Hi Guys,
Just wondering if anybody has any good tips for warming up your wrists and hands before playing and staying relaxed.
Any response will be greatly appreciated!
Heya Liam,
There are some good warm-up exercises in Shamisen of Japan. It is fairly simple to come up with your own wrist and hand stretches just by being aware of the joints range of motion and learning to feel the stretch.
Here are some I found on youtube that should give you a good basis:
(yoga-based)
(aikido-based)
Remember to try and feel what’s going on and take it slow 'n easy!
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt,
You’re a star!
Thanks for the links and advice thats a big help!
Regards,
L
I stretch prior to playing, and usually follow an Aikido routine close to what you posted. The more you play and the more familiar you get, the less you’ll have to worry about it (unless you’re playing for more than 30 minutes or so). Its always pretty awkward at first.
Nothing wrong with a good ol’ fashioned knuckle crack! 
i have been practicing loads lately, realized that i need to be more relaxed though, because after an hour or two playing i get quite sore wrist…am doing exercises to relax the wrist, but i guess i need to get more experienced to fully relax and play without tension…
Whoa. I think two hours of playing would wear out your wrist, no matter how relaxed it is. 
hmm ok, but, once i get into it, i am just into it and want to practice more and more, the sore wrist would usually stop me…i even started to use a guitar pick, then i can focus on the left hand technique and finger work, well and memorizing…
lol 
dude that’s commitment
i am kinda used to practicing and playing all the time, so its not so much…
Your final goal is to have your hand completely relaxed for the bachi. This is true for the left as well.
I guess this applies to any string instrument, maybe even any instrument all together. When you feel like you are running into a wall and you feel your hand is trying too much - just wiggle those hands a bit and just play randomly over the whole instrument. For me this makes all irritation disappear and therefore also the stiff hands.