improving finger dexterity - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

theguyondacouch · 11-19-2005, 04:16 PM

So I'm learning to play guitar, but the fingers on my left hand seem to be retarded. I know practice is the best way to help this, but is there anything to do when I can't play that will help me improve my finger dexterity?

Fly · 11-20-2005, 07:07 AM

i usually take my thumb and press it against each finger as hard as i can,and hold it for 10 seconds.

you should feel a slight pain at the base of each finger.........do it often too man...it's been helpful to me.

after awhile.......you'll be able to pull off bar(re) chords like there's no tomorrow.

good luck dude.

shakran · 11-20-2005, 07:14 AM

Try these exercises:

http://wholenote.com/default.asp?iTa...6p%3D1%26a%3D0

ratbastid · 11-20-2005, 07:47 AM

Nothing beats actual practice on an actual guitar. I know there are times you can't play, of course, but no exercise trains as many elements of guitar playing as actual practice does.

Fly · 11-20-2005, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakran

Try these exercises:

http://wholenote.com/default.asp?iTa...6p%3D1%26a%3D0

sweet..........thanks for the link man.

samcol · 11-21-2005, 12:24 PM

The thing that helped me was alternate picking chromatic scales to a metronome similar to what is shown on that wholenote site. A metronome is a must in my opinion. Playing in time is almost more important than what you play.

rlynnm · 11-21-2005, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyman

i usually take my thumb and press it against each finger as hard as i can,and hold it for 10 seconds.

you should feel a slight pain at the base of each finger.........do it often too man...it's been helpful to me.

after awhile.......you'll be able to pull off bar(re) chords like there's no tomorrow.

good luck dude.

hey thanks for that piece of info, i'll tell one of my friends that.

Willravel · 11-21-2005, 12:45 PM

I just play the piano whenever my fingers get that not so limber feeling. Try an atude.

flat5 · 12-09-2005, 03:14 PM

Wash dishes in hot water just before practicing.

Willravel · 12-09-2005, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flat5

Wash dishes in hot water just before practicing.

Good for the muscles, bad for the skin.

rlynnm · 12-09-2005, 05:04 PM

would it be a better idea to wash your dishes with super moisturizing dishwashng soap so you can get the muscle work without messing up your skin? Hmmmmmmmm I wonder.

alpha phi · 12-09-2005, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakran

Try these exercises:

http://wholenote.com/default.asp?iTa...6p%3D1%26a%3D0

That's a great link....Thanks! :adding to favorites:

I like to run scales for dexterity and warm up
It's also a great way to learn
how to stay in key.

http://www.all-guitar-chords.com/gui...Blues&get2=Get

A nice site with all kinds of chord/mode/scale info

flat5 · 12-10-2005, 04:55 AM

I guess you could wear kitchen gloves when you wash dishes.
It's not the water - it's the heat and movement that will relax the muscles.

By skin I assume you mean calluses on the ends of fingers.
Also bad: the hot water will soften fingernails.

I don't play guitar. I play reeds so hot water is not a problem for me.

Fly · 12-10-2005, 05:26 AM

that's a sweet link alpha..........thanks

simonrex22 · 12-16-2005, 10:16 AM

Along with the thumb thing, you could tap your thumb with each finger as fast as you can going back and forth.

On your guitar you could press down on the first fret really hard and hold it for 5-10 seconds. Then put your next finger on the second fret, while keeping your first finger where it is and press down. Continue until all your fingers are stretched out. Then go down the strings doing the same thing. To add to this, but is difficult at first, is after you have all your fingers stretched out, try moving your first finger down to the next string while keeping your other fingers where they are. Then the same for you next finger until all your fingers are stretched out on the next string down.

simonrex22 · 12-16-2005, 10:20 AM

Oh yeah. Its something that i used to tell myself i would do, but never would. Now i do it every time no matter what. Before you start playing take 5 minutes or even 1 minute to just play scales. Start slow and then do it as fast as you can. It loosens up your hand and I garauntee you will play better than if you didnt do it.

thingstodo · 12-24-2005, 01:45 PM

Many beginers hold the neck too hard, making for a cramp below the thumb joint. That will impact everything. A light touch is the best and will also help with dexterity while you warm up. Finger Ease is also good and good for the strings.

clavus · 01-05-2006, 01:12 PM

eat with your left hand.

Seriously.

alpha phi · 01-05-2006, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clavus

eat with your left hand.

Seriously.

I am left handed

But I eat with both hands

.....And play right handed

la petite moi · 01-20-2006, 11:10 AM

When I used to play piano, I played for forty-five minutes to an hour straight. I did this for years, and the one thing that really helped my hands from locking up was squishing a tennis ball. Kinda like those Chinese anti-stress balls, except you can squeeze them.

micah67 · 01-20-2006, 06:14 PM

Think outside the box. (Work with me here.)

Learn some poker chip tricks. They keep the fingers nimble and can be done unobtrusively; watching TV, driving, meetings, web surfing, etc.

I was practicing the chip twirl hyperlinked above. Things were going slow with my (dominate) right hand. But when I switched to my left hand I did it on the first go. and the second go...

Zeraph · 01-20-2006, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theguyondacouch

is there anything to do when I can't play that will help me improve my finger dexterity?

Fingering . . . a woman.

