7 Ways I IMPROVED My Guitar Playing While STUCK In School!

-7 Ways I IMPROVED My Guitar Playing While STUCK In School!
Thanks!!!

[erickmazur]

Had 2 grip-masters. Red and yellow. Worked pretty good to start building the right muscles. I used to use a spiral bound notebook and practice skipping strings, now its one of my playing strengths. Great stories Mike.

[jfo]

I have a grip master in my car always! Used in today and yesterday. It keeps callouses tough, and generally deadens the pain from the fingertip bones trying to pierce the tips of the fingers.
I also have a Wedge forearm exerciser in the car since '82 (same one) to work picking speed, strength, endurance. That thing is great!

[tlsanetrik]

I was blessed with an AMAZING band instructor. During lunch and recess in my middle school years, I’d just pop in and play guitar! He’s definitely the reason I’ve progressed so far.

[Synthedelic]

7:30 Funnily enough if you play that fortnite festival (the rock band game mode) you can set your controls to a ZXCV or ZXCVB for expert. or whatever line of keys you want. but that really really boggles your mind with finger independence.

[spinaldart]

I also have written down riffs i heard in my head. I was working at a warehouse job, and my station had these blank labels that would take and write down tabs on. It's amazing how well that helped with ear training.

[XXIII_]

For the record the war that Mike's School walked out in protest because of, was World War II since Mike's 77 and all. 😂

[TheJprose]

I thought I was some kind of weird throwback until I watched this video. I re-write tabs with paper and pencil because it seems to stick better when I physically write things down. My grip-master is out all the time so I can grab it whenever. Do all the finger yoga as per your lessons. I'm sad every day that I only started playing after retirement, but better late than never. Your videos motivate me and are very entertaining (using your grip-master in your pocket??!! LOL). Your musical skills are amazing, as is your story-telling! LOVE MY SANCTUS SHIRT!

[delineater]

I've had a Gripmaster for ~35 years!! Still use it. I lived in a rural area beyond the suburbs, and used my Gripmaster to warm up for practice/gigs. It works!
Mine doesn't have the rubber grip that yours does. Might be 1st or 2nd gen. Anyway, still use it.

[DirkRadloff]

Lately I played bass a lot and I think it has similar effect as the Gripmaster strengthening the left hand.

[eddieisgreat]

Had a few walkmans back inn the day, i got one for Christmas, like in 83 or so and my good bud, ended up getting the same one, but we didnt know until we both said hey we got the same ones lol

[TheAndostro]

2:10 this picks are still pretty great

[aaronporras]

I had always felt like school was a waste of my precious practice time, and i recently got a saturday school suspention. Yknow you're parents aren't going to let you crank your amp of play drums when you get home from saturday school, you have to find ways to be creative. And i think those are the most valuable learning experiences, and something positive to look back on. I recommend doing all these things, but what helped me the most wad writing in cursive full pages about anything guitar related, and hearing a full song in my head and play drums to it on my desk and chair.

[jonathant]

I feel you bro...thanks for your amazing bro

[jeffblackwell]

I love your videos because you explain in such detail how you felt what you thought, it really feels like you are sharing the experience. THANKS!!

[zaturnneo]

I had a red gripmaster (bought it from Black Belt Magazine) and attended many Saturday school sessions. I can relate good sir.

[Nickshreds]

You mentioning using Finger Yoga and being careful not to use too much pressure on the guitar is really important! I do your finger yoga exercises almost every day . Thank you so much for sharing them on your YouTube channel mike :)

If you push down too hard you can cause injury. I try to use as little grip as possible to fret notes/ chords. And Ive discovered that you can usally push down with much less force than what seems necessary. It does take some practice though. However I think it's very much worthwhile. I'm also fond of 09 guage strings and using low action as it helps me to play progressive metal as well as rock and some classical and jazz music with as little pressure as possible.
Of course there are tunings that work better with thicker strings and some people much prefer a higher string guage. So it's all up to preference.

[jimsguitarplaying]

Hi Mike -we are nearly the same age, and yours has become my favorite channel. It amazes me how for some of those who hated school, decades later have great things going on; where-as some portion of us who got straight A's then compelled into engineering, tech, whatever, but still passion for guitar, lives kinda suck... Anyway, can't wait to watch all your videos! - though I spent teens more into pop/rock then metal and didn't start guitar until the end of 80's, loved trying Def Leppard, White Lion, Boston, etc. (plus used the Grip Master :) but then was so disappointed by 90's music that other stuff took priority -after a few years kind of just did acoustic for a couple decades. Excited to now be jamming on electric again!

[Dave-nmxc]

Your stories brought back some memories of the early 90s. Those were good times.

[FacePomagranate]

I remember going through my jazz band charts during other classes, trying to figure out some fingering positions for the complex jazz chords. Also used to type out lyrics for songs on a TI-83 calculator when I was bored.

[cc_]

Wow that’s a blast from the past ! I had a gripmaster lol remember going on holiday and bring it with me for the flight