Help: Powertool Accident

Subject: Powertool Accident
From: Vixen
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 09:22 AM

Dear Mudcats--

A good friend of mine, and an excellent musician, (fiddle and guitar) had a run-in with a power tool last week and has lost an as yet undetermined amount of his left ring finger. Any words of advice to get him through the upcoming patch of healing and uncertainty?

V

p.s. For those of you who know him, it's *NOT* Reynaud/Tim!

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: Les from Hull
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 09:35 AM

I'm really sorry for your friend. I hope that everything works out for him. I'm sure that he will be in the thoughts of many of us here.

Musicians often struggle on to overcome these difficulties. I never realised that Willie Taylor (traditional Northumbrian fiddler and writer of many excellent tunes) was missing a left hand finger till I saw him play. I'm sure that others will remember Django Reinhart.

Damien Barber recently suffered a similar sort of accident, and seems to have overcome it entirely. Rest assured that there are many musical instruments which don't need you to use all your fingers.

Best wishes, Les

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: KingBrilliant
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 09:42 AM

I lost the whole of my right ring finger somewhere about 12 years ago (I caught my ring on a nail & jumped down some steps - ouch). I work in software & touch-type, so I was a bit concerned about what would happen to the manual dexterity.
As soon as I returned to work & started typing, the other fingers on my right hand took over appropriate keys without any concious effort on my part (giving rise to my theory of distributed intelligence) - and within a matter of weeks I was typing as fast as ever (it only took that long because the whole hand was stiff having been redesigned by taking out the finger way down toward the wrist & pulling the other fingers across to close the gap a bit).
Similarly - my little finger took over all the ring-finger's picking duties on the guitar. A pianist told me that piano-playing would not be a huge problem (except I don't know how). Woodwind might be a pig, but I'm sure an instrument could be cleverly adapted if necessary.

I have never particularly missed the finger, and quite like having a cartoon hand (3 fingers + thumb).
The left hand is a bit trickier instrumentally, but I fully expect that he'll quickly learn to compensate with the rest of the fingers. Just look at Django Reinhardt.
Someone once asked my husband whether he noticed any difference from my having lost a finger. He replied that it made his **** look bigger.
I had the last laugh when he lost a ball to cancer - as I was able to comment that at least it made my hand look bigger. (he's fine now btw)
Tell your friend to keep smiling and all will be fine.

Kris

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: SharonA
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 09:42 AM

Sorry to hear about your friend's accident, Vixen. Here's hoping that the healing will go quickly and without setbacks.

I once saw an employee of a guitar shop playing guitar with the stumps of several partial fingers (3, as I recall), so depending on how much of your friend's ring finger remains, using it for instrument-fingering may still be an option.

If not, he may have to relearn some fingering so that his pinkie finger can do what his ring finger used to do.

Alternatively, he can learn some other styles of playing, such as the one Richie Havens uses (the "barre with alternate tuning" method). Perhaps he could even learn to play left-handed (with the right hand doing the fingering).

Sharon

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: Wincing Devil
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 09:46 AM

Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg was preparing a salad one evening and sliced of the tip of her left pinky. She had to relean fingering, and DID. < a href="http://www.redludwig.com/gracenotes/archive/062901.html">More Here

I wish your friend a speedy recovery...
WD

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 09:54 AM

I know a one armed potter and he makes some wonderful works of art! Look for the 'Jamie McGee - one armed blues bagpiper thread' that was about recently as well. If nothing else it will give your friend something to smile about.

And wish them a speedy recovery from someone who cannot play well even with a full compliment of digits!

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: Dave Bryant
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 10:59 AM

Being a finger short never worried Django Reinhardt !

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: C-flat
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 11:26 AM

I'm sorry to hear of your friends misfortune. I think "KingBrilliant" says all that needs to be said in his posting with regard to positive thinking. I hope your friend can adopt the same attitude!

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: Amos
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 11:29 AM

"After the operation, doctor, will I be able to play piano?"

"Oh, I'm sure of it."

"That's WONDERFUL! I never could play before!"

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: SharonA
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 11:38 AM

Basically, if the music is in ya, it's gonna find a way to come out. It refuses to be held back. It's a strange phenomenon, but true.

Since your friend is an excellent musician, I have no doubt that he'll find new ways to continue to make music. It'll be challenging, but I don't think he'll be able to keep himself from playing some instrument somehow.

