Grip Strengtheners and Finger Weights

OK, so this video is about those grip-strengthening devices you can buy that supposedly help your playing (you know the ones, where they offer resistance and you basically have to squeeze them). I also go on to talk about finger weights which you attach to your fingers when playing guitar to strengthen your finger muscles.

The question is: do they work?

Guitar Exercise

Well, my first question would be: which muscles are you strengthening with these devices, and are they the same muscles that you use to play guitar? Obviously we want to build up the right muscles for guitar playing- otherwise there would be no point!

Guitar Economy of Motion

Well, when you’re using grip strengtheners, you’re actually strengthening the muscles that help you make a fist, rather than the ones that help your fingers move independently. Again, this comes down to the idea of “economy of motion”, or “economy of effort”. You should only be using the muscles you need for moving your fingers, not the ones that live in your arm and move your whole hand.

The muscles of your arm are great big, powerful muscles- and you don’t need all that strength to fret a string on guitar! The motion of holding down a guitar string is almost the same that you would use to tap the top of a table when you’re bored- not the ones you would use to punch someone! So therefore, I would be careful about using grip strengtheners for guitar playing.

Guitar Finger Weights

These are little weights that you strap on your fingers when actually playing the guitar. If you choose to use these, you must remember that correct guitar technique is more important than guitar speed, or force! Finger weights won’t improve your guitar technique, only the strength you have in your hand/fingers.

Again, it comes down to whether or not you’re using the correct muscles in the first place. Obviously, if you’re using the muscles of your arm to move your fingers, then finger weights will just make bad technique much worse! Whereas, if you’re already using the muscles of your hand, then you will obviously strengthen them- but neither of these things will improve your actual technique.

Correct Guitar Technique

How do you know which muscles you’re using? Well, when you play something -legato (hammer ons) is best-, is your hand having to move along with your fingers? I mean, when you actually fret a note where does the power come from? Look closely. If you’re using a hand movement to fret the note then the action is coming from your arm, but if your hand stays still and only your finger moves, the motion is coming from where it should.

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Rob.

June 2, 2010 at 11:00 pm | Guitar Technique and Exercises, Music News and Opinions, Practicing and Practice Routine | 2 comments

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