I think this is correct advice for guitarists before age issues set in. As you get older you run into issues with injuries, stroke, joint disease, loss of muscle mass, and neurological issues such as essential tremor, parkinson's disease and issues with restricted circulation affecting your finger strength. Hand exercises and strengthening devices like the the D'Addario varigrip might help you maintain the muscles you do have and play better and keep being able to play longer.
I use both finger strengtheners at same time. I've been doing it for the past two weeks. I have noticed that I'm able to hold down notes without much pressure, and my fingers are moving even faster than before. They have become the second most important gadget, after my cell phone, and go wherever I go. 😂 I'm a begginer Bass player, and I want to be the best that I can be. Having strong fingers, seems to be important for this instrument.
I hurt my wrist a year ago and my doctor recommended a hand strengthening with a device to get back to playing my guitar….my doctor plays guitar….so I think I will take his advice. This has been helping me to get back to playing. Of course the device alone won’t get you there….but it is a tool to help.
Strenght gives control Control grants accuracy Note i am not saying brute strength. The average person has a noodle left hand Yes they can be dangerous but so are hand stretching exercises They shouldn't be the emphasis either I use them for climbing
I wouldn't use varigrip if I was a beginner player as it can build excessive tension and bad habits, but if you were already a player and your grip becomes weaker due to age or injury then it's a pretty good tool. I've injured my L wrist due to a motorcycle accident and my 4th and 5th digits of L hand has been weaker and I'm not able to articulate my legato as well as I used to before my accident, but the varigrip did help me sort of regain that articulation. And make sure to not over use the varigrip for too long.
I had an Industrial Accident that Partially Amputated my Ring Finger and Pinky Nov.15/19. This gadget has been necessary and helpful in my rehabilitation process. I'm rebuilding my self confidence and hand muscles. It depends on the context of how it is used and for me it has been beneficial.
I think you're missing a vital point. It's also intended for the times when you cannot play a guitar. For me I travel a bit and I am away for 6 weeks at a time at least once per year with no guitar. So it's useful to maintain hand strength for me. Not everyone wants super strength hands while they can access a guitar.
Building strength in your thumb and the joints and muscles that work there do help with barre chords. It’s not magic though, it just allows you to apply pressure in a way which is not natural to how our hands and fingers are used normally. It’s not so you can press harder, it’s so it’s easier to get the correct pressure needed to play the chord correctly.
I'm absolutely agree with you, BUT i have two quotes to make. First of all, I have hyper lax tendoms that made me get hurt playing guitar A LOT OF TIMES. The only way i could get over it was counting with profesionals such as Physiotherapist and Osteopath, and then, getting extra strenth to compensate those flabby tendoms and here, is where those varigrip can help (again, taking care and being aware of what are you doing). Also I had to completely relearn my muscle memory. If you are practicing well, being aware of your body, i dont see the problem of having an extra brute force for certain things... but you NEED to be focus on those things.
I used that grip strengthener that climbers use, with the pads to push down... MAJOR MISTAKE!!! my fingers widened and strengthened BUT MY RING FINGER TIP comes too close to my index finger, i CANNOT GET THE CURLED SPREAD, made it WORSE!
I think you are mixing two things up that a very different. We use muscles for everything we do and learning to use the right amount of pressure certainly is all about practice. I can lift weights to build strength in my arms and legs, but that in itself will not make me a better golfer. I still need proper form and practice, but with that said I still need to be able to apply the right amount of pressure to perform the function and I would rather have the ability to apply too much than not enough
Played music for a long time 12 years old til a few years ago at least 5 years now 30 played in lots of bands bigs chords odd times, and now I can't play for more than like 20 minutes, never realized how much eh forearm, finger/wrist strength it took it all just became normal would jam and play for hours. Guess I need to start from the beginning, bass guitar and punk rock
As a climbing instructor and jazz guitarist, strong fingers do NOT help (in my experience). It makes playing feel too strong and therefore slow. I’ve had to learn to loosen my hands even more! Which is what you’re supposed to be doing early on with guitar anyways. My two cents 😎👍🎸
Oops..I actually heard Vivian Campbell say, he had lots of strength in his hard to play those pull-offs ..but I agree Mike..relaxation is the right way to get the best results 👍
Those things should all be pulled from the market, they are dangerous and will cause physical injury. 300% agree with you there. May wanna lay off the memes, harder to take you serious with those.
