My band just recently nailed a weekly gig at a cafe in the centre of the city. We had our first gig a few days ago and at the moment we're just doing heavy metal covers which seems to please the crowd but will start working on originals sometime in the near future. Anyway, second song in our set was master of puppets, and my hand right (plucking) hand was cramping up all throughout the song which of course affected my sound and playing. I put it down to nerves since as we played through the set my hand wasn't doing it as much and it was my first gig in about two years, but has anyone got ideas on ways to get around these sort of issues? especially when playing long sets. The song we played first was ace of spades which was pretty simple although I'm not much of a pick player and I didn't have any trouble during that.
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Tips for weekly gigging?
- Thread starter tom_20
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Well, Master of Puppets is a pretty intense song. I'd suggest spending a bit more time warming up before you play, or maybe put it further down on the set list so you're good and loosened up before you play it.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
You need to warm up, and you need to do long term marathon practice sessions.
I found the only way to get myself up to 3-4 hour gigs a few times a week a few weeks a months was to play like mad, the first couple nights were usually hell on my muscles. If you aren't playing for 3-4 hours usually how can you expect to do it when needed?
I found the only way to get myself up to 3-4 hour gigs a few times a week a few weeks a months was to play like mad, the first couple nights were usually hell on my muscles. If you aren't playing for 3-4 hours usually how can you expect to do it when needed?
- May 20, 2002
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In addition to other posts:
Get some more potassium in your diet. Cereal with banana in the morning will help.
Soak your forearms and hands in warm water for 10 or so minutes before showtime. Wear a long sleeve shirt. It will help to keep the muscles warm and limber.
Get some more potassium in your diet. Cereal with banana in the morning will help.
Soak your forearms and hands in warm water for 10 or so minutes before showtime. Wear a long sleeve shirt. It will help to keep the muscles warm and limber.
I agree with the previous poster.. diet and overall health is a huge factor! Really, it helps with muscle recovery too. I know when my diet is on point and I am feeling fit my playing is that much better because my mind and body are both "tuned". Your focus, energy levels, and stamina will be increased in both music and non-music matters.
I can play at fine at rehearsals, it was just at the gig where I was having trouble, but practice does make perfect.
useful tip, cheers!
wow they're some huge sets! I don't think we'll be doing sets that long for a while haha. but I play a lot usually anyway. But yeah I didn't really warm up before we played so I'll remember that for next time.
Interesting, I hadn't really thought of that, thanks!
You need to loosen up on your playing style a bit, as well as all the above. In the 90s I was doing three and four gigs every Friday, as well as one on Thursday and one on Saturday. That's around 18 hours gigging every weekend. Playing relaxed is the only way to get through.
Use a pick
yuck.
yeah i didn't really warm up or stretch before the gig.
far out that's a lot, yeah, if you weren't relaxed you would've been stuffed!
are you banging on the strings to get yourself heard?
+1 to relaxing, and to adjusting your gain and tone to where you can relax and still come through.
as for the gig itself, you'll want to quickly start working on different stuff to play, whether it's originals or different covers, so next week's set isn't the same as last week's!
+1 to relaxing, and to adjusting your gain and tone to where you can relax and still come through.
as for the gig itself, you'll want to quickly start working on different stuff to play, whether it's originals or different covers, so next week's set isn't the same as last week's!
This will make a really big difference. Other good sources of potassium: tomato juice, Gatorade.
^This. I find that if I cannot hear myself clearly enough I start banging the strings and tensing up, then the pain eventually starts. If I can hear myself clearly enough, I can stay relaxed.
I was playing pretty hard during ace of spades but I've adjusted my tone so it should be clearer and I won't play as hard, cheers!
thanks!
yeah, this week's gig should generally be better as I'm taking my amp along this time to get the tones I want, (I didn't really like my tone last week) and I should be more relaxed.
I was going to suggest that you might be digging in too hard on the strings to hear yourself? That will cause cramping. Bring up your stage volume so you can hear yourself clearly and then playing with a lighter touch. My guess would be since you are performing the song live you have already played it over and over again in rehearsal or on your own and are able to get through it. Live you should have the same results. good luck RTS
