Essential Hand Stretches For Guitarists or Any Instrumentalist
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- Опубликовано: 13 апр 2010
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In this lesson we will focus on a few hand stretching exercises that I feel are essential to every guitarist's warm-up routine. These kind of exercises can really go a long way to keeping your hands healthy and in better playing form. I do them everyday before I pick up my guitar.
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Lesson Taught By: Carl Brown
Notes for myself haha
1:48 massage hand
3:18 stretch fingers back and fourth
6:43 separate fingers
7:18 stretch all fingers side to side
7:35 stretch fingers back and fourth
7:54 massage tips of fingers
8:13 expand hands
I WAS LOOKING FOR THIS THANK YOU ❤️
Expand pp
@@farithrosh ha! sadly i relate
Really a helpful comment live long 🥲🥲
You and 200 others
I stopped playing guitar for minutes to find some finger exercise. After watching this video, my guitar pick was taken by aliens.
I mean where else would they go to be fair
When they return it, it will be in the exact same spot you last saw it.
ify i placed my pick on one spot then after some time pass it's like it disappeared into thin air
I lost my pick a couple of days ago and I found it in the same spot I put it in
I can relate
12years have passed and this video is still helping us.
Yes! that's how quality content looks.
thats why focusing on trends rather than ideas doesnt work long term..
I didn't even realize this video was that old until I read this comment, truly quality content.
@@sirspongadoodle Eh, videos focusing on trends is less helpful and more like, "this is trendy and funny or relatable (depending on what trend)" and the more people relate to it in different ways, the more likes and views the video gets most of the time. So following trends aren't even supposed to work out in the long run. It's more like a bunch of people trying to get more views, likes and money.
Except it is actually terrible way to stretch and leaves out important things.
You think it is good because you are totally naive.
Pick up a book on stretching by Phil Wharton.
"For any instrumentalist"
*laughs in kazoo*
*laughs in **_broke_*
@@Sonicbro-xx6sg there is still aire
This guy sounds almost like Kermit is it just me?
@@Sonicbro-xx6sg stretching you throat using your arms 👍
@@aeea3306Otherwise known as strangulation
What a difference after a few days finger exorcises, it should be the first lesson in Guitar playing especially for the older brigade.
Bill, have you noticed a significant difference after doing the exercises? I am struggling to do some chords because it feels like my hands/wrists/arms are too "stiff"
Kevin I did the streches only for my left hand and I see a huge difference between my hands after two weeks! Now I regrett not starting with both hands..
Do you do these exercises once a day?
Agreed. I when I started get into using four fingers over four frets I was losing hope cause my pinky finger couldn’t reach as far until I started these stretches
Not just in guitar, this should be a mandatory first lesson for every musical instrument
Instructions unclear, I now have 6 fingers.
Wow, these exercises turned you into a jazz guitarist?
@@ZodiacEntertainment2 k
@@simon-di7xt ok
instructions unclear, i accidentally fingered my cat.
@@stefaneduard8169 stop
Another very important aspect of finger stretching that was left out of this video has to do with moisturizing! Skin elasticity is predicated on the level of moisture the skin has in it. What helped me a ton is not only being hydrated but applying lotion regularly on top of doing these stretches!
I will chime in as additional support for this suggestion. Your entire body requires moisture, much more than I think most of us realize. Moisturize daily, dudes. At night, right after a nice shower? Perfect time to apply losh and let your skin slurp it up overnight. Makes a crazy difference over the long term.
@@ZeroMilk :) have a nice day, SamueL!
Interesting comment! I'm a strong believer also in lotion for guitar hands - especially a good natural ingredient lotion that dissapears into your skin and isn't greasy. Found one I liked almost 50 years ago, and stuck with it: Mill Creek Aloe Vera and PABA Moisturizing Lotion.
Any kind of particular lotion you would recommend
I thought that you should wash your hands before playing to prevent the strings from getting dirty?
