Essential Hand Stretches For Guitarists or Any Instrumentalist

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In this lesson we will focus on a few hand stretching exercises that I feel are essential to every guitarist's warm-up routine. These kind of exercises can really go a long way to keeping your hands healthy and in better playing form. I do them everyday before I pick up my guitar.

Lesson Taught By: Carl Brown

[annanobert]

Notes for myself haha
1:48 massage hand
3:18 stretch fingers back and fourth
6:43 separate fingers
7:18 stretch all fingers side to side
7:35 stretch fingers back and fourth
7:54 massage tips of fingers
8:13 expand hands

[justflip]

I stopped playing guitar for minutes to find some finger exercise. After watching this video, my guitar pick was taken by aliens.

[geoburgenstacken]

"For any instrumentalist"

*laughs in kazoo*

[atharva_sabde]

12years have passed and this video is still helping us.

Yes! that's how quality content looks.

[arashsadeghinejad]

Him: "My fingers are average length."
Me: "Why is my middle finger shorter than his pinky?"

[anthonysteele]

Another very important aspect of finger stretching that was left out of this video has to do with moisturizing! Skin elasticity is predicated on the level of moisture the skin has in it. What helped me a ton is not only being hydrated but applying lotion regularly on top of doing these stretches!

[kimfarmer]

Hi, I just discovered this lesson and though I'm 75 this year it's never too late to learn something new. My hands have been through a lot of hard work and I didn't realize how bad they were until now. I will try hard to develope more flexibility. Thanks very much. Cheers from Kim in Australia

[vladlutsenko]

Instructions unclear, I now have 6 fingers.

[billmccready]

What a difference after a few days finger exorcises, it should be the first lesson in Guitar playing especially for the older brigade.

[NighttimeDaydreams]

Oh wow, I am so glad I found this while I'm still in the early stages of learning guitar. I'm definitely going to be using this in the future, thanks.

[erginbarredo]

Hand Stretches

1:46
- Thumb Pressing Palm
- Thumb Pressing Fingers and Sides of the Fingers (all 5)
- Repeat to the Front Hand (Darker Tone)
- Back and Front of the Forearm to Elbow
- Shake the hand

2:56 Single-Finger Bending
- Lock the elbow straight
- Stretch up the index finger (next to thumb) slowly
- Take the other 4 fingers then move them up and down
- Shake the hand
- Repeat to other 3 fingers (for pinky, stretch sideward over third finger)
- Repeat but downwards
- Stretch the thumb up-sideward, then other fingers up and down, last the down-sideward
- Shake the hand

6:40 Finger Widening

7:10
- Group-Finger Bending Sideward (thumb direction)
- Shake the hand
- Group-Finger Bending Sideward (hand down, pinky direction)
- Group-finger Bending Front then down
- Shake the hand

7:53 Fingertip Massage

*repeat to the other hand

8:11 Expand Hands

[dhaloh]

I'm really shocked that I didn't know this before. I've been having trouble with a couple of chords just cause my fingers are too short to reach. This really helped. More people should know about this!!!

[daffamansoor]

this is the only guitar video without a guitar i can find

[larsdahl]

This may be the most important guitar related video I've watched on YouTube so far. Turns out watching gear demos and reviews don't make you a better player. Thanks! 👍

[Tillys_Travels]

That was so helpful. As a total beginner it makes perfect sense. You stretch and warm up before going for a run, your fingers need the same before a guitar workout.

[jimmarandola]

I broke my neck and literally had to relearn how to play guitar after 40 Plus years. My hands have nerve and muscle damage and very poor circulation PLUS I am only 5' 4" my fingers are very short to begin with. The stiffness of my fingers and hands has made it difficult for me to play for more than 45 minutes max, and nothing more than basic chords. but after doing these stretches, my hands seem more flexible and less swollen and stiff. i can't wait to try playing after another session tonight. Thanks so very much.

[SuperSlartibartfast]

Why don't all beginners videos start with this. It makes a huge difference.

[kevinbutler]

I love YouTube, this video was made 12 years ago and its still helping people.

[terrynicholetti]

I'm 76, getting back to guitar after 2 decades and I couldn't do chords I've always done. I had no idea that we should do stretches!!! Thanks so much! I see that this is from 2010 so I don't know if you're stil reading comments but I'm sending you blessings for your generosity. Thanks YOu!!

[turnleftaticeland]

perhaps it's a bit over-the-top but i'm actually in tears right now. i've spent years being so depressed because even the simplest chords were too difficult for me, but after just ten minutes of these stretches i can do it no problem. thank you so much man, i'm so much more optimistic about my future as a musician now