Is it normal to get tired in plucking hand after only 1 Iron Maiden song:P?

Demon · #1 11-26-2006, 06:02 AM

Ive played for maybe 8 months, but no exersises, just played whenever i felt like it a bit here and then. But im wondering, is it normal to be tired after one metal song, like iron maiden (not with gallops)? It depends on the song, but sometimes i barely get through the song. Is this normal? Or should i have better stamina after playing about 7 months on and off as i felt? I kinda pluck pretty hard and my finger movement isnt exact at the minimum, so guess ill have to improve that, but i dont like using a very light touch.

BrandonBass · #2 11-26-2006, 06:25 AM

if u pluck heavy then you'll definitely tire easier. it helps if u dont pluck so close to the bridge, it sucks ur strength pretty fast too...

u can try pluckin in the middle or closer to the neck, or u can invest some time in learning 3fingerstyle

Demon · #3 11-26-2006, 06:28 AM

Yeah, i know. Was just checking if im not really weak in my hand. And i do pluck closer to the bridge, but icant help it cos the P pup position makes it the most comfortable way.

morf · #4 11-26-2006, 06:38 AM

So dont pluck so hard and turn up the volume

Demon · #5 11-26-2006, 07:47 AM

Well, the tone doesnt become the same when i do that. I prefer to give it some more punch, and it feels good to dig in. Ill just have to build some stamina i guess

I just wanted to know if im weak in the hand or something:P But its weird, cos ill get tired after loads of eigth notes and then if theres just a little break for 3 secs maybe i can go on again.

morf · #6 11-26-2006, 07:50 AM

You dont need to force so much to dig in, but I guess that comes with experience. Keep playing and little by little you'll find you can force much less to get the same tone.

Crazyeelboy · #7 11-26-2006, 08:48 AM

Play more and practice longer - your hands will strengthen and your touch will lighten. It's all about practice.

Here's an idea - get a decent bass stand and every day, take your bass out and put it on the stand. Whenever you have a few free moments, just pick up the bass and play. Add that to your existing practice and things will get better.

morf · #8 11-26-2006, 09:50 AM

Yep, good advice. I have a 3 bass stand and they're sitting 50cm away from me at all times when im home, definately helps in motivating me to play

Demon · #9 11-26-2006, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazyeelboy

Play more and practice longer - your hands will strengthen and your touch will lighten. It's all about practice.

Here's an idea - get a decent bass stand and every day, take your bass out and put it on the stand. Whenever you have a few free moments, just pick up the bass and play. Add that to your existing practice and things will get better.

Hahah, thats the way i do already, exept that i dont play any other way pretty much. But as soon i get my G&L Tribute l-2500 to replace my squier ill definatly start exercising regularly, or atleast more often

vindy500 · #10 11-26-2006, 10:25 AM

screw stands, wall hangers is where its at

morf · #11 11-26-2006, 11:14 AM

Honestly, I'd be too scared of the weight tearing the wall or wallpaper and the bass coming crashing down....

I do mean to invest in one of those against the wall multi instruments stand tho, they take up little space and you can put quite a few basses on there.

vindy500 · #12 11-26-2006, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by morf

Honestly, I'd be too scared of the weight tearing the wall or wallpaper and the bass coming crashing down....

I do mean to invest in one of those against the wall multi instruments stand tho, they take up little space and you can put quite a few basses on there.

i screwed mine into my wardrobe... well the dorms wardrobe, i couldnt be bothered with screwing into the concrete walls

theve been solid for the 2 months the've been there

Squidfinger · #13 11-26-2006, 12:32 PM

As everyone has said the solution is to turn the amp up and pluck softer. Of course this could require a bigger amp

(don't go crazy with it).

I used to have problems with my plucking hand tiring for maybe the first year or so I played but now if I pay attention to my plucking hand when I play I barely touch the strings. I guess that may take a little while to get used to but it will help your sound alot IMO. Soft touch=fatter sound. Lower action too.

