what is everyone's method of warming up?

i've never given real thought to warm up but lately my left thumb has been a bit sore. i think it might be my guitar's fat neck. it's quite uncomfortable. i also use heavy tension strings though. and my left thumb is also "double jointed."
i don't want to develop anything adverse. prevention is easier than solution.

how do you warm up for rasgueados? picados? left hand?

I addressed a warmup little finger exercise to do last in a post on the Guitar method discussion thread.

I start with this exercise ... use picato imimimim, etc.

--------------------------------------------------------------0-1-2-3-4------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------0-1-2-3-4--------------2-3-4-5--------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------0-1-2-3-4------------------------------------3-4-5-6-----------------------------------
--------------------------0-1-2-3-4----------------------------------------------------------4-5-6-7-------------------------
--------------0-1-2-3-4---------------------------------------------------------------------------------5-6-7-8--------------
--0-1-2-3-4--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------6-7-8-9---


-----------------------------------------6-7-8-9------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------6-7-8-9------------8-7-6-5-------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------6-7-8-9---------------------------------7-6-5-4--------------------------------------------------------
------------6-7-8-9-----------------------------------------------------6-5-4-3----------------------------------------------
--6-7-8-9-------------------------------------------------------------------------5-4-3-2------------------------------------
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------4-3-2-1-0-----------------------

I then do basic common flamenco scales using picato imimim, etc. and then do scales with the thumb (p)

Then I do arppegios! They are most important in flamenco ... I use common flamenco chords for practice. I use E for an example here.

------0------------0---------------0----------0-----------0------------------------------------------------------
--------0------------0---------------0-----------0----------0----------------------------------------------------
----------1------------1---------------1------------1----------1-------------------------------------------------
----------------------------------3-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------3---------------------------3--------------------------------------------------------------------
--0-------------------------------------------------------0-------------------------------------------------------

I start with the pami as it is most common in getting a flamenco sounds. Practice various arpeggios smoothly and slowly for accuracy pima, pami, pimami, etc.

Now I do rasqueados using simple chords. I practice using the 12 beat rhythm pattern with index strumming and sami. Then I add ,,, samisami then when it is smooth add another ... samisamisami.

I do tremolo next to last and put the least importance on it as one can be an accomplished flamenco player and never use tremolo. It is a good finger exercise and should be practiced slowly and smoothly.

NOW MOST IMPORTANT! I do the little finger exercise I posted on the other thread about Guitar methods. I do it until my hand is sore.

I take a break then start working on various rhythm patterns and falsetas.
Then I play a long Soleares, a short Taranta, 8 Sevillanas using 5 different keys, a Farruca, and an Alegrias. I play bits and pieces of Bulerias. I plan to get a Siguiriyas together when my Soleares is smoother and on compas, then a Bulerias. This may be years with my slow progress.

I warm up with a few scales, arpeggios and work up to some barre chords. Some single line stuff, some of the music I play with the Essex Guitar Orchestra, and then maybe some of my early classical guitar grade pieces. Then I'm ready to play


Alan

at_leo_87 wrote:
i've never given real thought to warm up but lately my left thumb has been a bit sore. i think it might be my guitar's fat neck. it's quite uncomfortable. i also use heavy tension strings though. and my left thumb is also "double jointed."
i don't want to develop anything adverse. prevention is easier than solution.

Hi Leo,
If you can possibly arrange it, I would strongly recommend that you get rid of your fat neck guitar and replace it with one that has a more slender and comfortable neck. I had an excellent negra a while back whose neck consistently aggravated my sensitive left thumb. I ended up replacing it and have had a lot less trouble. I routinely use ice massage whenever I do get flare ups of discomfort and as a result I am able to play routinely without interruption.

You may really like your guitar, but If it is causing you any pain, you will eventually regret not replacing it.

Regarding warming up I usually start by playing a few simple exercises, some scales, several classical pieces and then get into flamenco selections. Incidentally, if I am having any discomfort in my left thumb/wrist, I use ice massage before I do any playing at all.