Hi, I just discovered this lesson and though I'm 75 this year it's never too late to learn something new. My hands have been through a lot of hard work and I didn't realize how bad they were until now. I will try hard to develope more flexibility. Thanks very much. Cheers from Kim in Australia
how are you now
@@officialjunkfat4229dead
Thank you farmer Kim
Him: "My fingers are average length."
Me: "Why is my middle finger shorter than his pinky?"
@Diomedes D yk it was 10 years ago
@Diomedes D I agree but the stretches are still useful
dude....ouch
hahaha _s m o l_
LoL
Thanks man that was handy
ba-dum dish!
Ha, I got it!
Punny 😂😂
I didn't get the joke until like an hour later
boii
Hand Stretches
1:46
- Thumb Pressing Palm
- Thumb Pressing Fingers and Sides of the Fingers (all 5)
- Repeat to the Front Hand (Darker Tone)
- Back and Front of the Forearm to Elbow
- Shake the hand
2:56 Single-Finger Bending
- Lock the elbow straight
- Stretch up the index finger (next to thumb) slowly
- Take the other 4 fingers then move them up and down
- Shake the hand
- Repeat to other 3 fingers (for pinky, stretch sideward over third finger)
- Repeat but downwards
- Stretch the thumb up-sideward, then other fingers up and down, last the down-sideward
- Shake the hand
6:40 Finger Widening
7:10
- Group-Finger Bending Sideward (thumb direction)
- Shake the hand
- Group-Finger Bending Sideward (hand down, pinky direction)
- Group-finger Bending Front then down
- Shake the hand
7:53 Fingertip Massage
*repeat to the other hand
8:11 Expand Hands
Oh wow, I am so glad I found this while I'm still in the early stages of learning guitar. I'm definitely going to be using this in the future, thanks.
hows ur guitar progression??
I'm really shocked that I didn't know this before. I've been having trouble with a couple of chords just cause my fingers are too short to reach. This really helped. More people should know about this!!!
@@johnnyparsnips7641 How will my fingers grow once I have stopped growing :(
@@AyushRaj maybe you need a smaller guitar for your hands? That‘s also a possibility
holy shit me too bro
400th lile
Same this video was really helpful
this is the only guitar video without a guitar i can find
Damn babe I hope you got a guitar
This may be the most important guitar related video I've watched on RUclips so far. Turns out watching gear demos and reviews don't make you a better player. Thanks! 👍
That was so helpful. As a total beginner it makes perfect sense. You stretch and warm up before going for a run, your fingers need the same before a guitar workout.
I broke my neck and literally had to relearn how to play guitar after 40 Plus years. My hands have nerve and muscle damage and very poor circulation PLUS I am only 5' 4" tall.....so my fingers are very short to begin with. The stiffness of my fingers and hands has made it difficult for me to play for more than 45 minutes max, and nothing more than basic chords. but after doing these stretches, my hands seem more flexible and less swollen and stiff. i can't wait to try playing after another session tonight. Thanks so very much.
I hope you heal quick and well, I hope everything clicks into place for you.
I am just 4'11" and my fingers are like a baby's and it's so difficult for me too learn to play guitar😔
@@khushinegi2066 that's ok don't give up nothing is impossible..
My ring finger's dislocated too in a bike accident and I couldn't play what I cud play anymore.. But I still play sometimes.
@@neriomao4314 ohh I am so sorry...but I know you are still much better than many
Why don't all beginners videos start with this. It makes a huge difference.
+SuperSlartibartfast Exactly. When I started, with lots of excitement I learnt a few chords, humming some songs, but then I found I was walking my fingers instead of moving them together while changing chords. Then looked up videos about how to do that, which eventually led me to this exercise!
2
r we just saying random words? if so-fajod;bn wjfpvnok
I had two guitar teachers and neither spent time on this which surprises me as both have been teaching for a long time.
Renaissance Man pretty much what happened to me too
I'm 76, getting back to guitar after 2 decades and I couldn't do chords I've always done. I had no idea that we should do stretches!!! Thanks so much! I see that this is from 2010 so I don't know if you're stil reading comments but I'm sending you blessings for your generosity. Thanks YOu!!
