Best way to warm up before a gig?

[James]

Hey guys. I was wondering what you use to warm-up before a gig, especially one that involves some fast fret-work. I find that no matter how much I warm up during the day, if I get to the venue and spend half an hour warming up, my hands are still not that fast when I perform. I guess the whole nerves thing will slow it down a little, but truthfully I don't get that nervous. It seems that I usually need about half an hour (at least) of warming up before I can get my speed to the place I want it to be, and when I'm performing this half hour isn't quite adequate. My hands aren't cold, but they almost feel weaker. What do you guys use to warm-up?

[lalimacefolle]

I warm up, but I have the same problem, so I choose songs that are easier in the first half hour...
I've seen Steve VAI use some sort of warm round stuff that he puts around his arms to loosen up, you might want to check sports stores to see what players use for their legs!!

[CrAzY j]

I like to get all the gear set up, then I go wash my hands and run hot water over them for a few minutes (not so hot that you burn yourself). The hot water seems to help my fingers loosen up some.

[guitarking]

as far as i am concerned i follow this before a show
i start warming up 3 hrs before the show ie. i practice movements for around an hour next hour is i play with the band and discuss and everthing and finally 1/2 hour before the show i soak my hands in warm water with salt added for around 5 mins so that all the stress in your finger vanishes and i practice a lil say around 10 mins again
then the show works great

[lalimacefolle]

why salt?

[guitarking]

because salt has a quality of absorbing excess moisture in your fingers, shreds dead skin from your fingers which you devoloped while playing for long hours and soothes the swells or blisters if any devoloped

[Joseph]

I guess it all depends on what style I will be playing. I usually always run throyugh the scales a few hundred times, but I always move very slowly atr first and gradually build up in speed. For the love of God, I wouldn't want to strain myself, and sometimes when you're nervous before a show, **** happens.

Just remember that it's important to realize that mistakes happen, and that you're not perfect. All we can do is try our best once we get up on stage, and there is such a thing as overpreparing. Just be sure that you have the confidence to truly absorb what the audience is feeling, and still at the same trime have enough strength to express yourself properly and in an honest manner.

-Joseph

[Kevin Taylor]

I keep Midi copies of all the songs and go through the whole show quickly during the afternoon. (ie, set the bpm about 10 higher than usual so when showtime comes, everything seems real slow and easy to play) If there's trouble spots I set em on repeat until I get em right.
I don't warm up at all before a show but I schedule the first five songs to warm me up while I'm playing... the first couple get my left hand fingers warmed up, then the next couple are chunkers that warm up my right wrist... then there's a real tough one followed by a simple one for a breather. I keep those pocket hand warmer things handy too in case the place is freezing.

[James]

cool... all good advice

[SoS]

well one of the bands in our local town had done a few shows and the rythem guitarist (my best friend) was finding the pace to be a little to fast for him. i seen him on stage and he was really trying to get those fingers going but then he comes up to my house and we jam and he runs through his part with ease. Then i say why cant you do it that easy on stage. He goes i find to much pressures on me to do it pefectly and i have to think twice about everything instead of letting it flow. Then i talked to there lead guitarists and he said he was going to slow so we sat there for ages thinkin how we could fastin things up.......then he said wait right here. He came back with a 2 litre red fanta and skulled the WHOLE thing!!!!
When they played they where tight as and they sounded SICK
but after they finished he dropped his guitar and raced to the toilet ahahaha

[metalisbest]

I play some scales really fast, and do some easy songs to get me going.

[Josh Redstone]

I play my solos, some chords, nothing big.
Usually the adrenalin is what gives me my speed. I cant half improvise a solo I'm going to play later at a gig while warming up, but the rush of being on stage in front of a couple hundred kids is what does it.

[iiholly]

Meditate, stretch, and a cold shower ending hot. Go over songs one or two times and anything I know I'm shakey on I go through maybe 5-20 times.

[MikeP.]

I always bring my little Marshal stack practice amp (You know the cheap 8 to 10 inch one) with a rockman hooked up to it for killer distortion and clean tones. I also down about 2 millers (MGD's) during my warmup. ...works for me :-)

[Christoph]

Satriani soaks his hands in warm water in a pretzel jar.

