Bassless finger workouts

[Just J]

There was a thread posted many moons ago referencing a site that had a number of finger exercises. I've found my self using a few of them time to time in the car, at the bar, or at work to keep my fingers limber and to build strength.

Anyway, does anyone do any specific "exercises" sans bass (excluding using gripmasters and the like) to increase dexterity, strength and speed for BOTH hands?

[BassJunkie13]

Major scales helped me, because I would have to use all four fretting fingers

[jakusx]

Wow, dude above didn't read past the second sentence.

A while ago I found some of these by googling violin exercises.

But, I keep one of those finger strengtheners in the console of my car and use it during the whole commute every day, since I started that it's built a ton of strength, but no real fast dexterity - still looking for "commutercises."

[Just J]

Originally Posted by jakusx

Wow, dude above didn't read past the second sentence.

A while ago I found some of these by googling violin exercises.

But, I keep one of those finger strengtheners in the console of my car and use it during the whole commute every day, since I started that it's built a ton of strength, but no real fast dexterity - still looking for "commutercises."

lol, yea he missed the point completely.

I have 2 gripmasters and use 'em both. However they don't help with stretch. I'm looking for things to do while standing in line at the deli or something.

[sidster]

I don't do it enough, but one thing I try to do when I have downtime is use the fingers on my right hand to stretch the space between the fingers on my left hand. It's a little like learning to do the splits. The more you work at it, the farther you can get your fingers to spread on the fretboard. I just take my thumb and pinky on my right hand, stick them in between two fingers on my left hand and spread and repeat. I also like to work my coordination by picking a consistent patten to tap my left hand fingers to my palm (i.e., 1-4-2-3) and repeating, then switching patterns.

[Just J]

Originally Posted by sidster

I don't do it enough, but one thing I try to do when I have downtime is use the fingers on my right hand to stretch the space between the fingers on my left hand. It's a little like learning to do the splits. The more you work at it, the farther you can get your fingers to spread on the fretboard. I just take my thumb and pinky on my right hand, stick them in between two fingers on my left hand and spread and repeat. I also like to work my coordination by picking a consistent patten to tap my left hand fingers to my palm (i.e., 1-4-2-3) and repeating, then switching patterns.

One thing I've been doing is to spread the fingers of my left hand on their own (I'd recommend this over forcing them apart with your other hand, as you're stretching and strengthening the muscles that hold your fingers apart rather than just stretching the ligaments and what not), hold them as widely spread out as I can and do individual finger "push ups."

Hard to explain, but to see what I mean, stretch your hand out over a table, bend your fingers one at a time, then tap the table with the tip of your finger. If done right you should feel it working your forearm pretty good.

[bassist 4 life]

theres this thing stu hamm does,
i dont really know how to explain it, but he like holds in his index and ring fingers in while keeping his middle and pinky straight. Then he puts his index and ring out straight and holds his middle and pinky inside. alternate between the two (fingering patterns :S?) for like a minute and a half on each hand.

[51m0n]

Originally Posted by bassist 4 life

theres this thing stu hamm does,
i dont really know how to explain it, but he like holds in his index and ring fingers in while keeping his middle and pinky straight. Then he puts his index and ring out straight and holds his middle and pinky inside. alternate between the two (fingering patterns :S?) for like a minute and a half on each hand.

Yeah this one was on his vid wasnt it.

Its a great party trick too since no one can do it.

Better yet get both your hands going out of phase.

So LH = RI out MP in whilst RH = MP in RI out, takes a little while but totally helps warm your hands up, gets girls and makes your life genuinely better - well maybe I exagerate but.....

[Just J]

Found a vid showing it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_Vvr3U5ZsQ