Popular Post tybeegb Posted May 5, 2018 Popular Post Share #1 Posted May 5, 2018 Friday. Pub crawl day. I was headed to my third bar (on my bike) but decided to head to the Legion to have a few more beers before Bingo. As soon as I walked in the bartender said "I was just calling you to see if you could play your guitar tonight"? He even offered to call the Breezy cab to help me get what little equipment I have, since I do not get behind the wheel even after one beer. I declined the ride but said I would play, even though I really did not want to start playing with a buzz. I prefer to ease my way into it while I play. So I ride home and put my bike up. Gather up my amp, mic and stand, guitar, and guitar stand, and trudge back to the Legion. It's about a long par five walk, so not too far. I get set up and eat a hamburger to help with the previous beer consumption, and start playing. People start showing up, some of the regulars that have been to all of the sets I have done, which was a good sign. They don't mind if I screw up a chord, or a line. But they do like me to finish playing the song I'm playing, especially when it's one they like and are singing along to. But, I forgot one key thing, and I should have remembered it when I was on my bike heading back to the Legion from the south end of the island. I had a pretty hard workout that morning, and triceps was one of the hardest. I could not keep both hands on the handle bars because both arms would start to cramp up really bad. So fast forward a few hours and I was in the middle of that song they liked and when I did an 'F' chord my left index finger clamped down on the strings. I tried to play a few more chords but I could not get my hand to uncramp. So I stopped. I had to wrack my brain to remember some songs that did not have but a few chords and none of them required quite so much pressure. And then I only had to play another hour or so and I had to be really careful. But, I got a little more experience playing in front of a crowd. I know more about the song genres they like (one guy in particular lets me know what he likes to hear), so it wasn't a wasted night. And I saved money by not playing Bingo. And the bartender said he would let me know earlier during the week since he now has my cell phone number. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Wilbur ★ Posted May 5, 2018 Popular Post Share #2 Posted May 5, 2018 This is horrible. Could you do 20 oz curls or did you have to back off to 12oz? 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirby Posted May 5, 2018 Share #3 Posted May 5, 2018 I'm sure you were annoyed because you like to be able to do your best, but I'm sure the audience enjoyed your performance. The small issue is one of the things that make live music more fun and interesting than recorded music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donkpow Posted May 5, 2018 Share #4 Posted May 5, 2018 It may be time to expand your repertoire. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MickinMD ★ Posted May 5, 2018 Share #5 Posted May 5, 2018 I assume the cramp came from a fully-barred F-chord. Did you try just holding down the e and b strings with your index finger and playing a 5-string F? Or did that cramp, too? One year I accompanied our local Jaycees door-to-door Christmas Choir and my left hand got very cold and began cramping between my thumb and index finger, but I could get by as long as I didn't bar all 6 strings. I then did everything with easy tonic-subdominant dominant chords like C, F-with just 2-string bar, and the non-barred G, or D, non-barred G, non-barred A, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dottleshead ★ Posted May 5, 2018 Share #6 Posted May 5, 2018 Zero tears shed. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tybeegb Posted May 5, 2018 Author Share #7 Posted May 5, 2018 "I assume the cramp came from a fully-barred F-chord. Did you try just holding down the e and b strings with your index finger and playing a 5-string F? Or did that cramp, too?" I play the 5-string F most of the time unless some of the other chords are Barred. That was what gave me the problem. I then tried the Barred F and it was only a little better, so I gave up on that chord for a little while. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoneWolf Posted May 6, 2018 Share #8 Posted May 6, 2018 FREEEEEEEBIIIRRRRRRRRDDDDDDD!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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