Finger exercisers: anyone got results?

[NickInMesa]

I bought the Planet Waves Varigrip exerciser 2 days ago.

I picked up this model because it has variable strength.

Since yesterday I used this thing quite a bit, while at work (I have a desk job) and while driving, not all the time, but when I felt like it.

So far I have only been doing my fretting hand, and was able to move the strength up a couple notches on each finger. I am actually now at maximum for the index and middle finger, the ring and pinkie fingers are starting to get stronger as well.

Funny thing is I type much faster with the left hand than the right hand, now.

I suppose there will be some result eventually with my bass playing, but I am not totally convinced so far.

Has anybody seen results with these gizmos?

Thanks!

[xzzy]

I have one of those gripmasters on my desk.. I crunch on it a couple times a week and have never noticed any improvement in my stamina while playing.

I've heard the gyro ball thingies work really well, never got around to buying one though.

[speedkills]

You've only had that thing since yesterday and you already went up a couple of notches in finger strength to "maximum"???

You must be genetically blessed with super twitchy finger muscle fibers -- LUCKY!!

Keep using it dude - - maybe you can get to super-mega-uber maximum index finger strength!!

PICTURES - WE NEED PICTURES!!

[NickInMesa]

Well, I do fret quite a bit with the pinkie, as I am the type who scales across and not up and down, and it may help improve the dexterity in this finger.

Judging by the amount of hardened skin on my fingertips, the index is still the # fretting finger, though.

I will see in a couple weeks if it works.

[IvanMike]

better idea.

play a lot.

[John Wentzien]

Don't over-do it...You'll get tendonitis...

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by IvanMike

better idea.

play a lot.

+1. You dont need a lot of strength to fret a string. Finger dexterity would be more important IMO. These gadgets dont do anything for dexterity. The best all round "gadget" for building strength and dexterity in the fingers for playing the bass, is the bass guitar.

[Fergie Fulton]

Hi all here we are again at devices like gripmaster. The clue is in the name GRIP. if you wish a grip then these are the devices. Players with weak hands it it a plus, but you must know when to stop, you need to know when you start to negate your hands.

If you work in an office the best exercise you can do is with elastic bands. Elastic bands like the ones in the link are best.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ipm/2009/..._bands_w.shtml

1/
To work the correct muscle groups and tendons is to simply put the band around the base of all your finger nails (inc.thumb) and stretch it fully open hold for 5 secs. and close. Do it with your hands in a number of positions, but watch the wrist angle, not to much angle to be used there

2/
Try smaller bands on just two fingers... say fore and middle finger, again around the base of the nails, and open them to the side, as if making the V or peace sign. Do this on different fingers.

3/
Using a larger band around the base of the thumb and keeping the fingers together, put the band along the nail line again. This will almost have the fingers in the palm of the hand and one by one stretch the band with each finger

Without complicating things with proper medical info and terms on the body i will keep this simple. There are practicaly no situation in daily life where these types of movements are required, so the muscles never get developed. Gripping and closing actions are all around us in daily life, so you can assume we get more than enough exercise in that realm.

Playing an instrument, especially a guitar requires the fingers to move in the planes that the previous exercises work like in 2 helping the finger to spread. There are many elastic bands out there so you need to find the correct size and tension. It is about a bit of resistance, not lots of resistance, not restrictive, but moveble resistance. Work on the rule than if you can move the band to a full stretch with some resistance then the repetition of the exercises will will tone the forearms, hands and fingers. These exercises will also help the hands in there daily battles against RSI and other associated hand problems. Remember as far as the hands are concered its miss-use and over-use that are the culprits, and in playing there are plenty opportunities for that. Understand pain is muscles way to tell you to stop, if you don't it will take the next action spasm or cramp, if that does not work then a pull or tear is on the cards, and your in trouble. Read the warnings and always seek proper medical attention.

[NickInMesa]

Thanks, I am giving the fingers a break for a few days. I think it's mostly a good stress reliever.

[JTE]

Me, I went through a period where I used one of those kinds of things. And I did finger exercises, like playing every note with alternate fingers, etc. But then I realized someting, and shortly after read a Jeff Berlin column (this was in "International Musician & Recording World", probably around 1982 or so) that the best exercises for playing bass is to play the bass.

Those kinds of exercises tend to remove music from the playing, and that's the problem with too much guitar and bass teaching these days- they teach mechanics, not music.

John

[John Wentzien]

I've personally seen these things do more harm than good.

[xzzy]

That rubber band thing sounds like one of the best pieces of advice I've come across in a long time.

Now to raid the supply closet for some!

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by JTE

Me, I went through a period where I used one of those kinds of things. And I did finger exercises, like playing every note with alternate fingers, etc. But then I realized someting, and shortly after read a Jeff Berlin column (this was in "International Musician & Recording World", probably around 1982 or so) that the best exercises for playing bass is to play the bass.

Those kinds of exercises tend to remove music from the playing, and that's the problem with too much guitar and bass teaching these days- they teach mechanics, not music.

John

I agree with you John if playing music is your life, and players have access to a teacher, but how many have that luxury?

