Warm up techniques

[slukather]

Alright, l haven't seen a thread like this posted before.
But l was wonder how do you fellow guitarist warm up before band practise, or before a gig??

Also what exercises do you guys and girl do to keep your chops up and/or to improve your playing???


I ask these questions, because l'm always looking at improving my playing and would like an insight into how you fellow guitarists do it.

Thanks.

Scott.

 

[brentrocks]

i don't gig or play in a band, but that is an interesting question.

do you do like, finger push-ups

 

[Ali]

A Budweiser and an easy song



Actually, haven't gigged for so long but I rarely ever did anything (bad I know).

Before any extended practice now, I tend to use the Planet Waves Gripflex (Medium) and the Dynaflex Powerball. Gimmicky but I find a world of difference in both my playing and my stamina since I started using them a few months back

 

[GWDavis28]

Alright, l haven't seen a thread like this posted before.
But l was wonder how do you fellow guitarist warm up before band practise, or before a gig??

Also what exercises do you guys and girl do to keep your chops up and/or to improve your playing???

I ask these questions, because l'm always looking at improving my playing and would like an insight into how you fellow guitarists do it.

Thanks. Scott.

Scott, there was a thread, but I can't seem to locate it. If I find it I'll post it.

Glenn |B)

 

[slukather]

Scott, there was a thread, but I can't seem to locate it. If I find it I'll post it.

Glenn |B)

Thanks man, I tried to do a search, but came up with nothing.

Scott.

 

[Dodgeball]

Until the thread is found, I'll chime in

I usually spend about 5 minutes on alternate picking doing a mixture of chromatics and other random exercises. One favourite of mine is to go over the 3 note per string pattern on the first 3 strings of the natural minor scale (Aeolian) at the second position (5th fret) as it uses all fingers of the left hand and has an awkward little skip in the shift from the G to the B strings. Awkward for me anyhoo. Takes a while to get to play this cleanly and at any real speed.


-----------5-----7--8--------
-----------5--6----8---------
--------4--5-----7-----------


Then I spend about another 5 minutes playing some legato lines, the 5th and 6th strings of the Dorian shape are good for this as the lower down the neck you play the wider the stretch becomes. I generally just pick a scale shape that works for me and go over and over for a while then thats it. Takes about 10 minutes.


--------3-----5-----7--------
--------3-----5-----7--------

Hope that's of some help.

 

[tommyindelaware]

...............2...1...0.............
0...3...4..................3...4...

on the 6th and 5th string.......play this phrase ......... repeating it over and over as one steady line....w/ strict alternate picking........start w/ an up stroke.......start real slow...and keep it very steady. don't increase speed til it's perfect.
it's alot easier to start w/ a downstroke.....so...don't do that !!!!!
the idea is to get yer string crossing together included w/ yer warmup....

 

[NorM]

Steve taught me this one:
Play a note
Drop 2 frets
play that note and bend up to the first note
that warms up your ear too.

 

[ernie1966]

Steve taught me this one:
Play a note
Drop 2 frets
play that note and bend up to the first note
that warms up your ear too.

That's a good one. The version I was taught was to hammer the first note from nowhere, then hammer on the note above, pull off to the first note and then bend it up to the higher note (all done in scale form of course).

So starting from C on the low E-string(8th fret). Hammer that with your second finger, hammer the D with your pinky, pull off to the C and bend that up to the D. Next hammer the E on the A string(7h fret), hammer the D with your pinky (E-string, 10th fret), hammer again the E and bend that up to the D,etc. Do that for any scale in any position. It's a strength builder for fingers and ears.

This exercise is courtesy of Mr. Ron Thal.

 

[kbaim]

I've found one of the best ways to warm up is to step inside out of the cold.

Also standing next to the fire and ordering a hot drink.

(as usual, I'm absolutely no help )
KEITH

 

[SteveB]

I'm with Keith on this one..

A nice shot of whiskey can warm you up, too.

I try to use a gripmaster exercise-thing with my fretting hand while I'm driving to band practice. This works well if you have an automatic transmission.

When I get to rehearsal, we generally start with a song that is just a jam for warming up. Then of course, there's the random noodling that we all fall into.

All of this plainly demonstrates why I'm not a better player.

 

[phatduckk]

well ... when i get to a gig i start drinking. then i smoke a bunch of cigarettes. all the while im streching my fingers. 10 minutes before we go on i grab my bass and play the first song of the set ... then i play scales fast. then one more cigarette and its on.

 

[koogie2k]

I have found that John Petrucci's "Rock Discipline" DVD which shows some great warm up techniques to work for me. Nothing very extensive as far as scales (in terms of speed...that comes later), but in stretches and warm ups.

I also do stretch exercises prior to playing and usually afterwards. Keeps me loose and what not. I tend to sit in a classical stance when I play.

If that doesn't help.....Sambouka....and lots of it..........

 

[timrams88]

this may sound dumb but i play pretty women by van halen, gets all of my fingers including my pinky warmed up and mooving

 

[slukather]

Steve taught me this one:
Play a note
Drop 2 frets
play that note and bend up to the first note
that warms up your ear too.

This one sounds pretty sweet.

Scott.

 

[slukather]

I have found that John Petrucci's "Rock Discipline" DVD which shows some great warm up techniques to work for me. Nothing very extensive as far as scales (in terms of speed...that comes later), but in stretches and warm ups.

I've heard alot of good things about that dvd.

Scott.

 

[MingusBASS]

Well I'm a bassist but to get my fingers moving I play my 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, and 6ths in 1 or 2 octaves usually. It really gets the fingers moving and helps me more then playing modes although I'll throw in some 2 octave modes and arpeggios.

Andrew

 

[kbaim]

Anyone else notice that since some of the bass guys have come over and started posting, there's waaayyyyyy more bottom end here now.

 

[slukather]

Well I'm a bassist but to get my fingers moving I play my 3rds, 4ths, 5ths, and 6ths in 1 or 2 octaves usually. It really gets the fingers moving and helps me more then playing modes although I'll throw in some 2 octave modes and arpeggios.

Andrew

Nice, like this one.
I'm getting alot of good ideas, keep 'em coming.

Scott.

 

[phatduckk]

Anyone else notice that since some of the bass guys have come over and started posting, there's waaayyyyyy more bottom end here now.

but i got a jp6 so im allowed on both sides