I'm 65 and just gonna keep doing these exercises. Age is cruel but we can fight it with some exercises!
never planning on touching any instrument in my life, this helped my fingers after drawing for long hours everyday 😭 love you man
Did your size of fingers grow
@@raghavbhutani5153 no my hand stopped growing since i became an adult lmao but they are more flexible and dont get stiff as much as they used to (+ i found that using some kind of hand cream makes these easier to do if you have really dry/sweaty hands)
Same I draw too (also play guitar though) so it's like extra helpful
perhaps it's a bit over-the-top but i'm actually in tears right now. i've spent years being so depressed because even the simplest chords were too difficult for me, but after just ten minutes of these stretches i can do it no problem. thank you so much man, i'm so much more optimistic about my future as a musician now
Wow.That comment made my year.
i don't think that's over the top, i feel like that's an appropriate response to feeling like you just unlocked the door to a great musical future.
You sound like a guy from a simply piano commercial lol
@@HansLandaOfficial wkakak
turnleftaticeland can you give us a update in how you’re doing
Am I the only one that's afraid of breaking their finger....
Instructions unclear foot stuck in door frame
It would take an immense force to break a finger. A pinkie, maybe, but otherwise you'll be fine.
You're not supposed to stretch to the point of possible injury. Just enough tension but not real pain.
I am scared too
You're not alone!! Lol
This was really helpful, Carl! I’ve always went ahead and started playing my guitar without stretching my fingers, but now I realize that it benefits me to keep my hands healthy.
does this video help you get longer finger?
@@nemesisy late reply: not longer fingers but can help your finger stretch further
That stretch immediately just made my arm feel great. Definitely recommend doing these
10 minutes ago, I could not play power cords. My ring finger just wouldn't go 2 frets over.
Now I can reach that 2nd fret wire with ease. Instant results.
Why is this not taught in the first lesson by every guitar teacher on the planet?
Thanks mate!
Lol I read this in those infomercial voices.
Soar Trinsic I make power chords with my index and pinky finger, but if it's at the 15th fret or higher I would use my ring finger
Soar Trinsic the way i learned to stretch was playing over and over on frets 1 3 5 of strings one and two. If you cant reach that far i first started on 5 7 and 9. Not i could play... uhh idk what the chord is called... if you want to know, 7 on first string and 11 on strings 1 2 3 and 4.
*now i could play
I just did it on my left hand and compared both hands, how far i could spread my fingers. Insane results instantly, i am amazed!
Something in my hand, shoulder, and elbow popped
This is amazing
@Diomedes D shut up?
I haven't played since my early 20s and I'm 37 now getting back into sadly ive lost everything so I'm having to relearn how to play again and I'm glad I found this video cause I couldn't do simple cords to save my life 😭 thank you so much!
The amount of improvement I had from just doing this stretch for the first time is Amazing! I guess my hands/fingers are very tense. I’m going to do this stretch everyday now, thank you!
As i am a teenager with minimal finger movements prior to playing guitar,my fingers were mighty stiff and real hard to move,thanks to you sir i’ve learned to be able to free myself from my disability and the eternal feeling of stiffness in my fingers,thank you for all you’ve done for this community.
-Saifo Wahsh
im trying to work on my fingers mobility i cant even give people the middle finger it literally just stays like not even half way thats how immobile my fingers are 💀💀💀
its annoying especially for power chords
@@kenzosuzsame i do boxing so their even worse now
I'm a left handed guitar player for almost 35 years, and I had an accident on right hand wrist 4 years ago, even after a recovery it was hard for me to play even simple chords, forget about solos. This video was really life changing, I am telling this after 1 year of practice.
Ask a physiotherapy man to do not have problems
How are you now?
Thank you so much Carl for this physical warm up! My hands feel so much better. I have been following for awhile learning all my favorites and just joined the academy today. I love your style of teaching. Applied, practical, fun and good tips and can't wait to become more a better player!