Sorry, but does no one else think of that everytime they hear that?

MexicanOnABike · 01-20-2006, 07:41 PM

flashflashrevolution.com try that!

11-19-2005, 04:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
theguyondacouch salmon? Location: Outside Providence	improving finger dexterity So I'm learning to play guitar, but the fingers on my left hand seem to be retarded. I know practice is the best way to help this, but is there anything to do when I can't play that will help me improve my finger dexterity? __________________ "Lick my frozen metal ass!"

11-20-2005, 07:07 AM	#2 (permalink)
Fly see the links to my music? Location: Beautiful British Columbia	i usually take my thumb and press it against each finger as hard as i can,and hold it for 10 seconds. you should feel a slight pain at the base of each finger.........do it often too man...it's been helpful to me. after awhile.......you'll be able to pull off bar(re) chords like there's no tomorrow. good luck dude. __________________ BASTARD SterlingStudios

12-09-2005, 05:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
rlynnm Psycho Location: so cal	would it be a better idea to wash your dishes with super moisturizing dishwashng soap so you can get the muscle work without messing up your skin? Hmmmmmmmm I wonder. __________________ The hardest thing is to be honest with yourself, especially if that means completely redefining the world you've come to know. Don't look too hard, I'm right in front of you.

12-10-2005, 05:26 AM	#14 (permalink)
Fly see the links to my music? Location: Beautiful British Columbia	that's a sweet link alpha..........thanks __________________ BASTARD SterlingStudios

12-24-2005, 01:45 PM	#17 (permalink)
thingstodo A Storm Is Coming Location: The Great White North	Many beginers hold the neck too hard, making for a cramp below the thumb joint. That will impact everything. A light touch is the best and will also help with dexterity while you warm up. Finger Ease is also good and good for the strings. __________________ If you're wringing your hands you can't roll up your shirt sleeves. Stangers have the best candy.

11-20-2005, 07:14 AM	#3 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	Try these exercises: http://wholenote.com/default.asp?iTa...6p%3D1%26a%3D0

11-20-2005, 07:47 AM	#4 (permalink)
ratbastid Darth Papa Location: Yonder	Nothing beats actual practice on an actual guitar. I know there are times you can't play, of course, but no exercise trains as many elements of guitar playing as actual practice does.

11-21-2005, 12:24 PM	#6 (permalink)
samcol Junkie Location: Indiana	The thing that helped me was alternate picking chromatic scales to a metronome similar to what is shown on that wholenote site. A metronome is a must in my opinion. Playing in time is almost more important than what you play.

11-21-2005, 12:45 PM	#8 (permalink)
Willravel ... a sort of licensed troubleshooter.	I just play the piano whenever my fingers get that not so limber feeling. Try an atude.

12-09-2005, 03:14 PM	#9 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	Wash dishes in hot water just before practicing.

12-10-2005, 04:55 AM	#13 (permalink)
flat5 Very Insignificant Pawn Location: Amsterdam, NL	I guess you could wear kitchen gloves when you wash dishes. It's not the water - it's the heat and movement that will relax the muscles. By skin I assume you mean calluses on the ends of fingers. Also bad: the hot water will soften fingernails. I don't play guitar. I play reeds so hot water is not a problem for me.

12-16-2005, 10:16 AM	#15 (permalink)
simonrex22 Insane	Along with the thumb thing, you could tap your thumb with each finger as fast as you can going back and forth. On your guitar you could press down on the first fret really hard and hold it for 5-10 seconds. Then put your next finger on the second fret, while keeping your first finger where it is and press down. Continue until all your fingers are stretched out. Then go down the strings doing the same thing. To add to this, but is difficult at first, is after you have all your fingers stretched out, try moving your first finger down to the next string while keeping your other fingers where they are. Then the same for you next finger until all your fingers are stretched out on the next string down.

12-16-2005, 10:20 AM	#16 (permalink)
simonrex22 Insane	Oh yeah. Its something that i used to tell myself i would do, but never would. Now i do it every time no matter what. Before you start playing take 5 minutes or even 1 minute to just play scales. Start slow and then do it as fast as you can. It loosens up your hand and I garauntee you will play better than if you didnt do it.

01-05-2006, 01:12 PM	#18 (permalink)
clavus pow! Location: NorCal	eat with your left hand. Seriously. __________________ Ass, gas or grass. Nobody rides for free.

01-20-2006, 11:10 AM	#20 (permalink)
la petite moi Filling the Void. Location: California	When I used to play piano, I played for forty-five minutes to an hour straight. I did this for years, and the one thing that really helped my hands from locking up was squishing a tennis ball. Kinda like those Chinese anti-stress balls, except you can squeeze them.

01-20-2006, 06:14 PM	#21 (permalink)
micah67 Thor Location: 33:08:12N 117:10:23W	Think outside the box. (Work with me here.) Learn some poker chip tricks. They keep the fingers nimble and can be done unobtrusively; watching TV, driving, meetings, web surfing, etc. I was practicing the chip twirl hyperlinked above. Things were going slow with my (dominate) right hand. But when I switched to my left hand I did it on the first go. and the second go... __________________ ~micah

01-20-2006, 07:41 PM	#23 (permalink)
MexicanOnABike Location: up north	flashflashrevolution.com try that!