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FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA?   You are logged in as Guest
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JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005
 

FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? 
Hola folks.

I recently came across a new training product. The product consists of a set of small weights that attatch to your fingers whilst playing the guitar. Here's a picture:

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y97/JBASHORUN/FINGERWEIGHTS.jpg


I'm familiar with the basic concept... I once knew someone who was into martial arts, and to push himself harder, he used to wear weights around his ankles whilst jogging/running.

I tried it a few times myself, and the task itself seems slightly more difficult. But when you finally remove the weights your limbs feel very light and fast. I'm not sure if this is just a psychological effect, or whether training with the added weight actually made a difference.

I would be interested to know whether these finger weights would actually help my guitar playing in the long run... increased finger strength maybe?


Or would I just be asking for an injury?


As usual, any informed opinions are greatly appreciated.




Gracias,



James
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 9 2006 12:19:38
 
XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005
 

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
Actually I had the same idea, but gave it up, since somebody told me that would be a quick way to ruin the fingers, since he self had tried that out.

James, I think we are making the same mistake; it is a very short term effect IMO. Lift a weight and then lift your tv-remote control. It seems lighter. But lift the remote 10 minutes later without lifting weight before, its the same weight.

The key is not only on building muscles dude. And building muscles there are maybe better options than this one.

Can you ensure that playing WITH weight will not cause a BAD technique, or bad habits as soon as you play without them?
The risk would be too big for me, especially when there is nothing wrong with the "normal" training and the normal progress you make, so to say if there is no need to do it.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 9 2006 13:30:18

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005
 

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to XXX) 
Thanks Phrygus...

I obviously don't want to injure my hands... I did that already, the first time I learnt how to do rasgueados, and my doctor prescribed me arthritis medicine!

I guess maybe its just another gimmick aimed at guitarists wanting miracles... although there should be rules against selling dangerous practice devices... maybe the company could get sued?!


Thanks again.



James
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 9 2006 18:14:59
 
Florian

Posts: 9282
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
From: Adelaide/Australia

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
Yes i think the strength in flamenco dosent come from muscles comes from repetition and finetuning your brain to hitt the strings at exactly the right angle and knowing how concentrate and direct all the power allready in you effectivly.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 9 2006 18:24:29
 
Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
Go to grisha's site and watch the clip from 1989. You will see a 9 year old who is too short to sit in a normal chair playing beautifully. When/If I get as good as this 9 year old, I will probably be very satifisfied with my technique. I think you are probably as strong as this 9 year old without fingerweights! :)

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 9 2006 19:09:31
 
duende

Posts: 3053
Joined: Dec. 15 2003
From: Sweden

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
consider how thin and light a nylon string is... it doesn´t realy take muscels to press the string doesn it?

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This is hard stuff!
Don't give up...
And don't make it a race.
Enjoy the ray of sunshine that comes with every new step in knowledge.

RON
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 9 2006 19:36:37
 
Florian

Posts: 9282
Joined: Jul. 14 2003
From: Adelaide/Australia

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to duende) 
quote:

consider how thin and light a nylon string is... it doesn´t realy take muscels to press the string doesn it


depends how old the strings are, right now i have to do 5 pushups after every 3 compases

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 9 2006 19:46:08

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005
 

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to Miguel de Maria) 
quote:

Go to grisha's site and watch the clip from 1989. You will see a 9 year old who is too short to sit in a normal chair playing beautifully. When/If I get as good as this 9 year old, I will probably be very satifisfied with my technique. I think you are probably as strong as this 9 year old without fingerweights! :)



You mean: Zarda de Monti (arranged by Paco de Lucía)? Wow, that guy is talented for someone so young! All those fast notes like "takatakataktaka...". He must have started playing when he was about 2 years old!

I couldn't see his hands close up, but I suppose he doesn't look that muscular. Maybe its hard work and good technique application, not muscle strength then.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 9 2006 19:56:02
 
Ron.M

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

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
James,
Personally I prefer to dangle two ball and chains from my wrists when I'm not playing as it increases muscle strength and is handy if you meet a couple of teenage muggers in the street, needing money for dope.
Oh yes! I've noticed my arm length has increased by 5mm in the last 6 months too!
Very handy if you are playing a large scale length guitar!

I keep hearing all these pro's saying "just practice".
But I'm pretty sure Grisha has an electric finger rack that he uses every day.

How else could he play like that?


cheers

Ron
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 9 2006 20:31:44

JBASHORUN

Posts: 1839
Joined: Jan. 23 2005
 

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to Ron.M) 
quote:

Personally I prefer to dangle two ball and chains from my wrists when I'm not playing as it increases muscle strength and is handy if you meet a couple of teenage muggers in the street, needing money for dope.


Hmmm... I heard Scotland was a rough place, but I had no idea things were that bad!


