What's Your Biggest Playing Handicap?

[nutso42]

What do you find is your biggest problem in trying to play, and how did you (or how are you TRYING to) overcome it?

For me, I actually have a problem with my left hand where my third and fourth fingers cannot move independently of each other, so I have a much shorter reach on the fretboard.


Your turn.

[blowabs]

+1.

That and reading music quickly...
To fix it, i am reading more music...

[jaywa]

I have a hard time playing fast 16th notes... EVENLY... for any amount of time. That stuff that Rocco Prestia does in his sleep... That's what I'm talking about.

I can pump out 8ths pretty solidly up to a good fast tempo, but any busier than that and it gets ugly.

None of my gigs require me to play in that style though anyway.

[NoTalentHack]

Memorization (lack of) due to much JP-4 flowing through he old veins . . .

[guroove]

Small hands and eczema in the winter time. Playing through the pain and being a tough ass mother****er is the prescribed remedy.

[Mr_Sore_Fingerz]

I got small hands, so i am limited to what necks i can use comfortably, and holding octaves can be a bit painful if i do it for too long.

[5StringBlues]

My drummer.

[OwenMick]

popping a g string while fingering a minor.

[MEKer]

Hey NoTalentHack-----JP-4 huh? I loaded up plenty of that stuff into OH-1's and Hueys back in the day of being a 67A1F MOS among other things!

Biggest handicap----if I am solo long enough I lose discipline and then have to regain it. Like right now.

[Edward G.]

I wish I were a more musical slapper/popper.

[5StringBlues]

Originally Posted by OwenMick

popping a g string while fingering a minor.

[Phalex]

I have a heck of a time trying to make a smooth transition from thumb to fingers. If I have to smack the E string real quick in the middle of a song, I just cannot get back into position fast enough.

[nutso42]

Originally Posted by 5StringBlues

My drummer.

Best thread ever V

Best CL Listing - Drummers

[crucislancer]

Lately I think my biggest problem is practicing at home. I should be practicing every day, even if it’s just for 15 minutes or so, but there are times that I either can’t due to something that needs to be done, or I won’t because I’m too tired and just want to veg out and read or sleep. There are been times that I wouldn’t pick up my bass for a week.

[DrSmaggs]

... expanding my technique. I'd love to be a much better bassist in general

[chjohnst]

I beat the snot out of my strings which sometimes makes things a lil clanky. But I have been working on that a lot lately and have managed to get more feeling from the strings to get the proper tone from them.

[Norge]

I've made a bad habit of muting notes using my right hand. No trouble when playing finger-style, but when I slap it's a huge handicap, and I can't play and fast dead notes!

[jaywa]

Originally Posted by chjohnst

I beat the snot out of my strings which sometimes makes things a lil clanky. But I have been working on that a lot lately and have managed to get more feeling from the strings to get the proper tone from them.

Very wise. Not only will you get better tone with a lighter touch, but the odds of a serious injury (carpal tunnel, tendinitis, etc.) drop a whole bunch.

[metallicafan18]

Type 1 Diabeties.

I've had to stop playing a gig for 30 minutes so I could get my blood sugar back to normal. I get very shaky and can't stand when my blood sugar drops, so I have to sit out.

Now I just keep a coke on stage and take sips of it after every song to keep my blood sugar normal.

[JMac4strngr]

I only have about 70% feeling in my left hand due to an accident I had back in 98. Basically I shattered my wrist and my fingers were touching my elbow (Think detatched left hand flopping about). Had a couple of surgeries, now I can't allways feel the strings under my fingers and my wrist motion is limited. It felt like I had to learn how to play all over again. It changed my style alot and feel that it still limits me to this day.