Hand-cramping songs

[scottfeldstein]

15 years ago I used to play a version of Twist and Shout that had me shaking my hand out at the end from fatigue. Now that I'm back into music I've managed to avoid such hand-crampers...until now.

I just got sent scratch tracks for a cover of Massive Attack's Safe From Harm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7n9gMzMhZc

Maybe for guys who play a lot more than me this is no big deal. Right away I'm trying to play it for a few measures and comp it for the rest of the track and send that to headquarters. But even if I'm successful, what'll I do when we have to play it live?

Who feels my pain?

[bass12]

Originally Posted by scottfeldstein

15 years ago I used to play a version of Twist and Shout that had me shaking my hand out at the end from fatigue. Now that I'm back into music I've managed to avoid such hand-crampers...until now.

I just got sent scratch tracks for a cover of Massive Attack's Safe From Harm.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7n9gMzMhZc

Maybe for guys who play a lot more than me this is no big deal. Right away I'm trying to play it for a few measures and comp it for the rest of the track and send that to headquarters. But even if I'm successful, what'll I do when we have to play it live?

Who feels my pain?

I used to play Billy Cobham's "Stratus" (the tune sampled for "Safe From Harm") with one of my bands and it could be a cramper for sure (the trick was to play some minor variations here and there during the long vamp sections). I play a lot of Jewish weddings and there's one song we do (a club version of a traditional song) that's all "disco" octaves. It's fast and we sometimes play it for seven minutes or so. By the third minute my left hand is screaming at me to do something other than play octaves!

[mjac28]

Billy Jean does it for me

[DSims63]

Originally Posted by mjac28

Billy Jean does it for me

+1

[Kmonk]

I never had a problem with Bille Jean. I actually find it to be a very easy song to play. The only song I had the problem with is Black Magic Woman. I had a guitar player who used to love to extend the solo for several minutes longer than Santana does it. My hand was killing me by the end of the song.

[bass12]

Hmm - I never have an issue with "Billie Jean". What fingering/position are you guys using?

[scottfeldstein]

Originally Posted by Kmonk

The only song I had the problem with is Black Magic Woman. I had a guitar player who used to love to extend the solo for several minutes longer than Santana does it. My hand was killing me by the end of the song.

Heh. And the whole time shooting eye-daggers across the stage at him. BEEN THERE.

[fearceol]

Granted, some songs can be tricky and complex to play, but IMO, cramps should not be a problem, if you are playing on a regular basis.

IMO, it is not the songs themselves that are causing the cramps. My guess (and that's all it is) is that you dont warm up before playing. Do you jump head long into these type of songs from the get go, or do you play easier ones as a warm up ? Staying well hydrated and eating well can also help in avoiding cramps. Fatigue is different and is best overcome by increasing the playing time gradually.

If you dont already do so, search You Tube for "Hand Stretches for Guitarists." Before a practice session or gig, spend about five minutes doing these, then a couple of more minutes playing some slow chromatic scales on the bass. One more gentle stretch of the hands, and you are ready to play.




Hopefully you will notice an improvement.

[bassistjoe93]

"What is Hip" by Tower of Power. Talk about a right hand workout! Rocco is the man!

Also, I've not played it live, but "Teen Town" by Jaco is a serious lesson in dexterity.

[caligula]

Just got up, had a cup of coffee and played along to the version in your link (remined me of how great this song is).
Without any warm-ups whatsoever I played the whole song - no problem.

Now, I'm not saying this to show you I'm superhuman (I'm not), but rather to say with enough practice it's no big deal.
IMO best thing is to work very slowly (!!!) at first, roughly half the speed or even slower, then gradually speed-up. Constant practice works best for me; roughly 20-30 minutes every day.
Might wanna check Rocco's bass video on YT, could be of some help, he's probably the master of hand cramping lines.

[scottfeldstein]

Maybe there's hope!

[Ric5]

Historically most of my hand cramps have come from improper technique.

[scottfeldstein]

Clarification: I'm not talking about actual cramps, just fatigue.

[Ezmar]

The Hyperspace section of Rush's permanent waves. It's my left hand cramping up due to some moderately wide positioning with relentless eighth note patterns. Every time when I get to the drum solo at the end, I just shake my hand out and I'm ready to roll for the rest of the song. Everything afterwards is fine, but my hand always aches by the end of that section.

[Johnny Roots]

King Curtis and the Kingpins - Memphis Soul Stew live is my triathlon lol

[FretlessMainly]

Fingering hand cramping/fatigue can result from playing a repeated pattern in the same position. See if there are different positions/fingerings to play a repeated line. Even a slight position change can help with muscle recovery.

[scottfeldstein]

Hm. That's an interesting idea. Maybe I'll see if I can figure a way for that to help with my song above. Thanks!

[254 stringer]

Never gonna stop by Rob Zombie and from my guitar days Pets by Porno for Pyros

[Tupac]

Billie Jean isn't a problem, as long as you are playing high up on the E and A strings. If not, prepare for the pain!

The guitar solo section of Dazed and Confused by Zeppelin can be a bit troublesome. So is the solo section of My Lovely Man by RHCP, including the part after the 16th run. For some reason the low slides are just as painful as the 16th notes.

[eukatheude]

Try Finite by Origin.