Thread: any guitar players/musicians here?

i play guitar and lift weights. not a problem for me.

i play guitar, do some vai satch but mostly hendrix page, john mayer, finger picking, a lot of lead, SRV shitttttt.... i deadlift 455lbs and my hands seem to be fine, i bench about 295 soooo no problemo here buddy

I play too. I think lifting has helped, because I am a bit faster now. There are a lot of players on this forum.

This reminds of me of coaches of decades ago who pleaded to not lift weights cuz it makes you musclebound.

No issues here, just dont do freaky volume with forearm training.

i don't agree mudge...you can lift as much as you want and still be a great guitar player....it only makes your hands stronger and will allow you to handle the guitar easier...another technique i like to do is play a lot on acoustic guitars so when you go to electric the strings feel like puddy or butter because it is like a workout on the heavier strings! do extra forearms!

I have trouble playing my guitar because my chest pushes the damn thing away from me and makes it awkward to hold properly. Very hard for me to get comfortable.

I play guitar professionally. Lifting helps, never hurts, unless I blast my forearms just prior to playing. Stronger hands/grip is to your advantage. And ditto on acoustic practicing.

One caveat-->some cycles have made guitar difficult due to increased pumps. I was on Superdrol and some other choice products, and my hand/forearm would cramp after just a few minutes due to extreme pumping. This made playing shows difficult. Just like M1T back pumps and running.

ALSO-->I think products like X-Factor (which attempt to increase growth by stimulating your swelling/inflammation response) are a bad idea in terms of guitar playing, as are things which dry out your joints.

And GP-->joking right? No part of the guitar should be on your chest, even if you're stacked...unless you hold it like Dave Matthews/jazz style, way high.

Originally Posted by brodus

And GP-->joking right? No part of the guitar should be on your chest, even if you're stacked...unless you hold it like Dave Matthews/jazz style, way high.

I only play sitting down.

No Problems here .

Originally Posted by tenxyearsxgone

i don't agree mudge...you can lift as much as you want and still be a great guitar player....it only makes your hands stronger and will allow you to handle the guitar easier...

Tell that to people who like myself have experienced RMI issues, sure it must all be in our heads. Why did people who built the pyramids have horrible bends in the spinal column? Because we can lift as much as we want and suffer no consequences?

We are human beings, and we have recouperative limitations. If you exceed that margin, you are going to experience problems at some point in your life.

GP-->try using a strap while seated; it will hold the guitar in correct form no matter how big you get. Also, pick up one of those foot stands, or stack a couple text books--they really do help your form.

Re: lifting and guitar playing...I think if you're at the point where you're benching 500, and possibly impacting your ability to play, your first goal in life isn't guitar, and therefore its not such a big deal. You're probably a bodybuilder or powerlifter first and foremost, and you play guitar for fun.

Staying limber and lifting weights are 2 different things, a fat slob could be less limber than a bodybuilder it just takes practice to keep your hands limber for playing. The thing I would worry about is any nerve damage to my hands while lifting heavy with bad grip form. I have had a curl bar roll across my hand wrong which made my middle finger feel numb for a few days. But I wasn't playing my guitar then so I don't really know how it effected playing wise, who knows it might have had a therapeutic outcome and healed faster if I had played.

Originally Posted by brodus

GP-->try using a strap while seated; it will hold the guitar in correct form no matter how big you get. Also, pick up one of those foot stands, or stack a couple text books--they really do help your form.

I will take these suggestions. I have been meaning to get a foot pedal for a while and this sealed it for me. Thanks for the advice. Obviously bodybuilding is my life and guitar is more of a hobby, but I am getting far more serious about playing as time goes by.

Just picked it back up. No problems here.

What kind of guitars do you all play? ... I am a Gibson man.

a friend of mine said "bodybuilding helps your life but it shouldn't be your life." You should workout to improve ur life but don't make it ur life. I think that sounds pretty good to me...

Originally Posted by pumpthatiron

a friend of mine said "bodybuilding helps your life but it shouldn't be your life." You should workout to improve ur life but don't make it ur life. I think that sounds pretty good to me...

Depends on who you are and what your goals are. There is nothing wrong with having one main passion in life, as long as you allow yourself other essentials like love, family, friends, etc.

My current guitar is a Tacoma.

^ Agreed.

I have a gibson les paul standard, fender strat, washburn acoustic, and ovation acoustic/electric.

I love my washburn acoustic, its almost as good as my fathers martin, smells so nice.

I play the skin flute!!!!!!!!!!!

^ Wait dude...SHE is supposed to play the skin flute, not YOU! ^

The Growth Hormone i used to directly inject into my hands to attain a monster grip made my fingers blow up like sausages so that wasn't too good. As for the guitar, I found it didn't produce muscle growth as good as when I used dumbells etc. Nah, only playin, I've not had any problems.

Totally agree with GP and Mudge, of course BBing can be your life. It's not that way for me, but I respect that decision.

Re: guitars.

My main acoustic is a Seagull--Canadian guitar, cedar top, cherry back and sides. Soundes incredible plugged in or straight ahead. I highly recommend them--excellent value to price ratio (as is the Tacoma, I might add).

My main electrics are a Brian Moore I-Guitar (splittable humbuckers + piezos for acoustic + guitar-synth out-->which rocks), a 1982 Fender American Strat (a Smith strat), and a Raven PRS Hollowbody. I had a couple other favorites but they were stolen out of my car (you may have read the thread on A-Minds when I was still allowed over there).

If you guys ever want gear advice, or a line on excellent deals, let me know. I've played a ton of setups, effects, etc., both live and studio.

In the meantime-->both of these sites have musician classifieds, and regularly sell gear WAY below cost:

www.harmony-central.com
www.craigslist.com

I've actually rubbed the VPX Glucosamine on my hands many times to sooth joints, and it works.

Next to Liquid Clen, it's my fav. VPX product, and very affordable.

Originally Posted by topolo

I play the skin flute!!!!!!!!!!!

I heard you blow a mean meat whistle too?