[aiwass]

I warm up for at least two hours before every show...

[iiholly]

I like pretzels.

[Djentizm]

hmmm...i like satriani's idea...itll get your hands relaxed great and fast:)

i dont know about warming up for 2 hours tho...theres a big chance of hurting your hands or simply getting too tired after a while during the show...unless there is a solo that you want to get perfect...all i do is go thro all my scales/exercises stretch your hands and now imma try puttin my hands in warm water:)

[aiwass]

I never get tired. I mean, you can tell me to play a steady chromatic scale at like 240 bpm sixteenth notes through a whole song, and I guarantee you I'll get tired. But not from just playing solos.

[MikeP.]

I'd be too afraid of soaking my hands in warm water...Don't want to lose my hard earned callouses.

[Djentizm]

if youve been playing long enough the chances of you loseing your callases is not at all...never, none they wont go away EVER!heheheheh

[MikeP.]

Hmmmmmmm I started playing when I was 13. I'm now 30. Long enough??

[Christoph]

I know that Satch is really particular about his callouses. He says on one of the videos that he's always checking them out, making sure they're hard enough. So if soaking his hands for a short bit before a gig would ruin his callouses, he wouldn't do it. Give it a shot, man!

[MikeP.]

Yeah I heard the same thing on the live in San Francisco DVD. He may do it, But I would Never do it before a gig, Specially since it takes the calouses awhile to harden up again. The best thing for me is what i do to warm up can be found on the first page of this thread :-)

[MikeP.]

The best way for me to keep my callouses in shape is to play my acoustic. I use Elixir lights on it. The best tone I have ever gotten from it. I used to use DAdarrio acoustic mediums till i discovered Elixir :-)

(By the way it's a Yamaha acoustic I got from a Pawnshop a few years ago. I replaced the plastic bridge and the other thingy(I have a mind blank at the moment...can't remember the name) with bone ones. Huge difference in the tone)

[aiwass]

Practice lots of legato, as slowly as possible. I started doing this in an attempt to control my legato technique like allan holdsworth, and it has worked very well so far. Set the metronome to 60 or 80 bpm, and do sixteenth notes, making sure they're all rhythmically perfect. Both hammer-ons and pull-offs, up and down the chromatic scale, this will give you speed, control, and strength in your left hand, and harden your calluses over time. The thing about never losing your calluses is not correct, though. If you for instance stop tapping for a couple of months, and then start using it more, you will feel that your "tapping calluse" or whatever is much softer or almost gone.

Use it or lose it, pal...

[Josh Redstone]

I usually do the acoustic thing.

[iiholly]

I only play acoustic.

[MikeP.]

I normally tap with my middle finger so I can hold the pick. I used to do the 8 finger thing a lot then stopped after realizing I would never be as good as Jennifer Batten at it.

[Josh Redstone]

And tapping with your middle finger warms you up? Weird.
While were on the subject, I tap with my index finger, holding the pick with my middle finger, which is curled up. You get a stronger sound with your index finger. And repositioning your pick isn't as hard as some think.

[MikeP.]

How can you mistake what I said about tapping as warming up?????????

[aiwass]

If you think you get more clarity and strength with your index finger, my guess is your middle finger is too weak. I've always used my middle finger for tapping, and i can tap much faster with my middle finger than my index.

[Josh Redstone]

MikeP-
Its just that we're talking about warming up, and you brought up tapping, and I thought, "Whatever floats your boat."


Anyway,I know a lot of people who use their index finger, my middle finger is no weaker, but I usually like doing things differently.
Anyway, I like the index finger because I can go faster and tap stronger. I think the middle finger is favoured because you dont have to reposition your pick. But if you find the middle finger way easyer, than do it. With a little practice, I found repositioning your pick wasn't that hard, so I tap with that finger.
If you download the video for Eruption off kazaa, you can see how Eddie repositions his pick, thats kinda how I do it.

[Christoph]

That's exactly the way I do it. If you watch Vai on the ALS video, you'll see him tuck the pick away with his middle finger and then tap with his index. I think one of the advantages of doing it this way is that your index finger is a bit smaller than your middle, so it's easier to tap without hitting the other strings. It gives you a lot stronger and cleaner sound.