Yes, I wasn't familiar with Grisha until now, but I've added his website to my "favorites" list for inspiration.



James
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 9 2006 20:47:19
 
XXX

Posts: 4400
Joined: Apr. 14 2005
 

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to Ron.M) 
quote:

ORIGINAL: Ron.M
How else could he play like that?


Hes an alien... or he was genetically manipulated, but I dont think in the 80's they had the technology to do it so... hes an alien LOL!

Ps: But if hes an alien, what is Paco then ? Hes E.T.

Ps2: Hilary Hahn started violin at age 4... but Im NOT sure, whether the parents havent had any effect on that
Nevertheless, people, listen to Hilary Hahn! I dont like classic too much, but she has somth catchy, if played Solo, only one violin! Great!

Ps, the 3rd : Starting at age 4 can make a Grisha or Paco of you, but it can also lead to the opposite, being frustrated of the drill and guitar playing, and finally giving it up completely. I mean come on, how much did you know as a child! I bet we all had things that we found "boring" in those days and that we like nowadays.

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Фламенко
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 9 2006 20:56:36
 
Chansey

 

Posts: 19
Joined: Apr. 11 2005
 

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to XXX) 
I think to me, 10 is a reasonable age to start for my child if he/she plans to learn an instrument. Of course, if there is interest, an earlier age is always possible. I don't expect to make another Paco or Williams, but I hope to develop a little interest early, be it in sports or music or games like chess. Something to do other than studying. I started at 17, and to me that's a little late.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 10 2006 0:08:22
 
Skai

 

Posts: 317
Joined: Sep. 12 2004
 

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
I started at 16 so I'm no better. Bai? Even earlier? LOL *Sorry, inside joke*

I've had the 'wonderful' opportunity to relief a few group classical guitar lessons for my teacher, only grade 1-3 people. While I've seen this kid (probably about 10) learning a page of score (a short piece) within 10 mins with decent standard, I've seen the other extreme end even more often.

Some go on to grade 3 sinply because the've been having lessons for years. Their progress is so bad but yet the teacher is forced to move on simply because the student will get bored and the music schools will ask why this particular student is advancing so slow compared to the rest. My theory is that these schools want to earn more money as the fees increase along with our grade. Very commercialised.

And I see kids around 12 years old being stuck at the same 5 lines for 3 weeks with almost no progress. Either that, they got the fingerings right but their tone is disgusting, string slapping and all. Simple habits like 'keep your thumb behind the fretboard' are not put into practice. Keep in mind that my teacher is excellent at what she does, teaching.

That's the problem with forcing your child. If he wants to learn pop guitar then let him/her stick to it, and later on, maybe other styles if he/she is interested. I may have been a slightly late starter but I've progressed decently, even on my own and I don't have issues correcting wrong technique as I'm old enough to know that I should follow the rules to become a true classical guitarist. Young kids just play mindlessly.

The greatest challenge in a music school would have to be this small boy who puts his head on the guitar and sleeps while the teacher looks elsewhere. IMO a waste of his parents' money.

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 10 2006 0:26:42
 
Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
Skai,
you sound kind of bitter! Why? Guitar is no different from other things, people who truly love it and devote themselves will do fine. Doesn't that go for business, math, writing, relationships, anything? Those who have the desire will teach themselves to play with records, those who don't, you can have Grisha's dad teach them and they aren't going anywhere...

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  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 10 2006 4:50:43
 
Skai

 

Posts: 317
Joined: Sep. 12 2004
 

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
I completely agree with passion, those with it will do well. Those with strong passion, talent and discipline will go even further. But interest or passion is the most important ingredient in the formula, without it, just forget about it.

I'm saddened by the fact that these kids have a headstart at a young age, yet they don't progress and don't work at it. I don't know whether I'd have been put off if made to start at such an age but I would have gone further by now, if I had more supportive parents who started me off early.

Then again, I might not have discovered the nylon guitar at such an age. It was over these 3 years that I started on music and the guitar, only to find that it has practically become such a huge part of my life and I wished I had a solid education earlier.

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Try some Enrique Iglesias for some great cante.
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 10 2006 13:30:52
 
Miguel de Maria

Posts: 3532
Joined: Oct. 20 2003
From: Phoenix, AZ

RE: FINGER WEIGHTS... A GOOD IDEA? (in reply to JBASHORUN) 
Skai,
yeah, it's hard. I started at 16! By that time Paco had already rocked the world :)

But we all have our own paths to follow.

If a child prodigy can play beautifully at 9, that means at most he had 9 years of training (unless you count tapping compas on the belly). Do you have 9 years left in your life?

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Connect with me on Facebook, all the cool kids are doing it.
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Arizona Wedding Music Guitar
  REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |  Date Jan. 10 2006 15:08:37
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