How to practice for performing live/headbanging

[Philippe]

Hey guys, just wanted to see how you go about practicing for shows and any tricks or practice routines you use. Also, I was wondering how to avoid neck pain since after playing a show I always find that my neck is sore for a couple of days after.

Thanks and take care

 

[rug]

Well...the short answer is that you just go out and do it. However...

It takes a certain amount of inhibition. For me, I find that 3-4 drinks with the rest of my band beforehand gets us all in a good mood. You've just got to feel it. Once everyone in the band has learned the songs, you should be practicing how you plan to play live. So if you plan on going apeshit live, you'd better be doing that in practice.

If that doesn't make sense, watch some DEP videos, that should do the trick.

How to avoid neck pain? I dunno man...that's just part of the deal, IMO. You're basically giving yourself whiplash, but it also gives you a good excuse to have your wife or girlfriend give you a few neck massages.

 

[KingAenarion]

Know the music you're playing really well...

Know which riffs you can play and headbang at the same time (usually not a good idea to try and play extremely tricky riffs and headbang at the same time)

 

[Thep]

 

[VILARIKA]

I know some do headbanging by leaning their body forward, rather than the good ol' actual moving your head forward. By using your body, there is no tension on the neck like when your moving your head forward. I could have used better terms, but I think I got the point across. Hope that doesn't sound retarded

As for headbanging while playing complex stuff, it's just a matter of being able to play a song with little difficulty and a good memorization for transitions. Practicing a song till you feel really confident will make things a lot easier.

 

[Winspear]

I got fed up with neck pain and started headbanging kind of side to side in a pendulum motion rather than up and down - completely solved it for me.

 

[Ninetyfour]

Do the Tosin neck twitch!

 

[ZEBOV]

USE YOUR KNEES!!!!

 

[Lankles]

Hey guys, just wanted to see how you go about practicing for shows and any tricks or practice routines you use. Also, I was wondering how to avoid neck pain since after playing a show I always find that my neck is sore for a couple of days after.

Thanks and take care

At rehearsal, don't stop between songs. You are rehearsing to play a set, so start with your opener and don't do anything you wouldn't do on stage until you've played your last song. Get your vocalist to talk to the imaginary crowd as necessary and give him feedback afterwards.

Mix up your headbanging so you go from knees, hips, back, and neck. Windmill if you've got enough hair. If you're playing something complicated try and find a comfortable yet metalasfuck posture until it's done.

You should not be in any more pain after a set than after a moderate workout. Never, ever aggravate anything that might turn out to be an injury. Find an alternative, move around on stage, pull faces, whatever. If your neck hurts for days after a show you need to find a different way to headbang.

 

[eventhetrees]

Do the Tosin neck twitch!

lol yes!

 

[Metal_Webb]

The guys in Amon Amarth pretty much headbang all set lol. Notice how they tend to move their bodies rather than their heads.

From about 2:30.

 

[myampslouder]

I got fed up with neck pain and started headbanging kind of side to side in a pendulum motion rather than up and down - completely solved it for me.

First thing that came to mind

 

[cwhitey2]

i go ape shit at practice.

 

[samincolour]

We do the whole Dillinger thing at shows. We don't practice doing it, we like to keep that sense of unpredictability, but when we used to do it in the practice room we'd do our set over and over again and record it to see where we'd go wrong and work on the mistakes.

Best thing to do before shows is STRETCH OUT, do warm ups! Specially your neck! If you have a girlfriend ask her to give you a massage afterwards too. Mine does

 

[incinerated_guitar]

What I tend to do for practicing is going completely ape shit not only at practice, but also when just jamming alone at home. After a while youll get used to knowing exactly where your hands are on the neck no matter what position your in so you dont have to really worry about getting lost when headbanging or windmilling.

And for the neck pain, theres certain neck stretches you can do before each show (like I do) just to keep yourself moveable. Also, learn the proper way to headbang, just because its called headbanging doesnt mean that should be the ONLY part of you moving, my back tends to move a bit too. But for my "day after the show" feeling, I just have my girlfriend's mom (ex physicial therapist) work on me. Great thing to have if you headbang like a motherfucker

 

[niffnoff]

I just have my girlfriend's mom (ex physicial therapist) work on me. Great thing to have if you headbang like a motherfucker

Physical therapist, is that what they call it now a days

When I was in my last set of bands, I just went batshit mental, and ignored the pain, if my neck was hurting I had to get on with it.
In practise I realised calm it a lil as it wasn't really making anything special. But live we always looked the part, and we were always told how good a show we put on because of the presence and set we played. So, drink beer, play show, go wild. Fuck the pain.

 

[incinerated_guitar]

Physical therapist, is that what they call it now a days

When I was in my last set of bands, I just went batshit mental, and ignored the pain, if my neck was hurting I had to get on with it.
In practise I realised calm it a lil as it wasn't really making anything special. But live we always looked the part, and we were always told how good a show we put on because of the presence and set we played. So, drink beer, play show, go wild. Fuck the pain.

Yea I dont really care how bad it hurts on stage, or how bad im gonna fuck myself up, I just play through it haha. But its always nice to get a massage after a show

 

[jordanky]

I need to get back in shape. Played my first show in forever last night and I feel like someone ran over me with an army tank. Lots of good info in this thread so far.

 

[Evil7]

Stage presence

Make Sure to not stand in one spot staring at your instrument. Interact with the crowd in the front / move around. If your music makes you feel like headbanging do it in a manner that is not super extreme, you have to keep your place playing. Getting too crazy with it can cause injuries and a lot of pain.

Practice getting into the music at practice - pretending you are on stage. I do this often.

It becomes second nature to put on a show while enjoying what you are doing.

Headbanging is not the only cool thing you can do while playing. Movement in general is good... It lets different people at different points of the crowd see what you are doing... I like to walk to the opposite side of the stage and perform for the crowd there as well..

Main point..... If it looks like you are into your music, there is a better chance other people will be as well. If you are hurting yourself headbanging ... Lighten up a bit / don't be so extreme with it.

 

[Stealthtastic]

Step 1: learn the song super well.

Step 2: drink some beer.

Step 3: bend your knees.

Step 4: begin playing

Step 5: GO FUCKING CRAZY!