This video's a misinformation parade. If you know a bit about muscles and stamina, steer clear. It totally misses why we exercise. Playing guitar hammers your fingers. But, is finger strength everything? Nope. Is hitting grip exercises for finger workouts useless? Heck no. It's like saying soccer players should ditch pushups and pull-ups because soccer's just knowing how to dribble a ball and score a goal. Total nonsense. Goals and outsmarting opponents need utilization of different muscles and stamina. So, dissing resistance training for a strong grip in guitar playing? Simply laughable.
It's like playing basketball as well. In practice or exercise day, you need to do the drill to give stamina and strength. So that in actual games, you have a lot of endurance and those drills help you how to cope with an unexpected situation. The same goes for playing any instrument. I'm using the finger exercise, it helps my pinky finger to get strong. Just do it gradually.
Agreed, but with one caveat: I think grippers and extensor bands can be useful for correcting and preventing lifestyle-induced muscle imbalances if used sparingly.
I've been using two, for the past two weeks daily. And have noticed a huge difference in my playing. If you want to be the best, you have to put the conditioning time in. 😂
i have found since i broke my fretting wrist last year i've had issues a bit obviously. i've recovered, however, there are lingering tendon tightness and weakness and endurance issues, well if i want to play past 2 hours...and one thing i want to ask, i am finding since the injury the hardest is the power chords believe it or not, having to twist the fingers and put pressure makes the top of my hand uncomfortable now and it's very frustrating for my hand to ache just doing some power chord progressions, i'm fine with barre chords, lol, i've learned from you the proper way to do them, thankyou! do you have a or could you do a video on proper technique for power chords, or maybe easier way for people that are older like me with arthritis and or past injuries, please!
I don't think he got the idea of finger strengthening exercises, people don't get these instruments to play better guitar/piano but to develop strength in fingers so the lack of it doesn't come in the way to learn an instrument, many mature starters leave guitar just because it's to tough to press on the fretboard.
Dude, your forearms are as thick as my legs and you tell me, playing guitar good has nothing to do with fingerstrength? Jokes aside. Obviously strength isnt everything. But there is a threshhold that one needs to overcome. I stopped practicing heavily over two years ago. A year ago I started climbing and thus improved my fingerstrength greatly. I noticed that playing guitar is much easier now comparig to how much I practice.
How thick are the forearms of this dude here? ruclips.net/video/j50Xa1k6KyE/видео.html I'm a neuro specialist, I suspect your guitar playing improvement has noting to do with increased muscle strength. It's about loading your brain with new unwonted info that forced your body to develop new synaptic connections in the brain and more neuro cell sensors in your fingers, hands, arms. A cool balance improvement technique for old people has been developed-they walked for hours and days and months with bare feet on different 'not-so-pleasant-to-step-on' surfaces. Grass, sand, gravel, ground, asphalt, rough wood and everything of that in a random mix and more. 80-year-olds who'd walked with walking-sticks only, after treatment could walk self-sustained and aidless. Shoes shield your brain from all that information, thus less cells are needed. At some point it leads to kinda 'neurological death'. Climbing greatly loads brain on how precise the muscle's engagement must be and. It also challenges how short/long in time this engagement should be. Thus neurological "alivement".
you have a lot of small muscles in your fingers bro. If you didn't you wouldn't be able to use them for anything. muscles attached to tendons that are attached to the bones allows for movement.
I think this is correct advice for guitarists before age issues set in. As you get older you run into issues with injuries, stroke, joint disease, loss of muscle mass, and neurological issues such as essential tremor, parkinson's disease and issues with restricted circulation affecting your finger strength. Hand exercises and strengthening devices like the the D'Addario varigrip might help you maintain the muscles you do have and play better and keep being able to play longer.
I use both finger strengtheners at same time. I've been doing it for the past two weeks. I have noticed that I'm able to hold down notes without much pressure, and my fingers are moving even faster than before. They have become the second most important gadget, after my cell phone, and go wherever I go. 😂 I'm a begginer Bass player, and I want to be the best that I can be. Having strong fingers, seems to be important for this instrument.
which one do you rec?
Am I the only one watching this after my finger exerciser got delivered 😰
Do both: use the tool and practice guitar as often as you can ...
Putting all hopes only on that tool will definitely disappoint ...
shit I am watching this video while using the Daddario finger strengthener
naw 💀
Watching this before I order it
Sue 'em
Then request a refund
Then sue 'em again
I hurt my wrist a year ago and my doctor recommended a hand strengthening with a device to get back to playing my guitar….my doctor plays guitar….so I think I will take his advice. This has been helping me to get back to playing. Of course the device alone won’t get you there….but it is a tool to help.
