Solid Warm Up Routine

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Ramin

Posts: 103
Joined: Mar. 15 2005
From: Toronto, Canada

Solid Warm Up Routine

Let me first start off by saying this is a great forum with lots of useful information, thanks to all the contributors.

I have been playing Flamenco guitar for over a year now. I am looking for a solid warm up routine which is relatively short, complete, and "fun".
My left hand pinky sometimes hurts during practice. Is it because of insufficient warm up? Are there any exercises to strengthen it? Should I massage it in cold or warm water when it hurts?
All your responses are greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Ramin

_____________________________

What we are today comes from out thoughts of yesterday and our present thoughts build our life tomorrow: our life is the creation of our mind.
-Buddha

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 16 2005 19:28:23

Ron.M

Posts: 7051
Joined: Jul. 7 2003
From: Scotland

RE: Solid Warm Up Routine (in reply to Ramin)

Hi Ramin,
My own view on this, is that I don't think anything should hurt.
Sure, your hands may feel tingling after a few hours, like they've had a workout.
But never actually hurt, ie as in pain.
I've never had an occassion to put my hands into hot or cold water, or put ice packs around them.
That's insane...
You're possibly driving yourself too hard in this macho "no pain..no gain" approach to Flamenco, which is utter nonsense IMO.
Any unusual techinque you have to practise, do it "quietly", ie with very little force.
If you can't do it quietly, you'll never do it at full volume...believe me!

cheers

Ron

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 16 2005 20:03:26

gerundino63

Posts: 1743
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands

RE: Solid Warm Up Routine (in reply to Ramin)

Hi Ramin!

Wach out for that pinky! If it does not go away when you have finished playing, you overdo it.

I nice warming up, and exercice is this:

Take any picado run or piece you want to learn, and play with your right hand as normal as possible, and with your left hand as soft as you can, make no tone, only aim, and touch the string, no pressure at all.

After a while your hand will feel warm, and when you are ready, play normal.

This is very difficult, and needs full concentration, it gives a few benefits.

you warm your hand up with a thing you can use in your piece.
You learn to aim beter, and get better control with the left and right hand.
You learn yourself, that there is needed a verry little pressure to get a tone, so, better for your pinky, and you do not "fix "your hand so much, so you learn to play faster.

I warn you

It is difficult, and you will get more tones than you like, but it is the meaning to get no tone at al.

Good luck,
Peter

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 16 2005 20:09:40

Escribano

Posts: 6416
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: Solid Warm Up Routine (in reply to Ramin)

You are most welcome in our humble virtual home, Ramin.

quote:

What we are today comes from out thoughts of yesterday and our present thoughts build our life tomorrow: our life is the creation of our mind.
-Buddha

Nice signature, that guy had it figured out

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Foro Flamenco founder and Admin

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 16 2005 21:25:19

Jon Boyes

Posts: 1377
Joined: Jul. 10 2003

RE: Solid Warm Up Routine (in reply to Ramin)

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ramin
My left hand pinky sometimes hurts during practice. Is it because of insufficient warm up? Are there any exercises to strengthen it? Should I massage it in cold or warm water when it hurts?

'No', 'yes' and 'if you like' in that order

Welcome to the forum.

Ron's right, your pinky should not hurt, nothing should ever hurt. Pain is a sign you are doing something wrong.

If you are a beginner, chances are you are squeezing much too hard with those fingers (I assume the painful pinky is your fingering hand?).

Can you strengthen it? Well yes, but to be honest its more about control than brute strength. When you start out you have very little control over that pinky, but that control (finger independence) will come through careful practice. You are aiming for a light touch with those fingers, they need to be nimble, not squeezing the neck in a vice-like grip. Just practicing changing chords using the pinky will help, so will some light scales, but you should always be asking yourself 'am i squeezing really hard here?' and backing off if you are. Your brain will compensate for your lack of pinky control by telling your hand to 'squeeze harder' to get the notes clear. You have to be alert to this and aware of any tensions that build up.

I don't go big on marathon 'warm up' sessions as playing the guitar is not an athletic pursuit, but a few light exercises can certainly help 'tune in' your hands.

A few rasgueados, a few arpeggios, a scale or two, that usually does the trick for me. You mention making it fun - god idea - why not simply find a basic falseta por Solea that includes all the above and make that your warm up? That way you are warming up with something musical and not just wading through a bunch of exercises. The trick is to find something you can play really easily, not something that is a struggle. You may have to put something togther yourself to suit this purpose.

Jon

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 17 2005 8:20:16

rickm

Posts: 446
Joined: Jan. 23 2004

RE: Solid Warm Up Routine (in reply to Ramin)

Jon's idea is one I have hit on, I do short "phrases" so to speak using arpeggio, picado and ras and have learned the hard way to start slowly and gently. KInd of like warming up at the gym you dont just jump into the 305 bench press. As far as the left hand, particulary the pinky one classical teacher of mine had me warm up for awhile by doing picado using the ring and pinkie on the third and fourth fret. Remember for rock guitar the hand is held down a litte more, while in classical etc, it is better to keep it more perpendicular to the strings. It might be you need strenghtening in the ring and pinkie
(they are connected) or at least streeeetch. good luck

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 17 2005 18:25:04

musicalgrant

Posts: 188
Joined: Oct. 21 2004

RE: Solid Warm Up Routine (in reply to Jon Boyes)

quote:

A few rasgueados, a few arpeggios, a scale or two, that usually does the trick for me. You mention making it fun - god idea - why not simply find a basic falseta por Solea that includes all the above and make that your warm up? That way you are warming up with something musical and not just wading through a bunch of exercises. The trick is to find something you can play really easily, not something that is a struggle. You may have to put something togther yourself to suit this purpose.

Hi all

I remember a session I had with a flamenco guitarist from Spain, he took us through this warm up routine which he said was necessary..

It involved doing the 5 rasguados in twos landing on the three
then the 4
and then triplets
and then picado and arpeggios

for about 15 mins and said this is a good warm up and practice session.

But i have learnt of other teachers who say learning to play a piece can be a warm up in itself..Segovia said that he would turn a difficult passage into a study and work on that as part of a piece...ie developing the weaker side of his technique..

Like Jon says it should never hurt!!!! That is a warning of things to come if you continue practising in such manner!!!

Anyhow as some one who is battling with spondylosis that effects my hands and arms, i recommend a slow gentle warm up, with a piece or a study,(make a piece that uses all the techniques and us that) or which ever suits you.

I believe that practice and musical development are a personal experience. Use what benefits you the most. This comes through trial and error when teaching yourself.

Though a good guitar teacher could save you a load of grief and speed up the process too...

I wish i had found a good flamenco guitar teacher when i was younger...oh well...

Cheers Grant

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 17 2005 18:58:26