Finger strength device?

  • Thread starter Thread starter amiller
  • Start date Start date
Pretty much useless for most people and actually counter productive.
More likely to give you RSI.

Dexterity is more important that strength for guitar playing.
 
I remember bassist Jeff Berlin once said your fingers only need to be strong enough to push the strings down. I think just practicing will get you way farther than one of those things.
 
I think they definitely work for finger/hand strength and help you're endurance while playing.. Just as long as you actually work your hand out with it instead of dicking around. It won't help you with anything musically though, just make you stronger. I used a weird rubber one for a long time that I could also put my fingers into so I could work out squeezing and opening. I'll get a pic of it when I get home.
 
vultures":21w2clo1 said:
I think they definitely work for finger/hand strength and help you're endurance while playing.. Just as long as you actually work your hand out with it instead of dicking around. It won't help you with anything musically though, just make you stronger. I used a weird rubber one for a long time that I could also put my fingers into so I could work out squeezing and opening. I'll get a pic of it when I get home.
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I'd really like to see the device that exercises lifting the fingers up as well as down.

I know this gets old for some folks here 'cause I've written about it before on this site. I had a disk removed from my spine between vert 6 and 7 and had a fusion performed. I lost a lot of strength in my fretting hand. I especially do not have much strength lifting my fingers off of the fret board. A lot of times a finger will drag on the strings (accidentally muting them) while I'm trying to fret a note with a different finger...really sucks.

Anything to help would be great! :)
 
it couldn't hurt I suppose. I think the best thing for hand strength is really just to play and practice with a metronome.

One thing I thought worked for me was stuff called Power Putty for Musicians which is basically a big ball silly putty that you squeeze on. It does build strength in the hand and squeezing on it just sitting around watching TV or driving helps the hand and finger strength. I know when i squeeze on the stuff for about a half an hour I'm warmed up as soon as I pick up the guitar. I don't know if they still make the stuff but you can go to a toy store and buy 3-5 things of silly putty and lump it together to make a ball that fits you hand comfortably...give it a shot.
 
If you want stronger hands, do all your practice routines on an acoustic.
 
The best device I've found for building playing strength and endurance is a guitar and a metronome. :D
 
Use a string guage heavier for a while. :yes:

Or like someone said, play an acoustic. At least this way your playing GUITAR while strengthening your muscles.
 
+1 (2?) on metronome while practicing scales/arpeggios. if you're not used to it you'll feel it after a few minutes. not only will you build strength and endurance but you're also building your technique
 
I'm the poster child for trying stupid gadgets. That thing doesn't work. But this does.

voodooradio1":1u0wutvl said:
The best device I've found for building playing strength and endurance is a guitar and a metronome. :D
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As others have said. Do it on an acoustic.
 
kasperjensen":1qfp4o79 said:
If you want stronger hands, do all your practice routines on an acoustic.
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Yup, with high action and 13 or 14 gauge strings. :D
 
agree with the finger devices not being that useful. 1) scales and metronome with optional acoustic are good. 2) I take those really small hand weights that old folks use and do wrist curls and exercises that strengthen my forearms and grip. Helps with endurance so you only need to concentrate on technique and economy of motion.
 
You don't need strong fingers. You need quick / limber fingers, which I don't see this helping at all.
 
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