Why do musicians where those stupid wristbands?

[Elrend]

what?

i used to wear one on my right arm...because i sweat a lot and it would stop sweat from getting to my fingers.

it has nothing to do with technique, it has to do with hot stage lighting and, with that band... putting on an "energetic" stage show.

i thought i looked like a tool with it, but i had to... later on i moved it a little further up my forearm so it was where i rested my arm on my bass so it wouldn't affect the wood (was a warwick..didn't want to stain it)...it still stopped the sweat from getting to my hands as well.

Sweating from playing is a sign of excagurated movement, usually linking to bad technique. (Or it may just be that it's hotter over there )

 

[spade2you]

Sweating from playing is a sign of excagurated movement, usually linking to bad technique. (Or it may just be that it's hotter over there )

Unless you stand perfectly still and/or it's well below zero, I think anyone with good technique will still sweat.

 

[dj150888]

Thats a really dumb assumption to make Elrend. Some stage lights put off enough heat to cause sweating before you start to play at all, some people play an energetic set that involves a lot of movement not related to playing at all.

In fact, I doubt that playing with bad technique causes a noticeable increase in sweating, at least not in comparison to the other factors.

Can I ask what kind of band you play in? Is it a coffee house/bar jazz band or something similar that doesn't involve much of a stage show?

 

[bassman1185]

Sweating from playing is a sign of excagurated movement, usually linking to bad technique. (Or it may just be that it's hotter over there )

You're probably joking, but just in case you're not, there is no way bad technique can possibly cause so much extra movement that it singlehandedly causes you to sweat.

 

[peter6725]

sometimes my fingers are to dry..I give em' a little lick and they are nice and lubed..

 

[Implosion]

Sweating from playing is a sign of excagurated movement, usually linking to bad technique. (Or it may just be that it's hotter over there )

I just thought you were being sarcastic on your first post Seriously, sweating from playing and sweating from performing are two totally different things. Also +1 to that guy who commented on the stage lights. If you've ever had one in your vicinity, you know that those things can make sweat a lot.

 

[Murder_Worship]

yea i think im gonna have to start wearing wristbands at shows. it helps a lot with sweat. if you're playign aggressive fast music, and you wat to put ona show, that involves moving. and moving lots + playing fast definatly = sweat.

it is called a sweat band ahahaha

 

[dreadheadbass]

why do i wear sweatbands? er because i sweat

it stops sweat from my forearms running down my hand and bugging me it also acts as a wrist mounted towel to wipe the sweat from my head and it also hides my skinny wrists

and although my tech probably is pretty poor according to the bass 101 book its comfy for me and so probably makes me sweat less
you wanna know what makes you sweat?
try 90 degree stage lights with a club with no aircon and multiply by running round on stage trying to work the crowd i bet you'll sweat just as much as me no matter how "perfect" your technique is

 

[excane]

This is a very potent and important topic to discuss....

Since you're in the dark about the whole wristband thing, there are ONLY two reasons that people wear them. EVERYONE who wears wristbands while playing has either one of the following:

1) Scars. About 80% of wristband wearers have exposed nerve endings, bone fragments, and other hideously looking deformations from playing.
I am not talking about bruises....I mean serious, bloody, disgusting, horror-movie scars that let you see all the way down to the bone that have come from wear and tear on the wrist and arm from playing, throwing the instrument, fighting, etc.

2) To cover up an experimental new procedure. Many players today are having a 9 volt battery and electronic package installed in their upper forearms. There is an exposed wire that runs out of the wrist (covered by the wristband) and is attached to a metal pick. When this pick makes contact with the strings, it is unlike any plastic pick tone you have ever heard.
The little package is surgically implanted in the arm by a specialized surgeon and has a socket for an AC adapter usually put near the shoulder blade. A cord is then run up the pants leg of the player (hidden of course) and plugged in for power. If you look closely at a player on stage, you can see the cord coming out of his pant leg near his feet.

 

[sonic assassin]

Thats a really dumb assumption to make Elrend. Some stage lights put off enough heat to cause sweating before you start to play at all, some people play an energetic set that involves a lot of movement not related to playing at all.

werd. i cant play bass with a shirt on because i sweat buckets before i even play and its uncomfortable. i sweat when im cold even.

lights + shirt + ridiculous set with tons of movement = one sweater feller

 

[(b)Assman]

This is a very potent and important topic to discuss....

Since you're in the dark about the whole wristband thing, there are ONLY two reasons that people wear them. EVERYONE who wears wristbands while playing has either one of the following:

1) Scars. About 80% of wristband wearers have exposed nerve endings, bone fragments, and other hideously looking deformations from playing.
I am not talking about bruises....I mean serious, bloody, disgusting, horror-movie scars that let you see all the way down to the bone that have come from wear and tear on the wrist and arm from playing, throwing the instrument, fighting, etc.

2) To cover up an experimental new procedure. Many players today are having a 9 volt battery and electronic package installed in their upper forearms. There is an exposed wire that runs out of the wrist (covered by the wristband) and is attached to a metal pick. When this pick makes contact with the strings, it is unlike any plastic pick tone you have ever heard.
The little package is surgically implanted in the arm by a specialized surgeon and has a socket for an AC adapter usually put near the shoulder blade. A cord is then run up the pants leg of the player (hidden of course) and plugged in for power. If you look closely at a player on stage, you can see the cord coming out of his pant leg near his feet.

The truth has been revealed.

 

[Clammy]

I wear 'em cause I sweat while playing live. Imagine that - sweating while playing live!

Cheers!

 

[Clammy]

Sweating from playing is a sign of excagurated movement, usually linking to bad technique. (Or it may just be that it's hotter over there )

Wow, what a totally ignorant statement.

Have you ever actually played on a stage lit with 400w - 1000w par-cans??? Or an outdoor festival when it's 110*F out?

Oh, and actually moving and entertaining the audience is a GOOD thing.

Cheers!

 

[Snakeman1066]

Um....yea....well I wear them because i use them to wipe the sweat off my forehead, and to help keep the forearm sweat from getting all over my bass.....really disgusting especially if you play a black glossy bass...

they are called sweatbands after all!

 

[RockNRollAl]

It doesn't make sense.

Most bassists hold their bass too high up for sweat to drip past their elbow. So the wristband must only be to tell them which hand to pick the strings with, right?

 

[baba]

Sweating from playing is a sign of excagurated movement, usually linking to bad technique. (Or it may just be that it's hotter over there )

Or it may just be from people getting the eff down and grooving to the song!

 

[BassGirl1122]

I was gonna get one for my right wrist...I tend to sweat a lot, and with the sweat and dirt that gets on your skin-it gets on your bass. I hate that.