The secret to a relaxed right arm...

[davestem]

I spent Sunday afternoon shooting skeet with friends, and took a few turns throwing the clay pigeons (with the atlatl-looking 2-foot stick), and on Monday evening I found an interesting improvement in my playing.

I played some exercises and tunes at higher-than-normal tempos, and my right arm stayed thoroughly relaxed! I attribute this to the fact that my right shoulder was quite sore from the unaccustomed pigeon-throwing motion, and being pummeled by various shotgun stocks. I had to relax, or it would hurt!

[WaywardFiddler]

Ha ha!! I had pretty much the same experience in the early days with violin -- learning to use the "relaxed weight of the bow arm" for bow pressure. Only for me, it was a combination of landscaping work and using a recirpo saw to do some demo. Very sore shoulder resulted -- when the weight of a fiddle bow is too much to lift without pain, you learn to use the "relaxed weight of the bow arm".

-dave

[joshro78]

Davestem,
I think it's funny you know what an atlatl is! Not many people do. I throw in atlatl competitions every once in a while.
Josh

[Mark Normand]

Hey I shoot longbows and make my cedar arrows...does that count? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
Started practicing again for this fall, maybe my increased shoulder strength will break strings...haha
No move to atlatl yet tho, you go Josh!

[davestem]

Wow, I didn't know people still use them! Seems like it would be very difficult to master.

[Bruce Evans]

I've never seen so many people work so hard to relax. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[Chip Booth]

My secret is somewhat different... A few weeks ago I had a marathon gig at a gallery opening and the night before I made the mistake of staying out all night and getting seriously trashed. Even by the next evening I was so tired I could hardly stand and still very close to losing my lunch. As a result my muscles literally didn't have the strength to tense up and I played as smooth and fast as I have ever been able to do http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif don't try this at home kids...

[mandodebbie]

I bake homemade bread. As I punch and knead the dough, I am using muscles that ordinarly don't get a work out. All I need to do next is milk a cow for the cream and make butter. (Man,that's hard work, too!) Except all my cows are ceramic. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[GTison]

skeet shooting & throwing may be a good way to make your are work, but it won't be worth a hoot when you can't hear it because of shooting. I used to love to shoot skeet and trap and (quail hunt). But I gave it up. I'd still hunt but shooting 100 rounds is bad on my ears. I used to wear plugs AND muffs. All the old shooting hands acted like I was being extreem. But ya know I didn't see any of them with a mandolin case either. THEY COULD NOT HEAR IT. I do love both, however. BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR EARS YOU CAN'T BUY NEW ONES. Yet anyway.

[Russ(String-Alley)]

yeah, I like all shooting sports, but you must protect your ears. I dont care what anyone says. They have in-ear devices that let you hear but shuts out blasts. Not sure if shooting actually helps my playing, but I do enjoy it.

cheers all
-Russ

[duuuude]

My secret is somewhat different... A few weeks ago I had a marathon gig at a gallery opening and the night before I made the mistake of staying out all night and getting seriously trashed.
Now there's a technique I gotta try someday. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cool.gif

[sunburst]

I used to wear plugs AND muffs. All the old shooting hands acted like I was being extreem. But ya know I didn't see any of them with a mandolin case either. THEY COULD NOT HEAR IT. I do love both, however. BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR EARS YOU CAN'T BUY NEW ONES. Yet anyway.
As a builder and former cabinet maker, I've run a lot of loud power tools. I always use hearing protection. I don't run the lawnmower or even the vacuum cleaner without my hearing protection. For the really loud things I too wear muffs over plugs.

One evening, standing on a friends front porch with several other friends, all wood workers also, the phone inside started to ring. Nobody moved to answer it, so I said "Tim, do you wanna get the phone?" That's when I found out I was the only one who heard it! Let 'em laugh at my extreem hearing protection. At least I'll hear 'em laugh.