| Subject: | Re: [RESOGUIT-L] Technique question, in re: bullet bars | | Date: | Thursday, November 3, 2005 00:58:34 (-0500) | | From: | Adriel <azure.music @.......net>
|
Lane,
the one thing most musicians forget (not surprising becomes there's Phd
levels in it and we've got plenty to deal with) is ergonomics. Bullet bars
and even Stevens style bars leave some issues unresolved for proper
ergonomics. Gary Swallows has been doing some work one ergonomics and at
least in my case with a very odd grip due to severe, deforming, arthritis
he's managed to do some good things.
For people who aren't in to the wood handle, it would be nice to see
someone actually making hand molds and creating custom bars in steel.
Although, I bet Gary could do it, I doubt he wants to get in to iron
smelting.
So any way the pain you're experiencing is natural and unfortunate. The
key is warm ups donšt' start by playing. It's stretching and positioning.
Many pro players of any instrument would find that their posture or
positioning is a mess if they went to an arts oriented physical therapist.
Other than that it's always about the gear. That's why runners, bicyclists,
etc. are always looking for the best shoe or piece of gear.
I think as players we need to push for this . Especially , when we're
experiencing pain. There's nothing worse than not being able to play due to
pain. Especially, if it was preventable. Mine wasn't totally but, you can
bet that now I am very aware of any playing stress right when it pops up and
it's usually due to my body and arm positioning.
Treat your body good and it will play all the music you want for life :)
-Adriel
> From: "Lane Gray, Czar Castic" <cgray2@kc.rr.com>
> Organization: No thanks
> Reply-To: resoguit-l@elistas.com
> Date: Wed, 02 Nov 2005 23:46:11 -0600
> To: resoguit-l@elistas.com
> Subject: Re: [RESOGUIT-L] Technique question, in re: bullet bars
>
> On Wed, 02 Nov 2005 18:22:50 -0600, John Deboalt <jfdeb@mindspring.com>
> wrote:
>
>> When I first started to play steel, a band mate gave me a small bullet
>> bar.
>> It was probably a 1/2 inch diameter. the dang thing hurt like crazy, my
>> wrist was sore after about 10 minutes. When I talked to Bruce Zumstag
>
> Zumsteg. A truly nice guy, who makes a heck of DBES. Does a good job of
> working on them, too.
>
>> of
>> Zum steels about it, he told me that a bigger bullet bar would feel
>> better.
>> I ordered 2 3/4 inch diameter bars from him, and the problem went away.
>
> I use two different sizes, one is (I think) a 7/8" Sitar bar, and the
> other is somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4. I need to keep alternating
> between them. I never used to have to.
>
>> Now
>> I use the 3/4 inch Dunlop bar on the steel, and a Ron Tipton bar for the
>> reso. I don't know if this is your situation, but going to the larger
>> diameter bar sure solved the pain problem I was having.
>
> Switching back and forth helps, but I don't think I ought to have to.
> One more reason to remember the time-honored invocation on the list: If
> you *can* get to Mike for lessons, you *should.* He's pretty good about
> pointing out the minor mechanical mistakes a student makes, and ways to
> correct them. If I had plans to head east anytime soon, I'd turn to him
> right away, but I don't think a phone consult would help.
>
> Oh, and my bars aren't as long as I'd thought: the butt end sits at the
> joint between index finger and hand, and just barely extends beyond. I
> still feel troubled by the way the index finger wants to curl bridgeward,
> but it feels strange to straighten it (but if I force the issue, I think
> it feels better)
>
> --
> Lane Gray
>
> I used to be superstitious, but my lucky squirrel-tail cured me
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