[MikeP.]

George Lynch uses his Middle finger. Besides I started using just my middle finger to tap when I got heavily into sweep picking. As a result of me doing sweeped taps I started using just my middle finger because that's what I became used to and found it easier.
I remember a long time ago when I first started playing Van Halen tunes (Forget how to play most of them now) I used my main finger. Now I use just my middle one. :-)


Another note...sorry for getting off of the subject.

[aiwass]

Who gives a sh*t? I mean, there are people who tap with their index finger, with their middle finger, or even with all the fingers of the right hand. Van Halen holds his pick between his middle finger and thumb, while Vai holds it between his index finger and thumb. Malmsteen picks gently while Petrucci picks brutally. Whatever floats your boat, dude...

[iiholly]

Bob Dole gives a ****!

[skee1]

Being relaxed before a show is one of the most important things.(Mind&Body)
Most guitar players tend too tense up on the first few,
songs or try to apply to much pressure to the notes or
like trying to squeeze the neck to death.(Think light touch)!
My warm up is the first 2 songs we play.
I try to practice 1 hour a day.
I,ve been playing 40 years and i'm still doing 2 to 3 shows
aweek plus teaching guitar 1 or 2 days aweek plus working
on computers and selling them.

Hope this helps sombody(Keep picking but enjoy plus love
what your doing, other hobbies also are good .
You can think to much guitar and get in a rut.

Mark

[chris mood]

Hey.....Skee's back!!
I'm still waiting for that video to come out.

[skee1]

Originally posted by chris mood
Hey.....Skee's back!!
I'm still waiting for that video to come out.


Yo chris i'm am also still waiting for the video!
been busy alot this summer but i'll check back from time time on you guys.............(I've been thinking of all
you guys hope everybody is in good health and doing alright!(Plus i'm still watching for the west nile virus)
plus trying not to get bit by the bugs out there its a little scary................................

[Dejan Sajinovic]

ZAKK WYLDE TIPS (THEY ARE DAM*N GOOD)

A good fuc*k is great, 10 beers, some easy guitar solos, Chromatic scale, play some riffs with screaming pinch technique than do som triplet scales, play some chords and pick arps, do a few sweep licks, than mix some triplet run with chromatic and penta scales and at the end another fuc*k and you´re ready to go. It all should take ´bout 30-45 min. (*****s and beer not included) so it´s important to scheduele your time. Dam*n, where´s my Bulls Eye, OOZZZYYY, DON´T BITE THE NECK. IT´S A GUITAR NOT A BAT

[iamthe_eggman]

Wow, those tips are so inspiring and, at the same time, unbelievably witty. This is the kind of material that makes me want to keep coming back to guitartricks.com/forum and that keeps our community so wholesome.

[skee1]

Originally posted by Dejan Sajinovic
ZAKK WYLDE TIPS (THEY ARE DAM*N GOOD)

A good fuc*k is great, 10 beers, some easy guitar solos, Chromatic scale, play some riffs with screaming pinch technique than do som triplet scales, play some chords and pick arps, do a few sweep licks, than mix some triplet run with chromatic and penta scales and at the end another fuc*k and you´re ready to go. It all should take ´bout 30-45 min. (*****s and beer not included) so it´s important to scheduele your time. Dam*n, where´s my Bulls Eye, OOZZZYYY, DON´T BITE THE NECK. IT´S A GUITAR NOT A BAT





If he really said this he needs the beer because hes scared
to face the people and the other to relax.
Really the beer would be false nerve.
I would say to this idiot why don't you just shoot up in
corner some-where and do the world a favor and die.
Who needs him .

Mark
P:s Anybody who really thinks this way should join him.
Statements like this is what gives Musician's a bad
name.We don't need them or the people who make statements
like this.
Really they need to seek pro help thier sick in the head!



[Edited by skee1 on 09-25-2002 at 09:54 AM]

[chris mood]

But then Ozzy would need a new guitar player.
Could be a good gig for ya.

Zak Wylde is a family man and probably only said those things cause he thought the kids would think he was cool or something, it was kinda irresponsible.

[skee1]

Originally posted by chris mood
But then Ozzy would need a new guitar player.
Could be a good gig for ya.

