Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: Tarzan on April 28, 2007, 04:18:14 PM
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Yes, another (probably stupid) question from me
Is it actually necessary to warm up before practicing?
If so, what do you all recommend to do to warm up, and for how long?
cheers
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jumping jacks.
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That's for you to decide. I only warm up (this applies for piano also) when I feel I need to, like when it's cold or I'm tired, but otherwise you can just start playing what you would normally and you'll pretty quickly reach your peak.
Some people go the way of picking exercises and stretches, but I really don't see the point unless it's before a gig or something.
Some guys (John Myung [Dream Theater]) even warm DOWN after a show, so basically, there is no definate warmup 'method', just do whatever works for you.
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In short.... yes
You'l end up injuring yourself especially if you have a long practise sesion ahead.
Funnily enough it's actually not a good idea to strech befor you play/do sport as you loose 20% of your muscle strength when you stretch, it's best to do stretching on your warm down, and do a more extended warm up that incorperates some light stretchs into it.
(Last thing i learnt befor i quit county badminton)
I just apply this to guitar too.
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Yes.
Microwave, 20 seconds.
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thanks for the replies, but could someone give me something to start with for warming up, that i could then modify to suit myself, as i have never really even thought about it before?
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Hope this helps!
http://youtube.com/watch?v=bINkQUbA33o
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Thanks 808
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No problem bro!
I usually stretch and warm up to scales with a metronome.
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what sort of speed do you play at?
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Start off slow so you can get everything accurate and gradually work up, check your hitting the strings cleanly and evenly, maintain a strick picking pattern and don't tense up.
I usually take a bass tempo of 60 bpm and then work from there depending on how difficult the exercise is.
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Hmm, maybe I should warm up...
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what sort of speed do you play at?
16th notes at 120bpm is the fastest I can play scales and finger exercises at the moment. I can't practice as much as I use to after my wife had our little girl. I've been jamming blues for the past year so super speed isn't something I've been concentrating on.
I usually only get an hour to practice now. So, I warm up and work on blues licks and phrasing. I'm still a rocker at heart. I'm really starting to get into Paul Gilbert at the moment.
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cheers guys
can anyone give any advice on how to help me stop tensing up? or is it just practice and stop being so eager to get to the higher tempos?
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Be patient bro!
Work at it at slow tempos and keep increasing the tempo when you can play it clean and evenly.
If you get frustrated with a scale, try picking a lick from one of your favorite guitar solos. Memorize the lick and slow it down on the metronome. Increase the speed as it gets easier to play until you work it up to regular tempo.
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Like 808 has said start slow.
Also i find if its your picking arm tensing up try and relax the shoulder, everything else seems to follow then.
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cheers, and yeah, it is my picking arm tensing up, along with my face (don't know why that happens) I'll try getting my shoulder to relax
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Hope this helps!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khs0Wl7Hvas&mode=related&search=
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrh6jgWLB3I&mode=related&search=
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That first one looks pretty good, i've always found it quite uncomfortable to hold the pick with the side of my finger though, so that will take a bit of getting used to. I've got the Total Guitar that the second one came with, i'll probably take another look at that.