Warming up before playing guitar is a topic frequently raised by guitarists. Marty Friedman, in his Guitar World column, previously addressed this in November 1994 in “Guitar School,” highlighting its importance and the need for revisiting. Just as athletes warm up before strenuous exercise to prevent injury, guitarists should warm up before any playing session, whether it’s for recording, gigs, or rehearsals. Playing the guitar involves numerous bones, tendons, and muscles in the fingers, making a proper warm-up essential before engaging in intense playing.
Marty Friedman Guitar Warm-Up Advice
Injury Prevention: A Key Benefit of Guitar Warm-Ups
Beyond improving technique, warming up is crucial for injury prevention. Many guitarists have had their careers cut short due to tendonitis and Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Marty Friedman himself experienced a severe hand injury early in his career with Megadeth due to neglecting warm-ups. The injury was so serious that the first doctor he consulted suggested he quit playing guitar permanently to regain arm function.
Fortunately, after seeking a second opinion and undergoing a year of intense physical therapy, Friedman recovered. He acknowledges his near miss and the importance of warming up to avoid such debilitating conditions. This experience underscores why incorporating warm-ups into your guitar routine is not just good practice, but a necessity for long-term guitar playing health.
Fair Warning: Even Experts Can Neglect Warm-Ups
Despite his injury scare and understanding the risks, Marty Friedman admits to sometimes skipping warm-ups. He acknowledges the common temptation to immediately start playing. However, every medical professional Friedman consulted emphasized the critical need to at least stretch fingers before any serious playing. Ignoring this advice risks hand injuries that could end a guitarist’s playing career.
To counter this, Friedman typically starts his practice sessions with slow, two-handed exercises that engage all fingers of the left hand. He finds that this “slowhand” warm-up effectively prepares his hands for more demanding playing. This approach is a practical and efficient way to begin any guitar session, ensuring your hands are ready for action.
Marty Friedman Demonstrates Guitar Warm-Up Exercise
Draw The Line: Keeping Warm-Ups Separate from Musical Pieces
Marty Friedman’s warm-up exercises are intentionally devoid of musical complexity. He believes that warm-ups should not be confused with musical practice. Some guitarists attempt to make warm-ups sound like actual music, which can lead to incorporating exercise patterns into their songs. Friedman argues for musically meaningless warm-ups to prevent technical exercises from compromising artistic expression.
When warming up, Friedman focuses solely on finger movement and technique, disregarding musicality. He instinctively plays patterns that use all fingers, focusing on slow, clean execution. This separation ensures that warm-up routines do not infiltrate or influence his songwriting or musical creativity.
Slow Ride: Simple and Effective Warm-Up Exercises
A straightforward warm-up exercise recommended by Friedman is the chromatic scale, as shown in FIGURE 1 in the original article (not provided here, as only text is given). This exercise uses all left-hand fingers with minimal thought, perfect for getting started. Another effective method is using a simple pattern across three strings and moving it around the neck.
FIGURE 2 (chromatic example) and FIGURE 3 (stretching example) from the original article illustrate this concept. Friedman reiterates that the key to these warm-up exercises is slow and deliberate execution. The goal is solely to warm up the hands and fingers, not to improve musical skill directly. These exercises are about physical preparation, not musical advancement.
Go Your Own Way: Personalizing Your Warm-Up Routine
Marty Friedman’s warm-up ideas are intended to be illustrative rather than prescriptive. He encourages guitarists to develop their own exercises tailored to their specific needs and preferences. The provided examples are merely starting points, not definitive routines. Experiment and create exercises that feel right for your hands.
Treating your hands with care and respect is essential for a long and fulfilling guitar playing journey. By prioritizing warm-ups and hand health, guitarists can maximize their playing potential and longevity. Remember, consistent, thoughtful warm-ups are an investment in your future as a guitarist, allowing you to play like Marty Friedman and countless others, injury-free and at your best.