When you are on tour in the van for hours some of these grip strength exercisers are awsome
Lol i wanted to make a rant video like this! It really frustrates me as a teacher when students come and show me such products.
I was considering this for the independence of fingers 3 and 4.
Strenght gives control
Control grants accuracy
Note i am not saying brute strength.
The average person has a noodle left hand
Yes they can be dangerous but so are hand stretching exercises
They shouldn't be the emphasis either
I use them for climbing
Years ago Joe Satriani published an article stating that practicing hammer-on and pull-off techniques is all about accuracy and not strength.
I wouldn't use varigrip if I was a beginner player as it can build excessive tension and bad habits, but if you were already a player and your grip becomes weaker due to age or injury then it's a pretty good tool. I've injured my L wrist due to a motorcycle accident and my 4th and 5th digits of L hand has been weaker and I'm not able to articulate my legato as well as I used to before my accident, but the varigrip did help me sort of regain that articulation. And make sure to not over use the varigrip for too long.
I had an Industrial Accident that Partially Amputated my Ring Finger and Pinky Nov.15/19. This gadget has been necessary and helpful in my rehabilitation process. I'm rebuilding my self confidence and hand muscles. It depends on the context of how it is used and for me it has been beneficial.
I think you're missing a vital point. It's also intended for the times when you cannot play a guitar. For me I travel a bit and I am away for 6 weeks at a time at least once per year with no guitar. So it's useful to maintain hand strength for me. Not everyone wants super strength hands while they can access a guitar.
Building strength in your thumb and the joints and muscles that work there do help with barre chords. It’s not magic though, it just allows you to apply pressure in a way which is not natural to how our hands and fingers are used normally. It’s not so you can press harder, it’s so it’s easier to get the correct pressure needed to play the chord correctly.
I have weak hands in general so the Daddario device is helping greatly 😅
I got one to help with dexterity will I’m sitting at work. Not for strength but more for finger independence and dexterity
I'm absolutely agree with you, BUT i have two quotes to make. First of all, I have hyper lax tendoms that made me get hurt playing guitar A LOT OF TIMES. The only way i could get over it was counting with profesionals such as Physiotherapist and Osteopath, and then, getting extra strenth to compensate those flabby tendoms and here, is where those varigrip can help (again, taking care and being aware of what are you doing). Also I had to completely relearn my muscle memory.
If you are practicing well, being aware of your body, i dont see the problem of having an extra brute force for certain things... but you NEED to be focus on those things.
what if you are 61?
I used that grip strengthener that climbers use, with the pads to push down... MAJOR MISTAKE!!! my fingers widened and strengthened BUT MY RING FINGER TIP comes too close to my index finger, i CANNOT GET THE CURLED SPREAD, made it WORSE!
maybe not using a device like those everyday? but maybe once or twice a week?
I think you are mixing two things up that a very different. We use muscles for everything we do and learning to use the right amount of pressure certainly is all about practice. I can lift weights to build strength in my arms and legs, but that in itself will not make me a better golfer. I still need proper form and practice, but with that said I still need to be able to apply the right amount of pressure to perform the function and I would rather have the ability to apply too much than not enough
It boils down to putting in the work their is no tricks. Learn the mental first the physical will come after.
I have to build the strength of my index cause none of the positions work in creating a oerfect 6string bar.
Played music for a long time 12 years old til a few years ago at least 5 years now 30 played in lots of bands bigs chords odd times, and now I can't play for more than like 20 minutes, never realized how much eh forearm, finger/wrist strength it took it all just became normal would jam and play for hours. Guess I need to start from the beginning, bass guitar and punk rock
You misunderstood the intended purposes of the product and your ideas are dangerous.
I’m trying to tell my brother that they don’t work but he is absolutely sure it’s going to work and he’s unsung sand paper too
As a climbing instructor and jazz guitarist, strong fingers do NOT help (in my experience). It makes playing feel too strong and therefore slow. I’ve had to learn to loosen my hands even more! Which is what you’re supposed to be doing early on with guitar anyways. My two cents 😎👍🎸
Oops..I actually heard Vivian Campbell say, he had lots of strength in his hard to play those pull-offs ..but I agree Mike..relaxation is the right way to get the best results 👍
I knew the moment I make an absolute statement - I get to find out who all the exceptions are :)
@@HowToPracticeGuitar lol
Also it is great for finger independence when away from my guitar. So think more before you rant my friend
We'd all be lost without your wisdom
Those things should all be pulled from the market, they are dangerous and will cause physical injury. 300% agree with you there. May wanna lay off the memes, harder to take you serious with those.