This is an eye opener. I needed to see this. Ive been trying for so long to change my playing. This is a simple yet effective way to get started. Bless you for making this
this exercise at one time - I will start doing everyday as from now - instantly increased my struggling 85wpm speed to about 104wpm while typing, with about 97% accuracy.
Wow amazing dude
i never thought that this could improve wpm. that’s pretty clever
I just reached 102wpm today! have been struggling alot with getting there. Might wanna try doing this for some time and see if i'll get even faster
@@andreashenriksen1485 don't you ever give up, don't you ever give in.
@@fribiesdi Thanks man! I will not give up
been playing 25 years and this is something i never took seriously enough.
thank you sir.
Fantastic! Simple and straightforward
Thank you very much for this lesson! I was looking for something like that for a long time...
I wish to have discovered this video earlier. Been playing for over 10 years and my ring finger and pinky have no strength. I can barely play properly. It's the most soul destroying thing and it has really set my music career back. So much time spent training my fingers, all for nothing. Take note aspiring guitarists! I wouldn't wish this on anyone
was this video helpful for you?
try using a hair-tie, I use a small rubber band, behind the knuckels of yr three fingers while practicing.
mrbsred1 Same here bud. Even gave up after a while since I wasnt progressing anywhere because I couldn't stretch for shit. It's been 10 years for me too. Going to pick the guitar back up now and do these stretches every day.
mrbsred1 I was struck with Psoriatic Arthritis at 30 years old...right at my peak. It was devastating. It causes incredible pain, cartilage destruction, and your joints to swell up, as well as tendons and other auxiliaries. In the hands it causes "sausage fingers" were they get fat and cumbersome. Other parts of your body like ankles, spine and feet, can leave you completely disabled. There is no cure. It hit my entire body hard, and I ended up in a wheel chair. Now five years later, I've gotten out of that F'ing thing, and have begun to built strength stamina and speed again; though I'll never play anywhere near as fast as before. I focus on tone now, and play more gilmoresque solos. Alex Lifeson, the guitarist for RUSH, has had it for ten years now. It's one of the reason after 40+ years, they aren't doing major tours any longer. It's serious shit, but I am fighting it with all I've got. I hope you are able to find that strength as well, and can regain some of your former self. Best of luck!
+mrbsred1 Ironically the same situation here. My hands are very small, and some chords seem almost impossible to reach, yet I see girls/women playing perfectly with the same hand size. I'd already started the last of the stretches on this video, but will work on the others too now. Thanks for the video!
When you've been already doing all of this because of ADHD >.>
same
@@raymondhmuifoo11 bruh your name
@@gmaccc2420 bruh its a normal name
I mean...ADHD got a point..
ADHD?
So glad to have come across this video. I sure need it. Thank you 😊
THIS HELPED ME SO MUCH THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!
Thank you for this. My typical acoustic practice session runs around an hour and a half. Yesterday, following finger stretch exercises, I played for 2 1/4 hours in the morning as well as another hour last night with no cramps today. You taught an old dog new tricks. Thanks again.
These stretches are f****** incredible and make a huggge night and day difference. thank you so much!
The right video that I was looking for. Thanks Man
These streches are sooooooooo good. Thank you very much!
This is gold for illustrators aswell 🤩
Not only does this help guitarists, it also helps every other musician. I've played violin for 8 years, a little piano, and picked up a guitar 2-3 years ago. My hands have never felt more flexible. Thanks !!!
OMG this is literally INSANE!!! i don’t usually comment but WOW!!! i tried doing a scale that i’ve had trouble with in the past before doing this, and then right after, i was easily able to hit all the notes!!! this is crazy thank you soooo much!!!
These guitar stretches help a lot thank you!
I recently discovered this video and found it to be incredibly important and especially for older guitarists . I have been playing guitar since I was 11 yrs old and I'm 62 now. I had no conception of how tight my finger and hand muscles had become but now after stretching a few times I realize that my ability to play over a period of time has decreased due to the tightness that develops over an hour or so of playing. I would like to thank you very much for sharing this extremely important information.
I've never realized how crooked my fingers were until trying to stretch them out lol
Such a beautiful hand. 🌿
This is really helpful and so relaxing!