Zak Wylde is a family man and probably only said those things cause he thought the kids would think he was cool or something, it was kinda irresponsible.

Chris i agree on the cool crap but if hes a family
man he should seek help from a shrink for makeing a statement like that.
Or check into rehab like ozzy dos .
He's not playing with a full-deck sounds like a
brainless statement.
These kinda of statements give desent Musician's a black eye.I would say today i think most Younger Musicians are
aware of Promotional statements that are being said
to make them look cool plus make a buck or draw a crowd
to hear these has-beens!
Chris i'll pass on the gig the bat did it for alot of people plus me years ago.ha ha
Mark





[Edited by skee1 on 09-25-2002 at 10:40 AM]

[Djentizm]

skee is right when he said drinkin before a gig is jus a false nerve...me personally ive never played drunk on stage in my life and probly never will...mainly cuz im scared ****less that ill screw up.. but i must admitt i have smoked mary jane before a show plenty of times, but smokin weed is a totally different thing with me then drinkin.. i am a "pothead" so to say and ive learned how to control it, so that it only influences my playing(but im one of the lucky ones, where as i dont get nervous before a show)...but then again i do think there is nothing wrong with drinkin and thinkin of songs in your head!(then later on perhaps record them by humming the melody)...sometimes it works! but sometimes you listen back when your sober and your left thinkin "what the f*ck wass i on???"

[Dejan Sajinovic]

Comon guys, if it´s really true (what he said), you really must agree that it *****in` works. Have you seen Zakks live preformence, he kicks ass more than anyone, the way he´s posing and yet playn´ some amazing stuff and I don´t think that he can get drunk ´cause of 2-3 beers ´cause he drinks like 30 per day. (He always drink live on stage) When they asked him once, what was the scariest thing you ever seen touring with Ozzy, he said: No fúck*in´ beer in the tourbuss. There´s no doubt that this statement gives a musican bad rep. but on the other hand this is nothing comapared to Guns N´ Roses, Yngwie Malmsteen, Aerosmith, Pantera... I mean how would you rank Axl´s fight with audience, our when he throwed his mic on the audience?

I don´t think it´s wrong to take a beer before a show, I mean there´s no way you can get drunk ´cause of one our even two and if so, than you´re a pu*ssy!!! Have you ever heard expression Sex Drugs and Rock N´Roll? Well I like more SEX ALCOHOL AND ROCK N´ROLL. Zakk once said don´t do drugs, alcohol is better and after all, you´ll live a bit longer.

[Dejan Sajinovic]

Here´s another crazy thing buy mr. Wylde. It´s an interview. Does this guy have a problem our is he rally normal? You know Zakks parole: REFUSE TO LOSE, BORN TO BOOZE

PS: There might be lot of stars but you´ll get the point


1. Other than drinking a beer, what are you currently up to? This is your only chance to plug your ****.
****ing my wife and drinking beer

2. How much beer does it take you to get a good buzz going and what’s your alcoholic beverage of choice??
Beer and a ****load of it.

3. What hard rock/heavy metal band should give it up and call it a day?
If Lemmy quits we should all call it a day....God Bless Him!



4. Are you happy with the sales of Black Label Society and how Spitfire has promoted the album?
I'd love to sell as many records as the Back Street Boys but my friends would beat my ass if I was that much of a pussy


5. Rate the following guitarists on a scale of 1 to 10. 1 being a total jabroni and 10 being a virtuoso.
Slash = drinking ability 10+
Tracii Guns = Was he in Guns?
C.C. DeVille = Great hair....**** guitar
Bruce Kulick = He has great black hair
Ace Frehley = #4 in the World
Mick Mars = He's even uglier than me
Kirk Hammett = Metallica CANNOT be stopped
Joe Holmes = Don't **** with Ozzy or I'll KILL you
Ted Nugent = Kill, kill, kill
Dimebag Darrell = drink, drink, drink, riff, riff, riff


6. Who’s more of a pain in the ass, Ozzy or Axl?
Neither, I just drink lots of beer, lift weights and hang out with my rottweiler.

