Cramp!

[Sarah5string]

I'm learning tapping atm in my lesson and finding that I'm prone to cramp while I'm building my stength up. I'm doing a good 20 min warm up but it's just building up the strength required for tap at the mo so keep getting it.
Does anyone have any advice or tips? Is it best to play through it or rest?

[Mykesbass]

Magnesium supplement from Holland & Barret - seemed to work for me on non bass related cramp.

[velvetkevorkian]

Which hand? Regardless, I wouldn't try and play through it- take a break and stretch it out.

[risingson]

Potassium from bananas and suppliments and sodium choride (salt) as well as good warming up. I was prone to it when I first started gigging!

[Lozz196]

[quote name='risingson' post='909700' date='Jul 29 2010, 10:00 PM']Potassium from bananas and suppliments and sodium choride (salt) as well as good warming up. I was prone to it when I first started gigging![/quote]
Cranberries/cranberry juice - also supposed to help circulation, so should help.

[xilddx]

If you get any pain in your hands or wrists, stop immediately and rest. Otherwise you risk making something acute into something chronic.

[Marvin]

[quote name='silddx' post='909717' date='Jul 29 2010, 10:10 PM']If you get any pain in your hands or wrists, stop immediately and rest. Otherwise you risk making something acute into something chronic.[/quote]
Absolutely agree with silddx.
At my first lesson last week my tutor pointed out that I don't always use the best or most appropriate part of my finger to fret a note (I think he was being diplomatic and was basically say 'you're doing it all wrong ars3hole'). In changing my hand shape, only slightly to get a better fretting finger, I encountered a pain shooting up from my wrist to my thumb, I stopped playing for 3 days. I've since adapted my hand shape slightly again and the pain hasn't returned.

As with anything, playing an instrument or playing sport, if you encounter pain it's for a reason, it's your body telling you to stop. Stretching, exercises, supplements and changes to technique can or may help but can take time. In the mean time if it hurts step away from your instrument.

Lecture over

[thisnameistaken]

Whenever I get cramp it's from dehydration, because I drink too much. If by any chance you drink as much as I do then that definitely could be the cause of your problem.