Crash help

[JaDaRu]

Hey everyone...

I'm a new player (since December) and have been learning Crash into Me. I've got everything down, but I just can't play through the whole damn song without my hand aching. Right now, i make it through the the first couple verses, chorus, and in a boy's dream part before I have to stop. I have pretty small hands, so that might be part of it, but does anyone have any tips? Will intense repetition stretch my muscle enough or something?

Jason

[MattyTrane]

Practice will help, but there is also a tab on here for what dave plays when his hand gets tired try that.

[isaac]

heh. yeah. small hands suck. i didn't realize that dave switches to a less uh...stretchy part, so i've been playing the song all the way through for a couple years now. it hurt like hell, needless to say, but i'm telling myself it was for the better.

[JaDaRu]

the problem with the alternate chords is that they don't sound nearly as good.....I'm just gonna have to build up a very high threshhold for thumb muscle pain

Jason

[Roastbeef]

Yup - I play it with letting the B string ring out. I actually think it sounds better, IMO.

[JaDaRu]

Thanks Roastbeef....that sounds just as good and will definately relieve some pressure when my hands starts hurting

[MattyTrane]

I never learned it with the easier chords either, but its an option.

[Roastbeef]

Thanks Roastbeef....that sounds just as good and will definately relieve some pressure when my hands starts hurting

Sure. If you let the high E ring out too you get that 5th fret/B string E note back. The open B makes the chord sound fuller, but I suppose you could mute it.

You may also want to change you finger positioning for added comfort This is the formation I start with:

Code: Select all

E:---0---
B:--(0)--
G:---4--- <-- Pinky
D:---2--- <-- Index
A:---4--- <-- Ring
E:-------

And I alternate the bass notes with Index and Ring fingers. This frees up the Middle finger to throw in some 2p0 pull-offs on the high E string during the Boy's Dream part to mimic the Tim fills.

Hope this helps!

[MattyTrane]

Mimicing tim fills is always a very welcomed addition

[Roastbeef]

Mimicing tim fills is always a very welcomed addition

Yup yup. Try it. It works pretty well...

[JaDaRu]

Roastbeef: I'm not getting what you wrote about the 2p0 pulloffs during the boy's dream part. I don't think that if I keep that position (the one you wrote out) with my middle finger reaching the second fret of the high e.

[Roastbeef]

Roastbeef: I'm not getting what you wrote about the 2p0 pulloffs during the boy's dream part. I don't think that if I keep that position (the one you wrote out) with my middle finger reaching the second fret of the high e.

Hmm. Well, I don't have my guitar in front of me so I'm trying to visualize this, but I think I do use the middle finger to hit the second fret on the high E. I'm blessed with long-ass monkey fingers so maybe it's easier for me...

[fatjack]

i think we need to sticky one of these crash threads because there seems to be a new post on it every week...

[Appfro]

and we all know from the dave's greatest songs thread that its your favorite song fatjack

What i did when my hand got tired was just lay it down and mute the high e string. that way you still get the e from the b string, you just don't get the e drone sound. so that's what i did, and it helped to build up strength while saving my muscle a little.

[JaDaRu]

Fatjack: That's a sick #41 cover. Great vocals and everything.