Finger Weights

This is a bit of an update on an old video I did a while ago about grip strengtheners and finger weights. In that video I was asking just which muscles these weights strengthen- because grip strengtheners strengthen your grip (obviously!) and that might not be what you need for guitar playing purposes…

…for playing the guitar, you need finger strength- not arm strength. Of course, there is no substitute for good technique either!

Anyway, over the last few week’s I’ve been trying out Finger-Weights- basically little weights that you put on each finger when you play. These are much more useful at strengthening your “guitar playing muscles”!

Other benefits include:

1. Because more effort is required to lift it, they can help keep your little finger down and under control
2. They strengthen the muscles of the hand and so increase your finger independence
3. Note definition is increased (another byproduct of having stronger fingers)

The thing is, though, that you have to use them properly (by which I mean: sensibly). The one warning I would give with these is that it’s not really a speed thing. Using these finger weights over time might (and probably will) increase your speed…but I think you’ll see much more results by concentrating on finger independence and note definition when wearing them!

The weights are just basically increasing the amount of effort it takes you to play, right? That means two things:

1. your fingers become stronger and more independent over time
2. …but also if you try to push yourself to play too fast with them on you’re going to increase the amount of tension you produce in order to compensate!

…so forget trying to set the land speed record with the weights on, and instead work on finger independence and other areas of playing (which you should be concentrating on anyway…). Then, when you take the weights off you can feel the benefits (which will include an increase in speed and accuracy).

In conclusion, these weights will actually really help you with your playing…but there is never going to be any substitute for good technique and practice routine! Check them out at Finger-Weights.com.
Rob.

September 29, 2011 at 8:10 pm | Reviews | No comments