To keep things simple, the poll is directed to finger style players, as that is my primary technique and interest.

What goes first when playing a long set or song? Left or right hand? Unless I am stuck in first position with a groove that requires one fret/finger, my right hand always is the first to tire.

Both get a little tired, at times I think I need to play lighter and turn up my volume a bit. The problem I have is when I get get into it during a song I tend to dig in then I overpower the rest of the band.

Originally posted by Funkateer
my right hand always is the first to tire.

It's all about economy of motion my friend. Don't move your fingers more than you have to.

At this stage of the game, my right wrist will get tired first if I try to slap too much. I guess I need to take my own advice.

I use a light touch, so I don't tire easily, but usually the plucking hand tends to go first.

Usually its the plucking hand that gets tired first, but sometimes i DO develop a cramp in my left hand and that makes it diffucult to play.

I guess my left hand dies first, but I don't often get to that point. It's usually my right hand fingers hurting from plucking.

The whole thing depends so much on the type of riff i´m playing. If it is an atonal riff where my left hand has to do a lot of work, it tires my left hand faster of course.

I usually never get tired. My left hand gets a little sloppy after an hour or two of continuous play due to fatigue I guess. Other then that my fingertips just get sore, but that's cause I'm a wussy, I haven't played through bloody fingertips for many months now. I must play more!!!!

Sometimes my fretting hand will hurt when playing something that requires constant movement in the lower register, but the pain will go as soon as I stop. My plucking hand barely ever hurts. I pluck mostly with two fingers (index and middle).

my left hand tires first.. mainly cause i have a huge bass.. but we're talking after an hour and a half at least.

Left hand goes first. Sometimes it even gets painful.

yeah my left hand dies if im playing something repetetive. Its not even my hand, I just get this pain in my wrist and forearm. My Plucking hand is usually good for a very long time, but I Play nice and light with the plucking hand.

i am with jenderfazz as in that i don't usually get tired but if i do it is usually my left hand.

Normally my fingertips'll give way first although songs that your stuck playing root notes at 700 times a second its normally my right wrist that'll give way (not suprised as fingers are moving so fast)!

yeah my left hand dies if im playing something repetetive. Its not even my hand, I just get this pain in my wrist and forearm. My Plucking hand is usually good for a very long time, but I Play nice and light with the plucking hand.



That's pretty much my problem. It's only on certain songs. Even if I like the song I ready to be playing the ending. It takes about two more songs for things to get back to normal, provided that the next couple of songs are easier on my forearm. It's like a burning feeling. Hey, maybe I'm working out and I don't even know it. :p

Neither (guess you need another poll choice;)). I play with a light touch, keep the angle of my fretting hand at a natural angle and keep my amp volume up. It's typical that I'll end a gig playing faster than I started.

The only time i have had any problems is playing Rage Against The Machine's Bullet In The Head, towards the end it is the same riff over and over again, i would play with a lighter touch, but that dosent give me the tone i like....

My left hand goes first...but it only does when im practising chromatic fanstasy over and over again...its not unbearable pain though so i finish the song and then just wait a few minutes before practising again...or play something lighter to return my fingers to normal

For me it depends on the rif I have to play. If I have alot of changes It takes longer for my left hand to get tired. Especially if the riff is repetative. the I get the hurties....

My right hand sometimes gets tired, but usually only when I have to play that sone where I pluck 80,000 root notes really fast...

Actually, when I use a pick, my pick hand gets tired first. But for the most part, it's my fret hand.

With me, it's always my fretting hand that dies first.

I plucking hand gets tired when we play "The Immigrant Song". My damn guitar player drags out a long solo at the end and I am just barely hanging on by the time the song ends. Other than that I havent had many problems,

My left hand never gets tired. My right often does, I think I just play too hard most of the time. I push down hard when I write too.

I push down hard when I write too.


I know man, you just ripped my screen. :D

I know man, you just ripped my screen. :D
Touche :D

Left hand for sure that will die first. Also depends on style, slap styple I will usally get a cramp in my right forearm. The only time my picking hand gets sore is when I am playing a jazz gig on upright, but that is mostly from not having an upright pickup and having to use a mic.

If I've layed-off from bass playing for a while, my fretting hand tires first. But normally it is my plucking hand that tires first.

just practice till you work out your problem areas ....works everytime

Only drummers get tired. Everyone else just drinks more. :D

Neither - I tend to find that as the gig progresses my hands get warmer and more supple and everything flows better. I can play a lot quicker at the end of a gig than at the start.

I do warm up exercises and stretches but even so I can play faster after 3 quick numbers.

Neither (guess you need another poll choice;)). I play with a light touch, keep the angle of my fretting hand at a natural angle and keep my amp volume up. It's typical that I'll end a gig playing faster than I started.
Same here. But that's going to change when I start mixing my DB into the set.

when i practice with my band i have to dig in really hard because my amp is so weak, so my right hand usually tires first. its hard to compete with a 60w combo when you have two really loud guitarists and a drummer!

Right hand. I am a black metal player!!GRRRRRUMMMMPH

After playing with full intensity for 4 hours, my right hand gets a bit weak. If the line is intricate or if I'm playing the two five ones too fast, then it's the left that's the first one to go. It really depends on what your playing and how you play it.

Actually, it all depends on what songs.......

Playing quite a lot of metal, i do a lot of repeating one sound. Sometimes pretty fast, too. Our band has a couple of songs that tire my plucking hand in 30 secs.. :hmm: Lucky thing that after the 30 secs comes a slower part, kinda "resting" while in them :D

for me it's my plucking hand. Oh yeah, and I love it when I get cramps in both of my hands at the sametime:D

my plucking hand usualy gets tired first but depending on the song my fretting hand might get tired first. in most songs i like playing my plucking hand would get tired first btu some songs like sugar by system of a down my fretting hand would get tired first cause of the speed of the movement
playing C string- 7-6-5-4 at 8 beats a second for the final 15 seconds of the song can be tiring for the fretting hand

Definitely my right hand, but only if I'm playing really fast for a really long time. If not, then neither of my hands get tired.

Neither (guess you need another poll choice;)). I play with a light touch, keep the angle of my fretting hand at a natural angle and keep my amp volume up. It's typical that I'll end a gig playing faster than I started.With some 14,000+ posts, you get plenty of finger exercise, no? ;) :D