Doog

I used to warm up playing music I could play rather well and then would switch to whatever I was currently working on and not able to play as well. However, I decided I was spending too much of my practice time playing things I already could play well. Not only that, it didn't seem best to play easy things during the first part of each practice session while I was still fresh and then work on new and more difficult things later when I was starting to become fatigued. Because of that I reversed what I had been doing. I now start right in on new things that I am currently trying to learn and then reward myself by playing things I already know toward the end as I am becoming tired. I am convinced that I am making more progress that way than I was before. There also is the psychological advantage of playing well toward the end which leaves me feeling better about the time invested.

-Bob

Bob wrote:I now start right in on new things that I am currently trying to learn and then reward myself by playing things I already know toward the end as I am becoming tired. I am convinced that I am making more progress that way than I was before. There also is the psychological advantage of playing well toward the end which leaves me feeling better about the time invested.

-Bob

bob, sometimes personal trainers will tell you to save your favorite workout for last. this way you have something to look forward to, to pull you through. also, you'll end on a good "note" (pun intended.) so i think your method has much merit. and can be applicable elsewhere as well.

El Viejo 77 wrote:If you can possibly arrange it, I would strongly recommend that you get rid of your fat neck guitar and replace it with one that has a more slender and comfortable neck.

i'll be glad to get a new guitar! i tried your ice massage idea and it works great.
it especially worked well coupled with the use of these:
http://www.amazon.com/SALONPAS-PAIN-REL ... 760&sr=8-3

they're little patches that you stick on and it warms up. you can find them in some asian stores. they're good for winter too, you can stick them on under your gloves.

I know those patches! I've used them on my neck they work pretty great.

If you're wondering about which to use, the hot or cold method. You should use ice during acute or immediate pain where there's swelling or inflammation. It's like when you were a kid and you fell and bumped your head or hurt your knee, your mom put ice on it. If the pain is chronic and doesn't really go away then heat should be used. When in doubt though use ice because pain usually equals inflammation. (I know i told you otherwise before mr. leo but i looked it up for you and thats what was recommended) I guess both can be used though!

By the way my boyfriend has a similar problem with his guitar hurting his thumb, i'm working on getting him a better guitar! so he can look like this instead of or more like this since he has a cute gottee

My warm up usually involves painfully slow rasgueos with a metronome. Around 60 bpm. One tick per finger.

Right hand muting and trying to achieve a consistent thud with each flick.

Flick Hard Up and Down each finger per measure. PPPP, EEEE, MMMM, AAAA, IIII

After that, P(up), E,M,A,I (down)

Then with E or A chord. Concentrating that the rasgueo sound the same with each finger.

Warning: This can be very boring, but for me... It really pays off.

I do work ups.....the idea is that you try to stimulate the mind with proper playing (what ever you like to use) until the mind is percieving the music at the most positive and forceful level, then I go ahead and work on what ever it is that I need. The hands and wrists and arms and back and neck seem to come with the idea. That is that the mind comes first, and unless you can percieve the music that you play, and you can enjoy the music and the process, you can't very well expect much of the anatomy. The idea is to awaken the senses, and the mind thru open ended activity and sensual arousal and perceptive ability, working from simple exercises to the more complicated and demanding. Once you get at the whole idea and process, it's a must, to play and percieve at your highest ability, wether you practice, perform, or record. Then you can truly get at the music in a more holistic manner of speaking. The term work ups says it all......

As for pain, the best you can do is play with moderation until you can extend your mental and physical capacities thru long standing practice with the instrument. Don't think that you can just take it up without slowly building the muscles and strengthening the tendons thru steady work. You can't really do it in a few weeks or months. Rather, the guitar is a very demanding instrument, and it's a good idea to accept that first and then work on it with that in mind.
Gary

The first thing I do when I pick up the guitar, after I take a big whiff of the cypress and cedar , is practice simple, basic arpeggios. I play really slow and focus on being in a state of "Dynamic Relaxation" as Mr. Tennant would put it. I go through all the muscle groups- back, shoulders etc. and just make sure I'm playing tension free. I do this with 7-8 patterns plus tremelo. Then with the left hand I take each finger and press it lightly on any note and then release. In other words I use the "Pumping Nylon" book. I hope I don't get ostracized for this but this has helped TREMENDOUSLY. Then I do all the requisite stuff- scales, ligado, etc. I don't play any peices yet, but I'm starting string together all the different falsetas I've been learning.