Exercises away from the instrument are important part of playing to a certain group of player, they have to learn to negate the daily riguors that day to day life asks of their hands.

Music is in the head, it is a thought process, the hands carry out that thought. Learning music has nothing to do with playing it, playing is the application of what you're thinking and have learnt.

Mechanics and music run hand in hand (forgive the pun) the trouble is we are just starting to understand and learn about the mechanics side. So many players are part-time/semi pro, or hobbiest so playing a bass may show weaknesses in their hands but not be the cause. There are many physical or congenital reasons why a person may never become the player they believe they should, and just playing bass will never do that.

Stradivarius and the luthiers before him built instruments with the technology and materials of the time, and technique was developed to play them. How the body coped with the stress of these instruments was not a factor and that has continued to modern times. So music teachers/schools have now another duty...to understand how technique and exercise can be applied into modern teaching along side music.

[JTE]

I think you miss the point. Hand exercisers aren't any better for building instrument specific skills, strength, nor coordination than playing music on the bass is. And especially if you have limited time available for devoting to the music, you need to spend that time on the instrument, not these things.

John

[NickInMesa]

Originally Posted by JTE

I think you miss the point. Hand exercisers aren't any better for building instrument specific skills, strength, nor coordination than playing music on the bass is. And especially if you have limited time available for devoting to the music, you need to spend that time on the instrument, not these things.

John

Yes but if you can do these little exercises at your desk while working, then it can do some good.

[DudeistMonk]

My roommate has one of those hand thingies for rock climbing, personally I think its kinda worthless for bass...It works the muscles like your playing at the 12th fret...I feel like I'm using totally different muscles when my fingers are spread across the lower register.

[xzzy]

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

1/
To work the correct muscle groups and tendons is to simply put the band around the base of all your finger nails (inc.thumb) and stretch it fully open hold for 5 secs. and close. Do it with your hands in a number of positions, but watch the wrist angle, not to much angle to be used there

I gotta say, I've been doing this since lunch when I found a decent rubber band, and my fingers are getting a workout like I wouldn't have thought. It's not so much a strength thing.. just nice to feel the tendons getting stretched out. Makes the hand feel nice and loose.

I play bass/guitar for 1-2 hours every single day (have for years) and my hands still feel weak. This is probably a technique issue, which the rubber band nicely forces me to deal with.

[JTE]

What I do at work, on the bus, at meetings, durning confernce calls, etc. is practice scales, arpeggios, bass lines, etc. I also do mental practice like spelling scales in thirds, "what's the 6th of Eb?", etc. I still maintain that's a lot more productive than wiggling the fingers.

jte

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by JTE

I think you miss the point. Hand exercisers aren't any better for building instrument specific skills, strength, nor coordination than playing music on the bass is. And especially if you have limited time available for devoting to the music, you need to spend that time on the instrument, not these things.

John

Hi John, if by instrument specific skills, you mean co-ordination of the hands and motor skills that require you have to use muscles, tendons, ligiments etc then your wrong. That needs correct and targeted training to develop the controlled movements you want to make. How that movement is applied does not really matter, what's creating the movement does.

In other word if you use your fingers/hands continually, the muscles involved do not relate that to bass playing, piano playing, typing, video games etc, it is a physical muscular activity.....end of story
That process requires the body to do many things physically and as a result many things need to happen and many things don't. For example muscles need energy so diet and hydration is an issue. Muscle useage produces waste product...lactic acid and that will stop them dead in their tracks if it builds up to much or fast and the body cannot dispose of it...i.e. cramp, burning pains, etc.

Just playing bass to get better is a dated idea back from when we knew no better about how the body can be targeted to work better and more efficient in all physical activity. We are dealing with the body, the fact we use it to play bass is nether here nor there, you just have to look around at the amount of posts on TB about pains, aches, stiffness etc. to get the picture on this.

So to be a 100m sprinter you just run fast up and down a 100m track all the time till you become fast?
To be pro golfer you just hit golf balls?
to be a swimmer you just swim?

To the above questions the answer is no, you incorporate many things in to those activities so you can preform these activities to the best of your abilities when called apon to do so.
The point is playing bass requires muscular co-ordination, dexterity, strength, stamina, touch, speed. The muscle groups required to build stamina are different to the ones to build speed as are the ones for co-ordination. These groups can be target and trained to work more efficiently in specific ways, that will benifit someone who wants to play bass.
Just playing bass does not fill all these critera, it need help and that's where target specific exercises away from the instrument have there worth.
People can argue and debate its worth to music, but this is not about music, it's physical, the fact we apply it to an instrument like i said is nether here nor there.

[fearceol]

I'm more inclined to agree with JTE on this. At the moment I'm working my way through Todd Johnson's DVD on technique. There is one exercise he calls "supportive fingering". It involves finger dexterity. I'm just on the verge of nailing it, through sheer hard and regular practice on the bass As well as dexterity, I can feel the strength ( just enough for what is required ), building in my two weak digits also. I honestly cant see how rubber bands, etc could have helped me here.

The way I see it is like this, if you need to master something on the bass, then practice on the bass is the way to go. That being said, I think it's essential to warm up with gentle stretching, which can also be done away from the bass.