• If you haven't done so already, please add a location to your profile. This helps when people are trying to assist you, suggest resources, etc. Thanks (Click the "X" to the top right of this message to disable it)

Left hand "sweat" band

Status
Not open for further replies.
Hi,

I thought I'd never have a problem like sweaty hands. As summer temperatures are soaring to unprecedented heights with global warming, I had to revise my point of view. I've bought some very thin medical cotton gloves. I just cut off the end of its fingers for the left hand. It's a great remedy against sweating, slipping, sticking and the like. It may be surprising, but I can make use of the right hand glove, too. As I'm a guitarist and I need long fingernails on my right hand, playing the accordion (and the piano) is quite uncomfortable with a bare right hand. The cotton glove helps, but I tend to wear off the fingertips very quickly. I'm planning to reinforce the fingertips, or add a bit of padding for less wear and a more positive touch on the buttons.

Attila
 
Ksenija Sidorova (Latvian classical player http://www.ksenijasidorova.com/ ) told a story of forgetting her wrist-guard and panicking until she took off a sock to use. Her London Conservatory instructor had sympathy and offered her one of his own socks.

Im not sure if she uses anything more specialized than a cut-off sock now. Seems like itd work ok.
 
I would think that a sock... unless it was a pair of silk socks, would be too thick and not slippery enough,compared to other possible options out there. :)
 
This subject was taken up here a few years back. If anyone cares to search for it , you will find it was taken up in length.
 
JerryPH post_id=48581 time=1499895799 user_id=1475 said:
I would think that a sock... unless it was a pair of silk socks, would be too thick and not slippery enough,compared to other possible options out there. :)
Not necessarily ! I was going to post a photo of my cut down old Puma sports sock that I use but was afraid it might be laughed at. So here it is - it is perfect for me and I no longer have any problems with my left hand. You can see that it is pulled down to the base of my thumb :

 

Attachments

  • sock 18.15.36.jpg
    sock 18.15.36.jpg
    91.7 KB · Views: 916
No one will laugh, it is a good idea and I am not saying that its not a possible option and may work well for you, but after playing with that sock on for 2 hours, you can take it off and enjoy the ribs that were pressed in to your wrist.

Also, I cannot see how it would possibly hold in place very long and need adjusting once every song. Ask me how I know that... and yes, you have to admit, a sock is not something you are going to put on while playing at a family event or in public. ;)

This was made from a martial arts rash guard, it is VERY stretchy, thin, strong and slippery and the material wicks away perspiration from the skin, reducing sweating under the glove. And at least for me, the shape and size permit me to use it with two very different instruments:

- The Free Bass on my Hohner is waaaaay up high and I need to push the forearm way deep to be able to reach them. That means I need a slippery surface practically all the way to my elbow.

- Playing Free Bass on the Roland, it is completely the opposite and I need a slippery surface down to my palm area

Because of these points, I need a large area of protection (knuckles to elbow), and this is likely not something many here will ever need, but the cost between complete protection and partial in my case was nothing, so I made it long.

Playing for hours leaves no marks on my arm (meaning no discomfort), it never slips and as a matter of fact, the first time you use it, you notice two things... first how comfortable it is and second your first time you make big changes in chords, you will probably over-shoot as the resistance needed to get from one end of the bass to the other is greatly reduced. This means that with practice, it makes transitions faster and easier.

My cost for both was about the same too. :)
 
Actually, I don't find it slips but then I'm only playing for around 1 1/2 to 2 hours at the most. What I'm not sure of is just how long it will last ! It's very old and very soft and leaves no rib marks ! However .... your silver stocking looks a better idea in the long term as it will certainly outlast my old sock :lol:
I'll look back at your earlier post and see what I can come up with - the sock was, as with Ksenija Sidorova, a bit of an instant solution. Perhaps she used smoother socks ..... now there's an idea ... though I don't have any silk ones !
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top