Anyone use those finger weights?

[Kosko]

You've probably all seen them in magazines. They're those gold pieces of metal you wear like rings. One for each finger and they workout your hands more while playing, or whatever your doing. Kind of like using a bat with those heavy rings on it before stepping up to the plate. Anyone ever use them? They worth it?

[Whafrodamus]

Those are for beginners. I strap volkswagens to my fingers.

[Ed Fuqua]

I thought they were just advertised to identify the less intelligent part of the demographic?
You don't need strong fingers to play bass, you need strong ears.

[dougjwray]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

I thought they were just advertised to identify the less intelligent part of the demographic?
You don't need strong fingers to play bass, you need strong ears.

True, and the muscle ability that you develop playing the bass has more to do with control than sheer strength. The only way to develop bass muscles is to play bass.

[lemur821]

Originally Posted by Ed Fuqua

I thought they were just advertised to identify the less intelligent part of the demographic?
You don't need strong fingers to play bass, you need strong ears.

So what do I wear to get those? Earrings?

[Ed Fuqua]

ha ha ha ha ha
ha
ahem

[lemur821]

I guess not then.

[Baryonyx]

I havn't seen them, can anyone add some pictures if possible?

[improvpwnd]

no...but i do use a GripMaster. it helps cure bordem at work as well as keeps my hands and fingers strong.

[irjason]

Originally Posted by HeadBanger

no...but i do use a GripMaster. it helps cure bordem at work as well as keeps my hands and fingers strong.

Same here. I doubt it really helps my playing, but it does help warm my hands up before playing.

[Tbirdbassist]

Originally Posted by Whafrodamus

Those are for beginners. I strap volkswagens to my fingers.

I guess I'm the only one that finds this funny... (new sig btw)

[Virus]

Originally Posted by Tbirdbassist

I guess I'm the only one that finds this funny... (new sig btw)

I totally laughed when I saw that because I pictured it lol.

[Wrong Robot]

If you must use one of those gripmasters, be sure to use the lightest one. The heavier ones can be destructive to your hands no matter how strong you think your fingers are. The light ones more accurately replicate how most bass strings feel, unless your action is abnormally high, anything more will be useless.

As ed says, you don't need strong fingers to play bass. As long as you can fret the notes cleanly, you're fine.

[Rockin John]

Ed Fuqua said:

You don't need strong fingers to play bass...

I'm sure that's essentially true. However, I'm sure there's always a gain to be had from improving the muscles that move the fingers. It's just that I doubt weights are the answer.

In every area of movement that I can think of - mainly sport at the moment - players take excercise supplementary to the main purpose because just repeating the main purpose isn't sufficient on it's own to build the muscle / stamina / etc. Eg. I'm sure almost all sports people use a gymn to do all sort of different excercises no matter what sport they play.

I think, therefore, there must be something a bassplayer can do to improve muscle / stamina... It's just that I don't know what it is!

John

[improvpwnd]

Originally Posted by Wrong Robot

If you must use one of those gripmasters, be sure to use the lightest one. The heavier ones can be destructive to your hands no matter how strong you think your fingers are. The light ones more accurately replicate how most bass strings feel, unless your action is abnormally high, anything more will be useless.

As ed says, you don't need strong fingers to play bass. As long as you can fret the notes cleanly, you're fine.

Ok, i see your point, if your trying to immate playing and work and stamina...but im trying to keep my hands strong. I use the the medium tension (red) one and its gets my muscles cramped after about 20-30 min...which with the lighter ones it would probably take double that time. and im going for muscle growth more then stamina at the moment. you think the heavier ones really do damage?

[fr0me0]

if i were to do any kind of auxilary workout for bass i think i'd be wrist curls. I've never had my hand get sore on me its always been my forearm.

[thephilosopher]

Originally Posted by Wrong Robot

If you must use one of those gripmasters, be sure to use the lightest one. The heavier ones can be destructive to your hands no matter how strong you think your fingers are. The light ones more accurately replicate how most bass strings feel, unless your action is abnormally high, anything more will be useless.

As ed says, you don't need strong fingers to play bass. As long as you can fret the notes cleanly, you're fine.

would you be able to explain how that works?

[Bassist4Life]

Originally Posted by Rockin John

I think, therefore, there must be something a bassplayer can do to improve muscle / stamina... It's just that I don't know what it is!

John

Practice Practice Practice.

Joe

[bound]

For reference, I'm a certified fitness trainer, and not one of those chain gym idiot "trainers". The gripmaster grippers aren't enough resistance to actually get your hands stronger, if you can crank out more than 15 reps, your just working on endurance. If you want a strong gripper, check out www.ironmind.com.

[Bassist4Life]

I just don't get it...

Why do people believe that you need to gain muscle strength to play an instrument???



Really! How much strength does it take to press a string down to a fret/fingerboard and pluck it? If anything; you need dexterity and coordination, not strength.

When I saw the finger weights in a catalog; I though to myself, "I know that a musician didn't invent these things."

Joe