands but they are a little bit lighter than SS (like 5.5 oz vs 7.5 oz but YMMV!) Check out his thread here for more details.
_________________
www.blueguitar.org
Recordings on electric guitar:
http://www.box.net/blue-diamonds
http://www.box.net/the-culprits |
|
|
|
Gary Reed
|
Posted 22 May 2010 6:24 pm
|
|
You guys are great!
Thanks for all the ideas,
Gary |
|
|
|
