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Need help preventing injury


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Posted

Hi all,

 

I've played in metal bands for several years now, but I recently started to play in a band with extremely fast picked parts.

The last few times rehearsing I had to stop playing because of a tintling sensation or sometimes even pain in my right arm. (ie not my fretting arm).

 

The other guitarist in my band plays really smooth during these fast parts. But it seems I can't play these parts relaxed enough... I tighten all the muscles in my right arm really tense. It just happens, don't know what to do against it. But the pain happens earlier en stays longer during each next rehearsal. Please help.

 

greets,

 

Daemian

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Posted

I tried that, but it doesn't work for me. I can't get past a certain speed without tensing up. But the songs are supposed to go a lot faster.

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Posted

Daemian, if you play over your own tempo you will tense up (and worse, you will sound bad).

I'm afraid, but the only way to overcome this is to practice hard and push your speed barriere. :(

Posted

Playing fast is all about minimalism.

The first part is minimal motion. When picking, the pick should only move a very small ammount to strike the string in order to come back and attack it again. Using too much movement requires a lot more muscle usage to play at the same tempo, and thus a lot more tension and fatigue in the muscles.

Secondly you want to have minimal muscle usage. Don't use your whole arm to pick/strum when you can just use your fingers or wrist musles. Try to practice with more movement in those areas and that will limber up your arms as they shouldn't be moving.


This is why practicing slow is essential. There's a certain mentality about playing slow that forces you to relax and often do things more correctly. While you're playing slow, analyze how your picking hand is moving, and how it feels to you. And very slowly increase the tempos. By slowly I mean about 5 or maybe 10 bpm at the most. Make sure you use a metronome for this so you don't cheat! If you don't have one, there are some programs you can find online. I've got a decent one from www.guitarbeginners.com that does increments of 5 from 45 to 165.

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Posted

Well, guess I have to break the news to my bandmates we need to play 30% slower untill I have practised enough.

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Posted
Originally posted by Daemian

Well, guess I have to break the news to my bandmates we need to play 30% slower untill I have practised enough.



Actually this is not a bad idea, I'm sure if you are struggling with these insane tempos they might be too. You all might benefit from slowing the tune down and then bringing it back up.
Also keep in mind that music is not a contest, you do not have to be the "fastest" band out there, put that sh*t aside. Let the tune dictate which tempo is best and do what is best for the tune.

Now I am no speed metal guy but one thing I have learned over the years is how much heavier a tune can sound when you slow it down, Led Zep is a great example of this. This is especially true when it is a riff oriented tune.

Now go listen to Dazed and confused live and lay off the Jolt cola son!

:D

MH

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