Health and guitar?

[MyOwnEffigy]

Hey, Seven String gang,

I've been playing guitar for a while now, but the more I get into shred, the harder it gets to play the same basic patterns. Its not that the fingerings are difficult, its that my fretting hand will kind of "lock up". Like, it will just stop moving fluidly and I have to keep pushing it to speed back up. It used to be able to roll through three note runs fairly quickly. I have heard from at least a handful of people that caffeine is to blame. I had cut caffeine out for like a month, but then I started to consume it again. Is that probably the problem? And are there any other tips to keep the hands nice and nimble? Thanks, you guys.

-Steve.

 

[Drew]

I drink coffee like it's my job, and have had no problems like that (I think)

Really, it's a question of staying relaxed while you play. keep your muscles fluid and smooth, and your playing will follow - it's when your muscles tense up that you tend to "tense up" on the fretboard.

As an aside, I think my picking noticeably improves after a couple of glasses of wine, for basically these reasons.

-D

 

[Shawn]

I drink alot of coffee too but it doesnt affect my playing, just gives me the shakes.
What do you for work? In auto detailing, when Im buffing, I get cramps in my arm.
I started stretching my arms before I did any activities such as this and it helped.

 

[Hawksmoor]

I drink alot of coffee too but it doesnt affect my playing, just gives me the shakes.
What do you for work? In auto detailing, when Im buffing, I get cramps in my arm.
I started stretching my arms before I did any activities such as this and it helped.

Shakes = natural vibrato

 

[Digital Black]

Gotta keep relaxed, it's very hard to do sometimes..

 

[Shawn]

Shakes = natural vibrato

Exactly. Also faster picking.

 

[Leon]

Gotta keep relaxed, it's very hard to do sometimes..

sometimes when i try to play while angry, i just get angrier, because i end up sounding like shit