Magnet Fingers

TyNot · #1 06-20-2010, 10:14 PM

Make a fist and squeeze tight for 30 sec. Do it now I'll wait...

Ok, "slowly " relax your hand. This happens to me in the middle of a song, smack dab in the mid of a gig. I call this magnet fingers.

If you tried the "squeeze test", after your hand is fully open, it's fine, but at a show I'll get my hand open, a quick shake it out and Bam! It goes back, can't use my fingers, it's straight panic, I sloppily try to just hit root notes, hoping for the end of the song looking down at setlist realizing there's 6 more songs left.

I need a cure for this. Any ideas? Have you experienced this? I have had it happen to my left hand as well though not as often.

Damn you Magnet fingers, damn you!

millsbass5 · #2 06-20-2010, 10:31 PM

Sounds to me like you might want to work on your endurance. Like all athletes,make bananas a staple in your diet (Or,start taking potassium pills). This will GREATLY reduce that locked-up,cramping that you are experiencing in your hands/fingers when playing. Properly warming up before playing greatly reduces the problems you are experiencing.
Hope this helps.

Slax · #3 06-20-2010, 10:34 PM

You shouldn't really be squeezing your hand tight when you're playing....

John Wentzien · #4 06-20-2010, 10:39 PM

double post....DRINK WATER!!!!

TyNot · #5 06-20-2010, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thunder Pulse

.... or posting this topic in both the Basses and Bassists forums.

Sorry about the double post, I wanted it in bassists not basses, not sure how to remove it.

TyNot · #6 06-20-2010, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slax

You shouldn't really be squeezing your hand tight when you're playing....

I don't at least I try not to, it's the only way to explain what it feels like

Pilgrim · #7 06-20-2010, 10:45 PM

You need to concentrate on playing loose. The more tension in your hand, the more the muscles tend to lock up and become less mobile. I've had it happen, but the key is always to relax more while playing. Relaxed is faster than tense, and yields more endurance.

Mrdak · #8 06-20-2010, 10:45 PM

Yep.. too much alcohol and not enough water will give you those cramps every time.

XansNiceSweater · #9 06-20-2010, 10:46 PM

****in' magnets, how do they work?

Slax · #10 06-20-2010, 10:47 PM

What type of style music do you play? Are you a very aggressive player? Perhaps working on a lighter touch while playing might help.

I know at gigs I sometimes end up playing harder than usual because of nerves. It's not so bad now, but it would get to the point back in the day that in my right plucking hand I would have to be reduced down to one finger for a bit because my hand refused to move.

I've been working on correcting this for a while and now and I can now go 4 hour gigs without my hands dying. It was something I really had to focus on correcting and was well worth it. (Even though I still have a bit to go.

)

TyNot · #11 06-20-2010, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

You need to concentrate on playing loose. The more tension in your hand, the more the muscles tend to lock up and become less mobile. I've had it happen, but the key is always to relax more while playing. Relaxed is faster than tense, and yields more endurance.

Thx, easier said than done for me but I will work on this.

TyNot · #12 06-20-2010, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slax

What type of style music do you play? Are you a very aggressive player? Perhaps working on a lighter touch while playing might help.

I know at gigs I sometimes end up playing harder than usual because of nerves. It's not so bad now, but it would get to the point back in the day that in my right plucking hand I would have to be reduced down to one finger for a bit because my hand refused to move.

I've been working on correcting this for a while and now and I can now go 4 hour gigs without my hands dying. It was something I really had to focus on correcting and was well worth it. (Even though I still have a bit to go.

)

I def play harder at gigs then at rehearsals or practice. I play Funk.

TyNot · #13 06-20-2010, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrdak

Yep.. too much alcohol and not enough water will give you those cramps every time.

I don't drink at shows, I drink a ton of water and a few one hits now and again.

John Wentzien · #14 06-20-2010, 11:01 PM

Cut out the "BONG-HITS"....or you are DOOMED!!!!

TolerancEJ · #15 06-20-2010, 11:11 PM

Generally, it should not require much effort to fret your notes. Just an idea... Maybe your action is set too high requiring you to press the frets harder.

Slax · #16 06-20-2010, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TyNot

I def play harder at gigs then at rehearsals or practice. I play Funk.

I play funk in my one band too. I feel when I'm playing funk I have to focus even more on not playing too hard. YMMV.

snyderz · #17 06-21-2010, 05:58 AM

There's always that pesky brain tumor.

ausf · #18 06-21-2010, 06:33 AM

Warm up first.

MicG · #19 06-21-2010, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XansNiceSweater

****in' magnets, how do they work?

You must be a fan of ICP

Spino · #20 06-21-2010, 06:48 AM

I agree mit millsbass5 that you need to work on your endurance and a lighter touch ,you'll have to turn your amp up tho .I had the same problem when I started integrating the 3rd finger pluck on my RH. My fingers used to lock up ,couldn't move em at all .Now after 6 months it's ok. Main thing is to stop if you have any pain.G'luck