sweaty hands

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sweaty hands

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wandles18

Posts: 4
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

sweaty hands

Hi there,
My name is Andy. Just new to the forum so I'll quickly introduce myself. I'm fairly new to flamenco, I have worked as a jazz guitarist for several years but am classically trained. As it seems with many of the guitarists on this forum, I have fallen rather hopelessly in love with flamenco music.
I have a question for anyone who may have some thoughts on a problem I've had for many years as a guitarist and have not yet found an adequate solution. I get sweaty hands when I'm performing (due to nervousness) and this makes my hands sticky and quite disfunctional on the fret board. In particular my palm sticks to the back of the neck which makes transitions very difficult.
Look forward to any advice that anyone may have.
Cheers,
Andy

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2004 8:59:24

Escribano

Posts: 6447
Joined: Jul. 6 2003
From: England, living in Italy

RE: sweaty hands (in reply to wandles18)

Welcome Andy, we all share your love for this frustrating and complex art. I have not suffered from this problem so cannot advise but I am sure someone here can.

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2004 10:34:06

gerundino63

Posts: 1770
Joined: Jul. 11 2003
From: The Netherlands

RE: sweaty hands (in reply to wandles18)

Hi Andy welcome here!

I have known a guy who used talcum-powder. He put it on his fingers, during playing flamenco guitar.
That maybe helps you with the problem.

As I think of it, gymnastics use magnesium powder, maybe you can try both!

Hope you get rid of the problem! while performing, you have better things to do than worrying about your hands!

Peter

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2004 11:20:17

Tenshu

Posts: 153
Joined: Oct. 18 2003
From: Belgium

RE: sweaty hands (in reply to wandles18)

Hey man, welcome. Cool to see a guitarist with a classical/jazz guitar background here (although there are probably more)

Strangely enough, I'm the exact opposite of you. I can simply not play well without my right hand or at least my fingertips being moist (~sweaty). Maybe this only works with people who use nails...

For my left hand, there isn't really a problem.

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-T

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2004 11:26:06

Miguel de Maria

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

RE: sweaty hands (in reply to Tenshu)

"Sweaty hands negatively affect string players, classical guitarists, and pianists more than other performers. They reduce the feeling of control during performance. This is usually felt most when changing positions. The most frequently used remedy is talcum or baby powder. Powder rubbed into ths hands before or during performance reduce the negative effect of the perspiration. In severe cases, a dermatologist may be able to prescribe medication to reduce the perspiration."

Richard Provost, "The Art and Technique of Performance"

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2004 15:00:51

Jim Opfer

Posts: 1876
Joined: Jul. 19 2003
From: Glasgow, Scotland.

RE: sweaty hands (in reply to wandles18)

quote:

My name is Andy.

Would that be Andy the jazz player who went to Rafa's course at Bath this year?

Jim

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2004 18:08:50

wandles18

Posts: 4
Joined: Dec. 6 2004

RE: sweaty hands (in reply to wandles18)

Thank you for the warm welcome and advice. I'll try the powder, both the baby powder and the magnesium powder. Strangely I have never had this problem when playing jazz. When playing jazz there is not the same pressure for perfection as there seems to be with Flamenco guitar. THere are always alternatives when something does not go as expected. I guess for an experienced flamenco guitarist this is also the case. With a solid understanding of the compas and the chord structures working in each palos, one could effectively improvise if one had a mental block or slipped up somewhere. If I had this foundation I think the sweaty hands problem would go away.

Jim - I'm not that Andy. I am an Australian currently living in Japan.

Thanks again all and I look forward to sharing discussions in the future!

Andy

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Dec. 11 2004 23:15:49