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: Troll
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 11:41 AM

I know a banjo player (tenor) on the Isle of Man named Sean who is missing the ring finger on his left hand. You'd never know it to hear him play, but you can always spot anyone whom he's taught. They never use the ring finger to fret.
I don't know how he lost the finger. Maybe Big John or Bobby Bob could help out on that one.

troll

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 11:58 AM

Vixen,

Give him my email address. I'll be glad to give him my experience with a similar injury.

Don

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: Gypsy
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 06:53 PM

We have a player who is missing left ring finger, and plays recorder, guitar, and stand up bass. We tell him he just wore out that finger on steel strings! Doesn't seem to slow him down any. Am sure your friend will find new ways to finger. Just caution to take slow and easy...want to build up calluse SLOWLY, so no further damage is done by playing

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: Gypsy
Date: 10 Apr 02 - 06:56 PM

We have a player who is missing left ring finger, and plays recorder, guitar, and stand up bass. We tell him he just wore out that finger on steel strings! Doesn't seem to slow him down any. Am sure your friend will find new ways to finger. Just caution to take slow and easy...want to build up calluse SLOWLY, so no further damage is done by playing

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: Bert
Date: 11 Apr 02 - 01:10 AM

Yer right Sharon, I had a friend who had lost several bits of finger from his left hand. He restrung his guitar and played it left handed.

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: Bobert
Date: 11 Apr 02 - 02:51 PM

I used to get upset every time I'd bust up, slice, dice, smash or break a finger or thumb (which I do with some regularity) but have learned that every time I do it it improves my playing because I have to imporvise and relearn ways to do things. I'm real sorry to hear about your friend but he'll do just fine. He really will.

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 11 Apr 02 - 03:38 PM

First off, I hope he has a good Hand surgeon - a Specialist, not just your average sawbones. that makes all the difference in the world.

I work in a small Sheet-Metal shop making lanterns, where one of our Co-workers lost 3 fingers of his left hand in a 45-ton press-brake; he also was, and still is, a Guitarist.
He got a steel guitar, tunes it open, and uses a steel slide over his one remaining finger - and man, I'm here t' tell ye; he can shore lay them Blues riffs down!

Being a Tinkerer by trade and nature, there is a reason why I do not, and hardly ever have, worn a ring, braclet, or any other jewelry, for that matter (other than the occasional small cross necklace). I have been faithful and true to my Designated Lady for over 30 years now, but my wedding ring travels on my key-ring, except when I put it on to go out to celebrate our Anniversary. After that it goes back on with the keys.

Unfortunately, those of us who make our living with our hands run the high risk of getting them dinged, busted, or mutilated. I often think about what I'd do to continue my music if it happened to me, as it well might; having seen some fellow play guitar elegantly with his feet (he has no arms, much less hands)leads us to believe that the Human mind and Spirit are capable of incredible compensation for what the body might be lacking, given sufficient will, desire, hope and courage.

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 11 Apr 02 - 03:43 PM

I can't even bring myself to read this whole thread!

Horror of horrors...

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 11 Apr 02 - 05:25 PM

Being raised in a community where most of my associates worked in aircraft manufacturing occupations and the rest were farmers, I didn't even get much sympathy when I lost part of a middle finger to a metal shear when I was 15. And noone seemed very surprised when I played clarinet in a concert three days later, using shifted fingers "on the fly."

One of the more popular performers in the area when I was in high school was a guy with 2 fingers and a thumb on his left hand, and 3 fingers - no thumb - on the right, who played "hellacious" boogie piano and led his own band.

There are, frankly, so many people in our local music community with bits and pieces missing, that for the most part, noone notices it. While I think I could list at least a half-dozen good local musicians with fingers or parts of them missing, I would have to "take another look" to be sure about most of them.

Fortunately, working conditions have improved, and the younger people have not suffered so many "unscheduled surgeries." The most common industrial loss now is hearing, which may be even more damaging to a musician.

I certainly sympathize with one who is injured, but as to music, it doesn't put you out of the game - you just have to "play with the hand she dealt you."

John

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: GUEST,Tweed
Date: 11 Apr 02 - 10:49 PM

I know a bass player who lost the index and middle finger of his right hand in a sawmill accident. He does fine and says he plays better now than before the accident. Good guitar player as well. Tell him not to worry too much and wait for the thing to heal up and then get back with it.

Subject: RE: Help: Powertool Accident
From: GUEST,Honest Frankie
Date: 12 Apr 02 - 11:23 AM

Havinfg contemplated the same sort of thing happening to myself I think one word becomes very important "Dobro". Good luck -time is the greatest healer.