My hand gets super tired!


Maboroshi
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Joined: 10/30/09
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Maboroshi
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Joined: 10/30/09
Posts: 12
02/17/2013 5:39 am
Hey guys, I've been playing guitar for quite a while now, I'm far from being good at it, but somehow I managed to play a riff from one of my favourite bands, but now I'm experiencing some trouble, in a riff that repeats itself alot of times throughout the song, ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWOAWN6kSDA ) it starts at 0:30 , I can do it, no problem, but when I repeat it some times, my right hand starts getting like super tired, and my speed decreases drasticly, and I can't keep up with the song. This is really frustating because I really like this song and I can play every part (solos apart ofc), but my right hand just gives up on me!! :(

Any advices would be very appreciated, thanks ;)
# 1
hunter1801
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hunter1801
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02/17/2013 6:03 am
Might just be one of those things that you need to just keep practicing on. Takes a long time to build up stamina. You want to really start tearing your hair out with frustration?....try playing some Iced Earth stuff (Jon Schaffer).

Cool sounding band by the way. Not the typical "new" deathmetal junk that's all just screams and double bass the whole song.
# 2
Kasperow
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Kasperow
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02/17/2013 9:33 am
I personally have the same problem, but what I usually do when my hand gets tired/starts to hurt because of the strings, is I put the guitar on its floor-stand, boot up my pc and watch a few tutorials while regaining strength in the left hand. Then, when I'm ready to continue, I try some of the stuff covered in the tutorials I watched. It works pretty well for me.
"Commit yourself to what you love, and things will happen."
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---
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Chateau PS-10 Cherry Power-Strat
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# 3
JeffS65
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JeffS65
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02/17/2013 2:22 pm
Originally Posted by: MaboroshiHey guys, I've been playing guitar for quite a while now, I'm far from being good at it, but somehow I managed to play a riff from one of my favourite bands, but now I'm experiencing some trouble, in a riff that repeats itself alot of times throughout the song, ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWOAWN6kSDA ) it starts at 0:30 , I can do it, no problem, but when I repeat it some times, my right hand starts getting like super tired, and my speed decreases drasticly, and I can't keep up with the song. This is really frustating because I really like this song and I can play every part (solos apart ofc), but my right hand just gives up on me!! :(

Any advices would be very appreciated, thanks ;)


The more muscle groups you use, the less tired any one smaller muscle group will get tired. A lot of metal with palm muted chunky rhythms requires that tight, quick pattern. If you're trying to grip a pick and use the same muscles (only) to pick the strings, you're gonna get fatigue.

I mean, this is really only my thought.

Also, what kind of pick to you use? I've used Dunlop JazzII's for years and still swear by them. They are small and very rigid but they do a lot of the picking work 'for me'. By that, I mean to say that I can focus on note inflection and not so much on my pick grip. They take a little getting used to but when I go back to a standard sized plectrum, it feels like a dinner plate.

Just a couple of thoughts.
# 4
matonanjin
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matonanjin
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02/17/2013 3:21 pm
Originally Posted by: MaboroshiHey guys, I've been playing guitar for quite a while now,

....

I can do it, no problem, but when I repeat it some times, my right hand starts getting like super tired, and my speed decreases drasticly,

....



Define "quite a while now".

Your hand right hands starts getting "like" super tired or it actually does get tired?

I have been trying to learn guitar for slightly over a year now. I always warm up practicing pentatonic scales for 5 minutes. After 3-4 minutes my right hand really gets tired. And I start missing strings. But I keep going just trying to build up that strength.

Guitars: 2014 PRS Santana, 2013 PRS Paul's, 2009 PRS Hollowbody I, 1972 Gibson ES-325, 2012 Fender American Standard Stratocaster,  2020 Fender Telecaster, 2001 PRS Santana SE,  2021 Martin M-36, 2021 Martin 000-15M, Seagull S6 Classic, 2012 Yamaha Pacifica  Amps: Fender Blues Junior III, Boss Eband JS-10,  Line 6 POD HD500X, Quilter Microblock 45 w/homemade 12" cab.

# 5
haghj500
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haghj500
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02/17/2013 5:50 pm
When my hand gets tired I do the alphabet in sign language. It reworks all the finger muscles and for me, loosens them back up. It also gives me a reason to use something that I can go years without needing, so I don’t forget it. Best of both worlds sort of thing.
# 6
maggior
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maggior
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02/21/2013 5:01 pm
@mabaroshi
When you say your right hand gets, do you mean your strumming hand? I ask because you could be a left handed player and your right hand is your fretting hand.

If it is your strumming hand, it could be that you have to build up stamina. You might also want to take a close look at how you have the guitar positioned. If the position causes you to put your strumming hand in an awkard or uncomfortable position, try moving your guitar up or down by adjusting your guitar strap. You could also try anchoring your hand with your pinky on pickguard. If you are anchoring, try not anchoring.

Perhaps it's because of the style of music I play (blues and rock), but I've never had an issue with my strumming hand getting tired. My fretting hand...well that's another story!

With my fretting hand, I have found that the guitar itself plays a large part in it. With my strat, I find my hand gets tired rather quickly when doing my scale exercises; nowhere near as much with my les paul. The neck on my strat is longer and wider than my lp and my hands are on the smaller side, so this contributes. I still work through it on my strat because I figure it essentially acts as a stretching and stamina exercise for me. Ultimately, the lp is best suited to my physical makeup.
# 7

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