Hand Excercise affecting Hands.

[jarrhead]

So, what is the general idea of these hand trainers. Strength, Dexterity, Coordination.

So how much stronger does this really get your hands? I'm trying to tap but I have a Fender Jazz, and the actions a bit high.

Might Right-Hand Ring finger is used a LOT.

So is it worth the money to buy a trainer/excerciser?

[Fergie Fulton]

The thing about any hand training is when to stop doing it, in regards to it i now becoming detrimental rather than benificial.

You have a hand trainer for what you want, it is your bass.
tapping requires fretting hand strength. Don't think this strength is just power, it is stamina and power and dexterity to hold off a lactic acid build up, which is what stops most dead in their tracks when they tap.
With just your fretting hand play the neck with out plucking as fast as you can. Play scales, runs, arpeggios, trills etc across all strings about at the 10th fret. You will feel the burn and you will fatigue. This is better than any hand trainer for your situation now, and when you can do this consistantly move down the fretboard a tone and do it all again. The slightly wider span will be the new tension, so the burn will happen quicker. Just keep repeating the proccess till you are about the 5th fret the consentrate on arpeggios, as they will be what you tap on an interact with at first, then bring the plucking hand in.

Needless to say you can still do other things in regards to playing, warming up and down, stretches, etc what i have mentioned will be enough exercise to get you started on tapping.

[jarrhead]

I'm already very skilled at tapping, it's just that a few fingers are not strong enough.

Around 2:20 in this song notice the bass is tapping rapidly. I do not have a five string so I have to modify the positioning. On top of that, I have a MIA Jazz, and the action is quite a bit high.

This new positioning requires a roll from my right index to my right ring finger (12, 13, 14, all on different strings.) so my ring figer htis the 14th fret of the G. It's extremely hard. As far as fretting hand goes, it's perfectly fine.

2:20 again in this song is more tapping.I need to use my ring finger right before he finishes the riff, notice he changes and does a mini solo. This requires a slide with the right hand while tapping. My ring finger again. It is not strong enough.

Do you suggest I buy a hand trainer? I believe I have $52.01 of free spending at the moment, and if I want to get the bass I want I will have to offer them my Jazz + $500 + Tax. I have to buy new strings (I HAVE to...) for my Jazz so it sets me down to $501.99

I believe I am also getting a $15 payment tomorrow, so that should be able to cover the hand trainer if I get it and I still have $500. However, it will void me of tax so I may miss the deal.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by jarrhead

I'm already very skilled at tapping, it's just that a few fingers are not strong enough.

Around 2:20 in this song notice the bass is tapping rapidly. I do not have a five string so I have to modify the positioning. On top of that, I have a MIA Jazz, and the action is quite a bit high.

This new positioning requires a roll from my right index to my right ring finger (12, 13, 14, all on different strings.) so my ring figer htis the 14th fret of the G. It's extremely hard. As far as fretting hand goes, it's perfectly fine.

2:20 again in this song is more tapping.I need to use my ring finger right before he finishes the riff, notice he changes and does a mini solo. This requires a slide with the right hand while tapping. My ring finger again. It is not strong enough.

Do you suggest I buy a hand trainer? I believe I have $52.01 of free spending at the moment, and if I want to get the bass I want I will have to offer them my Jazz + $500 + Tax. I have to buy new strings (I HAVE to...) for my Jazz so it sets me down to $501.99

I believe I am also getting a $15 payment tomorrow, so that should be able to cover the hand trainer if I get it and I still have $500. However, it will void me of tax so I may miss the deal.

Great stuff in the links , but these are studio shots not live, so there is little to be taken from them as what happens in a real live situation.
I say no to the hands trainer every time because it works one range of motion a grip, the opposite of what is required to play a string instrument.

Your problems is your ring finger is not dexterous enough, you need more dexterity in that side of your hands not strength.
You need to learn to lift your fingers off, not put them on the fretboard. That is different muscle groups to what a grip exerciser will develop.

Save your money and exercise the hand on the bass, then blend in the plucking hand. This takes time and patience so give it the time required. Maybe some others will give you a reasonable time to expect this development to happen with there experiences.
There are many factors to this and some are outside the field of music, your job, if your not a full time musican will have a bearing. It might be that what you develop in practise is negated by a day job or other routines in your daily life.
So for just now say your money and use the bass one handed as the exerciser, it will pay better in the long run.
Fergie

[jarrhead]

Im 14, just school to interfere!

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by jarrhead

Im 14, just school to interfere!

Then this is even more important you take it easy. Your body is still developing, so hormone balance will be affecting certain aspects of your growth. If you grow to fast, muscles and co-ordination need time to develop and catch up to support this rapid growth time.
Your brain need to wok out these new dimensions and how to control them.
At the age and time when you have stopped growing and developing, that is the time to train muscles for extra dimensions, that allows your body to work with a stable frame rather than a changing one.

Exercise your hands with care and patience, time will take care of the rest. Remember you are basing your abilities on adult abilities, two very different things, so be patient it will come. These players you are watching developed into what you are listening to over many years, they did not just happen, they did not have the skills you're after at your age.

[jarrhead]

Well, as I said, I'm already pretty accomplished at tapping, even creating my own riffs. I can pick up keys by ear and use scales/modes etc by instinct. It took much time, but I can now. I practice about two hours a day.

it's just an issue of my right hand not being strong enough with my extremely-high-action on my Jazz. It is INSANELY high. like almost half an inch I would say.

How do you suggest I get my hand strong enough? If I lower the action the tone is not as warm.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by jarrhead

Well, as I said, I'm already pretty accomplished at tapping, even creating my own riffs. I can pick up keys by ear and use scales/modes etc by instinct. It took much time, but I can now. I practice about two hours a day.

it's just an issue of my right hand not being strong enough with my extremely-high-action on my Jazz. It is INSANELY high. like almost half an inch I would say.

How do you suggest I get my hand strong enough? If I lower the action the tone is not as warm.

LOL at your age that question is comparable with asking "how do i get taller".

Lower the action to a height that allows comfort and safe playing of the technique you want to use. Let the tone be shaped and formed by the equipment you use.
Again... it matters nothing how well you can play or how accomplished you are at your age, it is only important that you can sustain it, carry on and build from where you are to become a complete player. You will develop what you need as you grow and develop, be patient.
If you get it wrong and injure yourself, it will be over before you have started.
Look at the clip in the link, Billy and Pat are players who have been playing nearly 3 times longer than you have been alive, you will just not pull of his playing like that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-ZdmlKX06A

Playing is about doing what you do time and time again with a standard and quality that is acceptable. This is where the problem is with young players, the repeatability of what they do. Yes i know they can do it, but can they do it time after time on demand with acceptable quality. If you had a 78 date tour could you go out and repeat your job as a player 78 times. maybe 14 nights in a row with a day off then 14 more. Could you when hungry, tired, ill, running late, sore hands, sore back etc still play to an acceptable standard? This is the true nature of technique, one that works and is repeatable....and that is developed over time. You have to live your life two more times just to get to where Billy is now, so dont sweat it.

[countrybassist]

14. I have a son who is 16, here is some father style advice. Don't waste your money on that thing. When I started playing 31 years ago, that device, to my knowledge, didn't exist, and my hands and fingers are plenty strong. Good luck with your playing and hold on to your extra $14!!

[gregmerrill]

I have always felt that you will get enough of a work out on the bass alone. Unless your in a situation where you can't have a bass if your at work or school for example and you could get away with some kind of an Exerciser.