Just what I have been looking for. Thank you 👍
I used to do these exercises as a cellist, and am about to recommend them to guitarist friends. I think these are very important, not only if you play an instrument, but also if you use your fingers a lot, like on your computer. Thanks so much for posting this! Ten years and just as helpful xD
Honestly, these exercises could even help with some styles of dance.
Oh I would also point out that if you suffer from dry and cracked skin, this is the perfect time to use a good lotion. By the time you are done stretching, all the lotion has been absorbed into the skin. I wouldn't use anything really greasy or with too many chemicals. I use a Burts Bees hand salve that's basically just lemon oil. Does wonders and isn't hard on my guitar.
I got an idea before I read your comment. It's like a recipe for warming the hands up especially in winter; I eat an orange then wipe my hands with the juice spilled from it then put my hands near fire just to let the skin absorb the natural oil.
doesnt using lotion take away the point of building up calluses? and arent calluses good?
***** I've never had problems building up calluses and using lotion. I have psoriatic arthritis and lotion is a must for my hands. I have yet to have a problem.
I'm gonna try it every time! Thank you
Thank you for sharing these excellent exercises!
Thank you, I’m a seasoned guitarist and although I have done stretches for years, I have not done this much. Very helpful I’ve been losing strength to.
I am a professional guitarist for over 25 years. I only recently after all this time developed tendonitis and trigger finger. I am recovering from a cortisone shot and 6 weeks of PT. I'm getting back to my practice routine and still having lingering pain.
The exercises in this video, after doing only once, has helped me more than the 6 weeks of PT; and all the stretching and exercises they showed me. This stretching routine has helped me feel better. Thanks Carl - this should be standard warm up for all guitarists - any level! Cheers!
Thanks, Carl. I’m 68 years old and this has helped me so much. The best my hands have felt in years!
this really helped relax my hand. thank you very much
*_Treat Your Own Hand and Thumb Arthritis_** at Amazon is also worth checking out.*
_ruclips.net/video/L5qwnvlbqWo_/видео.html
@@michelletribble6002 Thanks!
thanks taco man
This hand warmups is huge for all guitarists!!!
I’ve tried this besides other ideas and this warmup is thee best , thank you so much!!!👍
This has been incredibly helpful for typing speed/comfort, thank you.
Great info. Just what I was looking for. Thanks
Thanks man, I wish I had a started doing these before the hand pain kicked in! I'm an artist and it's quite frustrating to draw while feeling pain in the hand. I'll sure add this one's to my mourning stretches!
Awesome! I just began taking guitar lessons, and I was so frustrated that my fingers could not reach the four highest frets at the same time. I am determined to learn the proper way. This is going to help me immensely. Thank you for teaching such a valuable lesson in keeping the fingers limber and healthy. I will be a guitar player.
An excellent video. This should help anyone wanting to play well. Thanks.
Thank you, these exercises are just what I was looking for :)
This was one of the most helpful warm up lessons I have ever seen, thank you so much for sharing.
Hands feel great after this stretch. Thank you very much !
Good stretches- some I've not done before. Thank you!
This video has been very useful to me, thank you for sharing 🙏
This was great. I have played for several years but just started really getting back into guitar and never thought to do this. Can definitely feel a difference right away.
Thanks
Thank you very much for these videos, Carl.
I am a yoga teacher.
If a stretch is held in a static pose for about 20 seconds, the fascia releases, creating an even better, deeper stretch. These exercises are great... I would suggest doing the assisted finger stretch as Carl demonstrates, hold it for 20 seconds and then do the wave like motion that he suggests. Thank you very much.
That is true and really helpful. Thank you. :)
Thank you. Not sure what a fascia is but I felt a difference
Fascia is a thin, tough, elastic type of connective tissue that wraps most structures within the human body, including muscle. Fascia supports and protects these structures. Osteopathic theory proposes that this soft tissue can become restricted due to psychogenic disease, overuse, trauma, infectious agents, or inactivity, often resulting in pain, muscle tension, and corresponding diminished blood flow
Thanks for pitching in, Sam. Twenty seconds is amazing!
