Warm up!

[Fontaine]

i was just wondering what are some good warm ups/exercises before playing a show or just jamming.

thanks in advance.

[Bass]

The following link has a number of good fingering exercises:

precise fingering exercises?

I always stretch my fingers / wrists before playing. Curl the tips of the fingers forward (like a claw) then back. Curl the whole finger forward (like a fist) then back. Curl the hands forward (at the wrist) then back. Rotate the hands in a circle at the wrist. Do this again with the arms extended over your head. Stretch your shoulders too.

Also, another good stretching exercise is to roll the index and ring finger forward, and touch them with your thumb, extend the other two fingers, then release. Then, roll the middle finger and pinky finger forward, touch them with your thumb, extend the other two fingers, then release. Alternate a few times.

I've heard that some people like to soak their hands in warm water before a show. I dunno, I've never done this.

Hope this helps.

[Fontaine]

thanks a lot!

[steveb98]

I like to wash my hands in warm to hot water before playing. The heat help draw blood into the fingers. I then warm up, but what I play to warm up varies. Sometime I'll do some sort of technique exercise, other times just play and try to do things that use all fingers.

In past I have done some stretching exercises, and if feeling stiff I will do some, but thing about stretching is its easy to over do and cause damage.

IMO the key is getting blood down to the fingers and getting them moving in motions similar to playing.

[markjazzbassist]

stretch for 5 minutes. noodle on the bass for 15 minutes to warm up. then i do finger exersizes for 30 minutes. after all that, i can play anything.