Just my ignorant opinion.

Demon · #14 11-26-2006, 12:52 PM

I guess ill play a little softer on faster part and dig in on slower parts then. Thats a good compromise=) Btw, my amp is big enough

The Codfather · #15 12-01-2006, 06:48 PM

I've been playing around 10 months now, and only recently started to try Maiden stuff seriously (hella fun to play!) I can't say my plucking hand tires though.

I can chug through "Wasted Years" no problems, same goes for "Infinite Dream" (Although the trickier bits need polish) I think the only Maiden track I struggle keeping up with is "Aces High" but then I'm sure I just need to check the tabs out and learn more thorougly

I think as everyone said (and I've found to be true) it just comes over time, the more you play the stronger you'll get and the longer you'll be able to play for without getting tired.
I found a good thing when I was really just learning was to find a simple, yet relatively long track (4:50 - 6:00) and just try keeping up and playing the entire thing over, the more you play, the better you get to know it and the more relaxed you'll play, but it'll also build stamina.

I play on average 3 hours a night, 5+ on weekends.. not because I gig or take lessons, just because it's really my only hobby and time flies once I get playing, so I don't know if this'll mean much, but thought I'd just throw in a few thoughts from another relative newcomer to the instrument

P.S. a big +1 on the bass stand idea, mine is just within arms reach, so it's difficult not to want to play whenever I use the PC!

purduebass · #16 12-01-2006, 09:19 PM

I play in a metal band, so I normally play pretty fast. I have been working hard on developing stamina and these are the solutions I have found:
1. Playing through songs that are pretty fast for a good 20 minutes gets me warmed up fairly well, so my RH doesn't hurt too much.
2. If your hand begins to hurt while playing, there is a stretch I learned from a Jason Newsted column in Bass guitar mag:
Take your index and ring finger and stretch them back while keeping the rest of your hand closed. Then do the same thing with middle and pinky. This normally helps quite a bit.
3. I would invest the time into learning 3 finger technique. I am learning how to use it in non-triplet situations, but I ALWAYS use 3 fingers for triplets. This is a good way to keep your hand rested.
Try this stuff out, should help. Shoot me a PM if you want some more suggestions.

Dharmabum · #17 12-02-2006, 12:01 AM

I was playing in an Iron Maiden tribute band for the last few months, and it had been quite a while since I had to play that fast for that long.

The first thing that helped was setting the action very, very low. If you don't mind the clank of the string on the pickup, which is a part of Harris's sound anyways, it's not a bad idea.

Second, I simply isolated what the problem was (the right hand) and worked with it. Get a metronome, put your bass's volume low, and just play eighth notes or a gallop while watching tv. Make sure you are still paying attention to the bass enough that you're staying on point. As far as what to play, open A strings will probably work just fine, given that a lot of the tunes have the gallops on the A string.

I had been doing a three finger gallop of R-M-I, but decided to replicate his playing style (two fingers) since I knew that everyone watching at the gigs would be picking my playing apart since Iron Maiden are one of the sacred cows of metal. It definitely took a good amount of work to get up the point of playing the setlist but things eventually fell into place.

And on a side note, did anyone else read in Bass Player a few months ago where Steve said that he doesn't warm up before gigs? Yikes!

metalbass777 · #18 12-04-2006, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dharmabum

And on a side note, did anyone else read in Bass Player a few months ago where Steve said that he doesn't warm up before gigs? Yikes!

Yes I heard that and was amazed. How can that be? Wouldn't he be cold and rusty?

TechZilla · #19 12-04-2006, 11:06 PM

The Trooper is the only Maiden song in our set and it's a whopper even with 3 fingers. I don't know if its actually possible to play any Maiden song with a light touch especially in front of a crowd but it would make them less exhausting.

yaniv · #20 12-12-2006, 02:10 PM

iron maiden get you exhausted very easily,no doubt
and its true,harris doesnt do any warmups,he just goes for it