It's not just fascia but the muscle spindle fibers that control muscle tone that release muscle tone that allow progressive stretching.
Wow my friend! Never done it before the whole stretch session, I can feel right now my hand is very relax and ready for my class. Thanks for your help. Excellent! Godspeed!
I was a professional musician for many years. Over 200 dates a year regularly. I've sent started renovating houses and have developed arthritis and a couple of fingers. I'm lifting songs for a gig tomorrow and my hands are in agony. I desperately sod out help and found your video.
Although my arthritis pain is still present, this tutorial has made a world of difference. I feel much better and the pain is much easier to deal with.
Thank you so much for this. I'll be using it regularly from now on
Jeez that must've been handy
Wow. Thank you so much! this is great for preventing long term problems as well. I've been playing guitar for almost 13 years and wish I knew this.
Another great excerise for the hands
I'm glad you left this video on for 11 years. It help me a lot.
Such a helpful video! This helped me a lot because my hand would cramp and get sore while playing and it became really hard keep playing sometimes. But these stretches have really helped a lot and my hand doesn't cramp anymore
I started playing the ukulele 6 months ago and have had 3 bouts of muscle injury, the latest being tendonitus which is taking ages to heal. I’m 61 and felt maybe I should give up. But having discovered these exercises I’m hoping that from now on I can avoid injury. Thank you so much!
Thank you so much Carl! Learning to do all these stretches are really amazing before playing the guitar and this has helped me so much everytime i play any songs
this is actually so helpful. thank you.
This is amazing! I’ve been looking for violin videos for strengthening my fingers (mainly my third and fourth) and this one is the best one yet! Even though this video is mainly for guitar, it makes sense it would be perfect for violin since other string instruments have harder and thicker strings as well as more strings to reach than violin. So if a cellist or guitarist can do it then so can a violinist. In just one go I was able to lift my third finger independently pretty high. I’ve tried so many exercises but felt discouraged since a lot of the way your fingers function is genetics, but this helped soo much! Thank you for lifting my spirits! I’ll study hard to become a violinist now, knowing I have a chance.
I tried these stretching exercises and I noticed a difference right away when fingerpicking a certain chord progression that I play everyday to help with stretching. Reaching some of these notes is now even easier. Thanks.
Your exercises are notable, helpful and recommendable.
This was very very helpful, thank you so much for making this video
My fingers became way more flexible after just a few times stretching! Also, the wrist-side stretches helped me to finally be able to play barre chords. Still a little difficult, but I could play them. Gonna continue stretching to make them easier for me, at least I know know that I will be able to use these barred chords 🥳
Great tip, thank you !
I broke my hand some years ago but weirdly, never really found out the proper method to loose the pain and get back my flexibility. Finally, after practicing your exercices, I felt a real progress. I am excited to do this on a very daily basis ! Thanks again :)
This actually really helped a pain I was feeling in my hand and a tight feeling after hours of practice thank you!
Thank you brother I really needed this.😊
I'm an old guitarist (59 yo), now playing bass and my hands are stiff and inflexible. I have been doing these stretches for 10 days and I can't believe the benefit already. My hands feel stronger and I'm able to get a farther reach on the neck. Thanks so much for your video!
You have beautiful fingers, thank you for sharing this!!
very useful and well explained! Thanks!
Amazing, this is a game changer, just what I needed, thank you.
Very good advice for guitar playing. I am 65 played when I was younger this makes my hands feel youngerand supple.Thanks
.
Thank you for uploading this because I have been struggling to get good exercises before playing on my violin. It helps on a lot of perspectives like you don't just get more flexible but you will feel more comfortable playing the violin. I appreciate that you uploaded this video on RUclips. (I know that this video is from quite some time ago but I still want to give my opinion about this)
Complete beginner and so grateful you made this video
Awesome exercises! Thank you very much.
been playing for 7 years now never thought to do this!!!! I have been playing classical songs all day and doing hard chords and now my hands feel 200% better
thanks