7. Pick one of the following:
A. Stick your hand in an aquarium filled with Piranhas for 5 minutes;
Or,
B. Fight Catcus Jack in a Exploding BarbWire, Thumbtack, Hell In A Cell Match.
**** piranhas, Great Whites

8. What’s the most destructive thing you have ever done?
****ed my wife's brains out

9. Which do you prefer:
Backstreet Boys or N’Sync = prefer giving both a good ass beating
Southern Comfort or Jack Daniels = beer
Van Halen or Aerosmith = Early VH and beer
Bret Michaels or WWF wrestler Shawn Michaels = Neither, the Undertaker
Pamela Anderson or Jenna Jameson = Jacklyn Smith on all fours
Orgy or Culture Club = **** THEM BOTH
A toll both operator or the guy who mops up at X-Rated peep shows = Sweeping a brewery
Playboy or Penthouse = Rocco Siffredi flick




NOTE TO SLUDGEAHOLICS: This next question Zakk didn't quite get. It was suppose to be the biggest misconception about a person or thing, but instead Zakk just finished the sentence. None of his answers are misconceptions, just things that are true. Maybe he was drunk during this part, who knows.

10. Finish this sentence, "The biggest misconception about ___________ is?" For example, "The biggest misconception about MTV is that they play videos." You get the idea.
Ozzy is the GodFather of my son
Pro wrestling is kick ass
Pearl Jam is a bunch of candy ass mother****ers
Anal Sex is awesome when I get the wife drunk
Axl Rose is my friend and the Real Deal!
Kiss is nothing without Ace!
Pantera is beyond ****ing Heavy!
Cocaine is for Candy Ass Mother****ers!
Paul Gargano is an awesome alcoholic!
Touring is beer, beer beer.


11. Who’s your favorite WWF wrestler and do you plan on getting involved with the WWF anytime in the future?
Undertaker and Stone Cold without a doubt.

12. Which rock star could possibly drink you under the table?
Bring it on Mother ****er!

13. Have you ever been so drunk you passed out and pissed on yourself, and what’s the most amount of alcohol you’ve drank in a 24 hour period?
Without a doubt....can't count that high!

14. Which rock star deserves a chair to the head and why?
Eddie Vedder, Billy Corgan, Courney "****" Love, because they are pure ****s.


15. On a scale of 1 to 10, rate the following bands on how much you'd like to tour with them. 1 being you have no desire to tour with them at all, and 10 being a band you'd definitely want to hook up with.
Pantera = 10+
OzzFest = 10+
Poison = Are you out of your ****ing minds?
Cinderella = 0
Motley Crue = 10
Kid Rock = Joe C Rules
Britney Spears = Hell Yeah!
Metallica = 10
Kiss = 10
Sebastian Bach = **** THAT

16. Who's the most overrated band today?
LIMP DICK

17. Think of someone you genuinely hate (we all hate someone, especially when you really think about it.) Keeping in mind you have no choice but to choose one of the answers, would you elect for this person to…
A. Get hit by a bus, thus rendered paralyzed for life.
B. Fall off a lawnmower and subsequently be disfigured for life but live.
C. Get in an accident that causes the full amputation of all sexual genitalia.
Listen to Third Eye Suck records.

18. What's the nastiest thing you ever saw during your tours with Ozzy?
No beer on the bus




19. Is it true that Ozzy throws water around on stage to hide the fact that he pisses in his pants during the show?
No, he threw the water on me because I used to piss my pants on stage with him


20. Time for Metal Sludge's Word Association. We mention a name and you give us your thoughts.
Sharon Osbourne = kicks ass!
Eddie Vedder = Candy ass, pussy mother****er
Randy Castillo = my bud
Slaughter = Oh Christ!
Warrant = Oh Jesus!
Vince Neil = First beer's on me
Chris Jericho = the Undertaker
Kid Rock = If I could rap I would but I'm too ****ing white
Limp Bizkit = exactly
Scott Weiland = candy ass
Axl Rose = pure Sour Mother ****ing mash
Tommy Lee = has a big dick
Lars Ulrich = His dick's not as big as Tommy's!


Short but to the point!

[aiwass]

Lol. Zakk, Zakk... Gotta love him.

By the way, Djentzim, there's no such thing as being in control when you're a pothead. More in control than other potheads, maybe, but never in control. F*ck statistics. Weed IS addictive.

