Get a Grip

[Rick Hanzlik]

This has got to be one of the strangest question ever posted on this forum but I'll ask it anyway. I has a couple of different steel bars, both are the stainless bullet nose jobs. One is polished chrome the other is burnished or dull. Both are 7/8" in diameter and about 3" long. I find I cannot get a grip on these bars. Any suggestions? I used to use(30 years (ago) a black Rajah and I don't recall that it was that difficult to hold onto. Am I doing something wrong? Maybe a smaller diameter would be better?

[Billy Tonnesen]

You do not want to get a strong grip on the bar. The idea is to lay your fingers just hard enough to guide the Bar where you want it to go with a minimal amount of down pressure. You can make your fingers a little more tacky with a finger salve for turning pages from a Office Supply Store.

[Mike Neer]

What Billy said. There's much less tension than you think, and it's mostly a feel thing that you develop through time. The more you try to grip it, the more trouble you'll have controlling it.

[Rick Hanzlik]

Thank's I'll try the tacky salve.the other thing I thought about was to use the contour bar I have for my Dobro.

[Ray Shakeshaft]

When I asked a similar question some time ago it was suggested that washing hands and bar before you start to play would work. It does.

[Eric Ebner]

You could try a Tribo-Tone bar. Well known for being super easy to hold. Similar grip quality to the Rajah you describe. They grip pretty well wet or dry. Full disclosure: To your question... smaller diameter bars are generally considered harder to hold.

[Jim Brobeck]

I use a Tribo Tone and I love it. I was used to a contoured bar and had a hard time holding the bullet shape until I devised a stickon solution. I cut a couple 1-2" long pieces of two-sided Scotch Mounting tape. I tapered the pieces to my liking and put them on the bullet bar. Then I took a small piece of leather from an old glove and applied it to the top sticky surface of the mounted tape.
It lasts for 40 hours of play and I think I may be weaned off the handle after a while.
Jim Brobeck

[Charles Davidson]

Would'nt a tacky or sticky substance get on the strings ? I use the Shubb two or the carter bar with the grooves on the sides,on Dobro or pedal steel.easy to hold and control. [for me anyway]. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.

[Bob Hoffnar]

I also put in a vote for the tribo-tone bar. Its not slippery while being smoother than a metal bar.