I recently started a warm-up routine consisting of stretching and basic rudiment exercises which seems to work for me. By the time I actually start to play I feel comfortable and relaxed and I'm able to practice/play fore efficiantly because of it.

Some of the stretches I learned from a local guitar instructor, a few from my sister (an avid "go-to-the-gym-&-workout" person), and one from a physical therapist.

I set a metronome at 60 bpm to help me count the time better.

1.) Keeping both arms straight, raise arms
     over your head.
     Fold your hands and press up
     (as if to crack your knuckles).
     Gently flex your arms.
     Keep your back straight.
     Hold for 10 seconds.
     (works shoulders and triceps)

2.) Keeping both arms straight,
     raise arms slowly behind you until
     nearly parallel w/ floor.
     Hold for 10 seconds.
     (works shoulder blade/upper back/triceps)

3.) Place LEFT arm across front body,
     (forearm level with RIGHT shoulder).
     RIGHT hand grabs under LEFT tricep,
     close to armpit.
     Gently flex LEFT arm.
     Hold for 10 seconds.
     Repeat on opposite side.
     (works upper back)

4.) Toe Touches:
     Stand tall.
     Bend @ waist and try to touch toes.
     KEEP BACK & LEGS STRAIGHT.
     Hold for 10 - 20 seconds.
     Repeat – try to get closer to toes.

5.) Standing tall, keep both legs and back straight.
     Bending LEFT knee, lift LEFT foot as if trying to
     touch heel to back of your leg.
     Grab foot with LEFT hand (hand over shoelace-  
     area) and gently, but firmly, pull foot forward, as if
     trying to pull past your knee.
     Feel pull in leg and ankle.
     Hold for 10 – 20 seconds.
     Repeat with RIGHT leg.

6.) Heel Raises:
     Hold onto a stable object w/ hands for stability
     (NOT support) and raise heels approx. 3 – 3.5
     inches off the floor.
     Hold for 3 - 5 seconds.
     Slowly return toward floor (DO NOT TOUCH  
     FLOOR W/ HEEL!!) and repeat.
     Repeat 20 times.
     (works calves)

7.) Stretch hands/fingers:
* Bend LEFT wrist down – hold 10 seconds.
   Repeat for RIGHT.
* Bend LEFT wrist back (almost 90 degrees to arm) –   hold 10 seconds. Repeat for RIGHT.
* Bend LEFT fingers back – hold 10 seconds.
   Repeat for RIGHT.
* Bend LEFT fingers down (against hand) – hold 10
   seconds. Repeat for RIGHT.
* Bend LEFT thumb back – hold 10 seconds.
   Repeat for RIGHT.


After stretching, I'll do a basic rudiment warm up - I'll play each of the following for two minutes:
Single Stroke Roll
Double Stroke Roll
Single Paradiddle (occasionally Double Paradiddle)
Flam
Drag

I'll go through the rudiments at different dynamic levels and at different tempos, starting slow and gradually increasing my speed. I'll also sometimes run through them with my feet after playing them on my practice pad. (I generally warm up on pad using a pair of Vic Firth MS1 Corps Master sticks).

From here I'll go into my practice routine, whether it be going through exercises in a book to working on things for band rehearsal or whatever.

I hope this helps you a bit. Good luck!

Are you playing originals or covers?

I personally think that  "warming up" is a very accurate term.

In other words, the higher your body temperature, within sane/safe limits, the faster you get, just like a lizard or a snake.  In spite of the fact that we're mammals, your body can still be affected by temperature.  Try playing an outdoor gig when it's too cold, and you'll see what I mean big time and major.

So, anything that will warm your body up.  I think you could work out on a practice pad, or you could jog or exercise for a bit-anything that gets the limbs moving and makes you break a sweat.

There's a point where fatigue is going to kick in,  so you'll have to figure out how much warm up is right, without pushing to the point where you're too tired to play your best.

As for me, I'm lazy about it, and usually I warm up the way you do.  I do try to make sure I'm a little too hot to be comfortable, though.  I really do seem to play a bit better if I'm very warm.

You got that right! My old band played this outdoor festival one time called the Winter Snowball or something like that, and it was outside in 25 degree weather! I did what I usually do for my warm ups and stretching, but I still ended up having an electric heater and a cup of hot cocoa! brrr... I don't think I'll ever do that again, lol

In response to Adam's question as to how long my little warm-up routine takes, the stretching only takes 10 - 15 minutes and the five rudiments I mentioned, played at 2 minutes each add up to an additional 10 minutes.

I never used to work out or stretch before playing and it would take me three or four songs to feel comfortable and relaxed. This past December I ended up with an injury to my left forearm. After seeing a slew of doctors it was diagnosed as Pronator's Syndrome which affects the nerve beneath the forearm muscle. I was out of work on medical leave for a little over two months.

While talking to a guitar instructor I knew, he asked if I stretched before I played. I said no, I just sit and do my rudiments as a warm-up. He suggested a few stretches.

A month into my medical leave - which was unpaid - my family (wife and two-year old daughter) was beginning to suffer financially. I started scoping out ads at music stores for cover bands looking for a drummer. I knew I was a decent enough player to quickly jump into a working cover band, get comfortable with their material and start working...

To make a long story short, I found an ad, called, went for my audition and was offered the gig after the second song. I started doing these stretches while in preparation for the audition.

Now, five months later I'm still in the band and still doing these stretches as part of my warm-up. It helps rehearsal go better and really helps when I'm at home practicing on my own.

PS - Sorry about being so long-winded again!

one i found thats good for wrists:

hold your arms flat and grab your wrist with the other hand, and then bend your wrist down, it looks retarded, but it works, just dont do it too hard.

one for your fingers:

put your hands in a praying position, hands spread out, but palms touching, then pull your elbows out to the side, and keep your fingers together, you should feel a pull in your wrists, and first joints of your fingers, it helps a lot, just do it slow.