[Dejan Sajinovic]

Yeah man, I think you´re in more control before a gig after drinkin´ two beers than smoke dope and sh*it.

[Djentizm]

i beg to differ...for one im guesing you dont smoke or maybe you do, but not nearly enough to know what im talking about or experiencing. ppl use marijuana to help them meditate, and really guitar playing should be a meditation (in a sense) even watching t.v. is a sense of meditation, at least this is how i feel. so really mary jane will only improve and influence my playing. im not talking about stats or anything like that. no two ppl get the same effect off of marijuana.

but you could also use a few beers to help you too! but thats just not my thannng

im sorry this zakk dude is a bit of an ofe...yeah he can play fast and everything but that interview was a lil dumb, some of it was quite commical but after a bit you just start to feel bad for him.

[terryf1960]

Smoke dope and dirnk before a gig to meditate and enhance your playing? I don't know about you dude but for me playing comes from my heart and can be a very emotiomnal thing. I don't need anything to enhance it. Thats analogous to a body builder taking steroids to enhance his physique. He may be big but it aint real.
I don't mean to offend but thats just my take on it. I've played straight and I've played stoned.

[Dejan Sajinovic]

Whenever I played I never ever felt dizzy, I mean, my band plays a lot own progressive stuff wich we mix with some Dream Theater stuff. Smotimes we play some famous songs just to keep people who don´t know a shi*t about progressive music type in the audience. (It was fun when a guy came to me and told, you guys improvise all time and we were playn´ like own prog stuff combined with Metropolise and Erotomania and I told him, yeah right). But people who understand this kind of music alway told us after the show that we were good and we are also startin´ to get a reputation in town not only as a good tight band but also as musicans wich means that my beer our two before a show never did no harm.

Another funny thing was when our singer (he´s not whit us anymore) onece was so damn drunk that he could barley walk but after some difficultis decided to go on stage after all. He sucked big time, bad the worst thing is when we played Master Of Puppets and he came like 3-4 beats after and what was worse, he keept on sing. That was very embaressing especially on the words MASTER..MASTER. We sucked him after the show but there were no hard feelings.

[Djentizm]

even if i was high or not, playing guitar is always from the heart. just because im high doesnt mean i dont know what im doin...but thats only for ppl who lets say smoke everyday, ala me. where as smoking a joint is just like someone just has a beer or two i guess. remember, you only get high to a certain point, unlike drinkin the more and more you drink the more ****ed you get

[Dejan Sajinovic]

How drunk would you get after 1-2 beer? (If it´s possible of course)

[aiwass]

Originally posted by Djentizm
even if i was high or not, playing guitar is always from the heart. just because im high doesnt mean i dont know what im doin...but thats only for ppl who lets say smoke everyday, ala me. where as smoking a joint is just like someone just has a beer or two i guess. remember, you only get high to a certain point, unlike drinkin the more and more you drink the more ****ed you get


I know lots of people who smoke every day, or even more often, and it doesn't seem as if they're in control when they're high, more as if they're never in control at all. If you want to play your utmost best at all times, I personally believe that it helps to be sober. Whether you like it or not, I believe it all comes down to thinking.

[Djentizm]

i dont disagree with you at all...im not saying your more in control when your high...its obvious that you are more in control when your sober.. i mean that is just a common fact

but for me i smoke lets say 15 piles a day...no joke...and in one pile it could be anywhere from a dime bag to a quarter and i dont smoke joints, i hit bongs(ive smoked an ounce in 5 hours just hitting bongs with one other person, ive got iron lungs)...even if i dont want to smoke, ill be smokin anyways because i have so much friends who will smoke me...so when i smoke i am very much in control. i can either let it take control of me or not I DECIDE. but one thing ill never do is depend on weed to write music, ewwww, cuz then alll your songs will sound the same, not to mention youll have wrtiers block when your sober and i dun want dat

[markpro]

Man when your high all the time you only think you're in control. I used to blow dope alot when I was younger and when I listen to the tapes I made that I thought were so great back then I can't believe how bad they were. If you want to smoke smoke if you want to drink drink personally I can't play a note any more unless I'm sober and thats when I'm in control of myself