This video's a misinformation parade. If you know a bit about muscles and stamina, steer clear. It totally misses why we exercise. Playing guitar hammers your fingers. But, is finger strength everything? Nope. Is hitting grip exercises for finger workouts useless? Heck no. It's like saying soccer players should ditch pushups and pull-ups because soccer's just knowing how to dribble a ball and score a goal. Total nonsense. Goals and outsmarting opponents need utilization of different muscles and stamina. So, dissing resistance training for a strong grip in guitar playing? Simply laughable.
It's like playing basketball as well. In practice or exercise day, you need to do the drill to give stamina and strength. So that in actual games, you have a lot of endurance and those drills help you how to cope with an unexpected situation. The same goes for playing any instrument. I'm using the finger exercise, it helps my pinky finger to get strong. Just do it gradually.
Agreed, but with one caveat: I think grippers and extensor bands can be useful for correcting and preventing lifestyle-induced muscle imbalances if used sparingly.
I've been using two, for the past two weeks daily. And have noticed a huge difference in my playing. If you want to be the best, you have to put the conditioning time in. 😂
Yep I agree... just playing the guitar builds up finger strength. These gadgets are just CRAP and just totally useless.
i have found since i broke my fretting wrist last year i've had issues a bit obviously. i've recovered, however, there are lingering tendon tightness and weakness and endurance issues, well if i want to play past 2 hours...and one thing i want to ask, i am finding since the injury the hardest is the power chords believe it or not, having to twist the fingers and put pressure makes the top of my hand uncomfortable now and it's very frustrating for my hand to ache just doing some power chord progressions, i'm fine with barre chords, lol, i've learned from you the proper way to do them, thankyou! do you have a or could you do a video on proper technique for power chords, or maybe easier way for people that are older like me with arthritis and or past injuries, please!
I don't think he got the idea of finger strengthening exercises, people don't get these instruments to play better guitar/piano but to develop strength in fingers so the lack of it doesn't come in the way to learn an instrument, many mature starters leave guitar just because it's to tough to press on the fretboard.
I think you can say this if you haven’t had hand injuries or hand surgeries, idk 🤷♀️
Great , thanks
SO NOT TRUE....... the VariGrip works amazingly.....
Dude, your forearms are as thick as my legs and you tell me, playing guitar good has nothing to do with fingerstrength?
Jokes aside. Obviously strength isnt everything. But there is a threshhold that one needs to overcome. I stopped practicing heavily over two years ago. A year ago I started climbing and thus improved my fingerstrength greatly. I noticed that playing guitar is much easier now comparig to how much I practice.
How thick are the forearms of this dude here?
ruclips.net/video/j50Xa1k6KyE/видео.html
I'm a neuro specialist, I suspect your guitar playing improvement has noting to do with increased muscle strength. It's about loading your brain with new unwonted info that forced your body to develop new synaptic connections in the brain and more neuro cell sensors in your fingers, hands, arms.
A cool balance improvement technique for old people has been developed-they walked for hours and days and months with bare feet on different 'not-so-pleasant-to-step-on' surfaces. Grass, sand, gravel, ground, asphalt, rough wood and everything of that in a random mix and more.
80-year-olds who'd walked with walking-sticks only, after treatment could walk self-sustained and aidless. Shoes shield your brain from all that information, thus less cells are needed. At some point it leads to kinda 'neurological death'.
Climbing greatly loads brain on how precise the muscle's engagement must be and. It also challenges how short/long in time this engagement should be. Thus neurological "alivement".
I have seen some very feeble looking dudes with scrawny muscles straight up shred like Yngwie, muscles are not required for speed or accuracy ;)
Hammer on and pull off
this is not good for guitarist....
this is good and effective for saxophone and trumphet players.😊
look up and do finger independence workouts. i like squeezing therapy putty too
👍
Stop blinking dude
human
ofcourse you´re "selling shit"..am I surprised...
I mean... as far as I know we don't have any muscles in the fingers, so does it even make sense to talk about "finger strength?"
you have a lot of small muscles in your fingers bro. If you didn't you wouldn't be able to use them for anything. muscles attached to tendons that are attached to the bones allows for movement.