finger strengtheners

[e73]

does anyone use the finger strengtheners that make you exercise each finger individually and has tension? and is it really helpful to build finger strenght? Thanks

[LarryJ]

Most people would probably agree its a waste of time.

They probably make your fingers stronger, but what helps the most is actually playing guitar. Making the switch is what's important, your fingers need to be stronger while doing things like bending, not while fretting notes etc. Most of guitar playing (imo) is dexterity anyways, not strength.

Theres no substitution for having the guitar in your hands, but if you want to try one, go ahead, maybe it will help. To me it just seems like a gimmick.

[Bongo Boy]

I've not used them, although I thought about it when I first started. Still, I have an opinion on the topic.

Based on what I already know about muscle memory from learning to swing a golf club, and from what many experts have written, the fingers need to learn through repetition. Where they end up on the fretboard, how much pressure they exert and how they have to move to get into the next position--these are learned through repetitive practice.

Many folks will say that's why it's so important to always practice carefully and slowly, so the fingers have a chance to learn from repeating the desired behavior. When they do begin to learn, strength seems to become less and less of an issue. 'Force' isn't needed.

So, I see two possible negative side effects of using finger strengthening devices--I may be wrong. First, you're doing nothing to repeat desired finger behavior--you're actually training your fingers to do something that, while it may not be harmful in itself, has nothing to do with what you want your fingers to learn. Strength in the fingers isn't really an objective--at least not from a 'gripping' perspective, IMO. Second, you're probably actually building muscles that aren't actually helpful in making the fingers agile--maybe it's analogous to the difference in the legs of a track cyclist vs the legs of a distance runner.

I DO think there are probably exercises that will help prevent repetitive motion syndrome in the forearm and fingers though, and finger strengthening devices may actually help with that. Still, I think the objective there is to use muscles and tendons in a different way than you do while playing guitar, but not to actually build strength, per se.

These are just my thoughts...I'm not a doctor, physical therapist, or even a guitar player. I just think that the 'right' finger muscles for guitar will only develop through doing the 'right' kinds of practice on guitar. :)

[LarryJ]

what i was trying to say, only about 5x more detailed. :p

[Bizarro]

I think it is more important to be physically fit in general. It's more than just your fingers. Your wrists and forearms play a huge role in it too.

I also think it is important to be strong and fit in areas that matter to you. I consider strength to be a great asset, but I think it should be attained through normal physical fitness routines, not a little finger exercise tool.;)

Several of the guitar greats are also very physically fit: Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Van Halen, Zakk Wylde, John Petrucci, Steve Morse... From the articles I've read they take great care of themselves. Well, some of them drink a little... :p

[EricV]

I completely agree to Bongo.
This is something that came to mind the very first time I looked at devices like the Gripmaster.
Now, I do own one, and I used it, but I used it for a different purpose than building strength, actually... I used it to do finger exercises whenever there was no guitar around ( ex: while travelling by plane etc. )
I always thought "OK, this WILL help to build finger strength... but the motion is pretty different from what you´re doing on the guitar..."
With the gripmaster you´re supposed to put your finger-tips onto those button-type things... now, if you transfer that motion to the guitar, it´s not like bending or anything ( which requires strength ), it´s pressing down onto the strings very hard. Which is stupid.. because for good legato technique and good intonation ( especially with high frets ), you wanna ease up on the pressure you apply. The harder the press, the more energy you waste, and you´ll probably get intonation problems.
Also, as Bongo mentioned, the motion is quite different from actual playing.
Think of it like this: if you wanna be good at lifting weights ( like those gyus at the olympics ), you should focus on exercises involving...well, lifting weights ( D´uh ! )
You can of course build up strength using some other bodybuilding-devices, but just because you have muscles like Arnold doesn´t mean you´ll have an easier time lifting weights specifically.
That is a certain activity involving a certain motion etc.

I also agree to what Bizarro said... you should look at the rest of your body too. I know from experience how bad health, health problems etc. can mess up your playing... both mentally and physically.
Eric

NP: Michael Hedges - Torched ( Beautiful album... )

[e73]

yea my teacher told me to get one and work on it whenever i was away from the guitar. i was just kinda erged because i felt kinda skechy about the whole item. thanks though

[Doug McMullen]

Finger strengtheners are an almost complete waste of time money and effort... you don't need stronger finger muscles... you do need extraordinary control of your fingers.

Playing guitar requires that you do things with your fingers much like what a professional sleight of hand artist does while making coins and cards appear and disappear. It has nothing to do with strength (does David Copperfield look like a tough guy to you?). Learn to roll a coin across your knuckles. That will teach you something about how to train your fingers.

I said "almost" complete waste of time because the finger trainers do encourage you to work fingers individually, which is good. But you can get the same benefits with proper excercises individually tapping and moving fingers on your desktop, on the steering wheel of a car at stoplights, or discreetly on your leg during a class or meeting.

By the way, these kinds of excercises _do_ pay off. Your fingers can be trained to a remarkable degree.

Also -- good excercises done away from the guitar in a concentrated fashion are more effective than uninformed excercises done on the guitar. Poor practice only reinforces bad habits, whether it is done holding the guitar or not.

Doug

[hol0point]

I was thinking those strengheners may help when playing on an acoustic guitar since the strings are usually tougher to fret.. But I dont have one and I doubt I will get one. Like Doug was saying a simple dexterity excersise might be helpful.
(Warning: You are about to read something Really lame).
Remember Iceman from Top Gun? I do his little pen twirl with my left hand at the tempo of the song I'm listening to. On top of that I usually will tap my foot to the rhythm as well. Song after song I do this all day while working(my job is Really boring) to a variety of music. I dunno if its increased my dexterity or not. I assume it is because when I first started doing it I could barely twirl it around the first finger now I can fly through every finger forwards and backwards. Has it made me a better player? ehh.. probably not hehe

hol0

[Bongo Boy]

Heck I think it's settled, then. Score is:

Finger Strengtheners: 0
Guitar Practice: 5

:D