Revitalizing Guitar Exercises - Recover strength and agility in your hands

John Watt

Member
I always tried to visit the jazzers when I was gigging around,
learning circular breathing so I could breathe a note forever on sax, trumpet or harmonica.

This didn't start out as a stress-free finger revitalization.
Those first three strings are the start of a Cream song,
if you were blasting them out with a Les Paul through Marshall stacks.

One of the better finger exercises that doesn't involve hot water or devices,
is simply taking your hand, spreading your fingers out, and pressing it down on a surface.
Using your other hand to spread out the fingers is a big part of it, really strain,
and then with your hand still pressing down,
pick up the end of each finger and lift it as high as you can, maybe till it hurts,
and you'll be keeping your joints looser and more stretched out.

Other than that, take care of your hands, don't punch anything.
You look like you've had an injury to the little finger on your left hand.
Someone took a 1/4" automotive grinder to my big barre chord finger,
right to the bone. It took over two years to heal from that,
turning it into a big rise of hard skin, before it softened and flattened out,
leaving a little, shiny scar.

I jus'hafta say, I am a professional musician,
yeah, probably sleeping more than you've been alive, but,
all these videos inspire my creative and competitive self.
I might just make a quick acoutic guitar video for a guitar exercise.

It would be just playing on the G string. Open strings are allowed.
 

John Watt

Member
Okay, I'm playing an Art & Lutherie "Ami" guitar, a parlour guitar, a $200 guitar,
made from fallen cherry and silver maple in Quebec, Canada, now owned by Godin.
Yes, it's got a great deal with the hardware.
I took off the copper anodized strings right away, and put on Ernie Ball 10's,
the only strings I've been using since 1970, with the same Fender Small, Heavy Thick Pick.
It sounds twangy, I'm playing in the dark, and I'm not close to the camera.
I always have a hard time watching other musicians playing, on or off stage,
and I'm surprised at this late stage of my life,
I'm feeling competitive about putting up videos.
Just over four minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5IJ0dqBMP8&feature=youtu.be
 

onacarom

Member
Okay, I'm playing an Art & Lutherie "Ami" guitar, a parlour guitar, a $200 guitar,
made from fallen cherry and silver maple in Quebec, Canada, now owned by Godin.
Yes, it's got a great deal with the hardware.
I took off the copper anodized strings right away, and put on Ernie Ball 10's,
the only strings I've been using since 1970, with the same Fender Small, Heavy Thick Pick.
It sounds twangy, I'm playing in the dark, and I'm not close to the camera.
I always have a hard time watching other musicians playing, on or off stage,
and I'm surprised at this late stage of my life,
I'm feeling competitive about putting up videos.
Just over four minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5IJ0dqBMP8&feature=youtu.be

Thanks for your comments John :guitar:
 

John Watt

Member
Come on now, onacarom, even if you're still ricocheting around your room,
you on a carom artist you.
This is the second time you've thanked me for my comments,
without saying anything about the video I made for you.
I'm not saying you should listen to the whole thing, no, not at all,
leave that for me,
but you created the competitive desire for me to put something up,
trying to match your output, with what I've got.

Your further comments are also needed as you began this thread.
I know I'm waiting.
But, no more videos for you, or soup, even if you're knocking on my door,
with a tag that says I want to comment but I never did.
Don't be shy.
 
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