Hi guys, i’m probably almost 2 months in and i think the single best bit of equipment I have purchased second only to my bass (and maybe the BOB course) is this finger exerciser from D’Addario.
I work in an office and this is never out of my hand - you can use it not only to strengthen your fingers but also to work on your calluses.
I play my bass for about 45 mins everyday working through the course but this really helps with especially finger dexterity and since using it I’ve found a huge difference in how little my pinky fatigues.
If you are new, look into one, read some reviews then give it a try…..its only £15
Be careful. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but the general consensus is that these can actually do more harm than good by leading to inflammation and repetitive stress injuries, and generally aren’t really all that effective in the first place.
You want fine motor control and a light touch for playing bass. It’s more about dexterity than strength, and your hands (well, forearms) will naturally get stronger by simply playing.
I bought one of those also and it did help me strengthen my pinky. I only do a few exercises a day with it, then skip a day to let my hand rest. Don’t go overboard because you can get soreness in you hand.
They do work. I have one from occupational therapy after my tendon tore and it does help; helps more with the dexterity (try only pulling with the pinky and not the ring finger).
I have a whole series of exercises with that and other items like a one pound dumbbell that i cycle through with proper repetitions and rest, if done properly, there is no chance of repetitive stress
It does not replace playing but my case was different
I think that’s the trick, any physical endeavor is easy to over do. Also different grip thingees have different pull weights, you start at the lightest and work your way up. Your lifting weights, with your fingers, treat it like that and it’ll be okay
Yeah that’s all true, though I would say if I needed to work on grip strength now, I would go with a safer and more combined exercise like a farmer’s carry or low weight, high rep wrist curls. Pulling exercises can be easy to overstrain.
I used to shoot a lot of .45/70 Gov. ammo at the range out of my Thompson Contender at 100 yds. It is a single shot scoped pistol and the bowling pins would be pretty well destroyed. As the years went by the usual 100 rounds would make my hand almost stiff for two days afterwards. Any movement was painful. I ended up selling that hand cannon and squeezing a raquetball whenever my wrist/hand acted up. The device in the OP was tried but I agree with what others have said, it can do more bad than good. Everyone will find what works in their case but playing, even sitting down and using only your fretting hand is more useful for me personally. I started the B2B middle course two days ago and am feeling it this morning. Module 3 is a bit stop and go so when that happens I take a break or end my seasion and get back in there at some point later, either same day or the next.
Especially at our age!
