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Subject: Ouch! I Cut My Finger Nail Off From: Easy Rider Date: 13 Nov 99 - 04:35 PM I sliced off half the fingernail on my Left Index Finger, last night, preparing a risotto dish. The good news is that, after five hours in the emergency room, the Doc says it will probably grow back. It may look ugly for a long time, but it will be O.K. The bad news is that I can't practice guitar for awhile or type very well. Michael K suggested tuning to open D (DADGAD I think) and practicing right hand picking techniques or using a bottleneck. I never tried bottleneck, so I need suggestions for exercises to work on till my nail grows back. Anybody got any suggestions or sources of tutorial material? How do I hold a slide? What kind should I use? Michael said that Rick Fielding might be a good person to ask. Are you out there, Rick? Thanx for the help, EZR |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: MandolinPaul Date: 13 Nov 99 - 04:47 PM Here's a link to a previous thread about slide guitar. Enjoy! Click here. |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Michael K. Date: 13 Nov 99 - 04:54 PM EZR, (DADGAD) is a different and separate tuning from Open D. For Open D, you want:
6th string = D Hope this helps. |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: wildlone Date: 13 Nov 99 - 04:56 PM Painfull ive only got back into playing guiar after breaking my left arm[and my motorcycle]. |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Bugsy Date: 13 Nov 99 - 06:15 PM Go with Michael K's tuning for open D. You will find that by the time your finger heals, you will be playing maybe 30% of your repertoire in this tuning.It's great fun! ps. I did the same with my right index finger several years ago, and I still lose sensation if it gets really cold. Luckily I live in Australia, so it doesn't happen more than about once every 2/3 years!
cheers Bugsy |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Easy Rider Date: 13 Nov 99 - 06:34 PM BTW: The risotto came out tasting really good.
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Freddie Fox Date: 13 Nov 99 - 07:12 PM A few years ago, my husband was working for a wholesalers in domestic appliance spares. In the course of adjusting shelves, he managed to slice the top right off the middle finger of his left hand... he took himself and the bit down to casualty; they sewed it back on, and bandaged it thoroughly. Says Chris, 'That's no good, I've got a gig tonight'... He took the bandage off and played, but he never managed to remove the bloodstains from the fretboard of that guitar. |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Arnie Naiman Date: 14 Nov 99 - 11:17 AM Now's a good time to try hammerred dulcimer! Jeepers Arnie - have some sympathy! |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Bill Cameron Date: 14 Nov 99 - 11:53 AM Exactly one year ago I sliced the right side of my left-hand index finger off back to the first joint while doing something stupid with a (fortunately brand new clean blade) utility knife. I'd say now is a good time to practice using your pinky to finger--you still have 3 good ones. Jerry Garcia had a partial finger missing--I'm not sure which hand--but he recommended this as a practice exercise, whether voluntary or involuntary. DADFAD--I like that! As I mentioned in that discussion, I also like using a partial G tuning--drop A string to G, optionally drop low E to lowwwwwwwwwwwww C, other strings standard. (In fact, I've been playing like that all morning.) My finger is healed now, and distinctively tapered--I can play weirder jazz chords and more mandolin chords than ever before! Good luck on your recovery. Bill
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: DonMeixner Date: 14 Nov 99 - 08:48 PM Hi Easy, I had a similar experience once. Good luck. I'm sure if I can come back as far as I have, so can you. Don |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Graham Pirt Date: 15 Nov 99 - 07:42 PM One of the finest Northumbrian fiddle players of all time is Willy Taylor, shepherd who lost his left index finger in a turnip masher in his early life. He went on to play (and compose) tunes that many others could not manage and they had all their fingers! |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Metchosin Date: 15 Nov 99 - 09:05 PM I sent a picture to Kat the other day of my 81 year old father-in-law, taken a few weeks ago, playing the Missouri Waltz on his fiddle. The amazing part is not his age, but the fact that he had Guillan-Barre Syndrome, twenty years ago and, after once being totally paralyzed and suffering some fine motor control damage in his fingers, still manages to crank out a few tunes. And the other wonderful thing is that there is this stubborn streak in musicians, that despite the disability they still are determined to find a way to make music. |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Brendy Date: 15 Nov 99 - 10:09 PM Get well soon EZ. I've mashed various bits up in my time, and If you look upon the temporary disability as an opportunity to develop other techniques it leads you upwards and onwards. When I first broke the finger bones on my right hand, I started playing acoustic bass with my fingers; the reason being was that before I used to use a plectrum. When my hand was broken, I couldn't grip the plectrum, but I had a little control over the tips of my fingers. I found it good physiotherapy, good practise, and a kick up the arse for the doctor who said I would never play guitar again. Don't worry, be happy. Bren. |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: WyoWoman Date: 15 Nov 99 - 10:16 PM The worst part of experiences like this is wishing you had a time machine that could take you back three seconds or so before the dumb thing that you did to cause them and de-dumb yourself. The times I've been injured like that I"ve just gone over and over and over the thing in my mind, seeing exactly where I went wrong. I guess that's sort of the definition of regret, isn't it? If it's any consolation, my son just sliced his finger off to the first knuckle about three months ago. They reattached it and he's actually back at work, although he has lost some feeling and it does get cold more often. But at least he can keep his job (where, no doubt, he'll be exposed to even more injuries. A mixed blessing...) Hope you're healed up soon. Best, WyoWoman |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: DonMeixner Date: 16 Nov 99 - 08:08 AM Wyo, I have had a finger reattached and I too have lost sensation in the finger, actually four fingers. The secret to a successful recovery for me was good, consistant, and creative Physical Therapy. Consistatncy may be the most vital of the three. Because this injury happend at a knuckle( You didn't say at a joint, which is it?) there may be some trouble with the movement of the finger. If it was severed through the joint I would wonder at its future mobility. Mine finger were cut through the joint at the middle of the middle finger. The others were cut at either side of this median joint. The micro surgeries were very successful but it was the PT that save my ability to play at all. My guess is that I have 40% mobility in my left hand and all of that is due to solid PT. ( I used an Autoharp) Reassure the young man, there is life after this kind of injury. Even musical life. Regards Don |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Easy Rider Date: 17 Nov 99 - 01:32 PM I tuned my guitar down to open D (D A D F# A D) last night and tried playing "Payday", by Mississippi John Hurt. This is an easy song, with NO chords, alternating bass all on open strings and a single note melody line, playable mostly on the first and second strings, with only my second and third fingers needed. It was easy and sounded very good. The open tuning has a certain ring to it. What I need now is more simple songs like that to play. I need a repertoire. |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Bugsy Date: 17 Nov 99 - 07:52 PM Good fun - ain't it!!! Cheers Bugsy |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Bugsy Date: 17 Nov 99 - 07:54 PM Barbara Allan is a great song to play in open D. Also Pallet on your floor, Dawn 'til Late, Love in Vain, the list goes on. Cheers Bugsy |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: WyoWoman Date: 18 Nov 99 - 12:27 AM OK, I know this is really dumb, but is the sixth string the skinny one at the bottom or the fat one at the top? WW |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Brendy Date: 18 Nov 99 - 12:34 AM Fat one at the top. |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Date: 18 Nov 99 - 12:49 AM Now slightly ex carpeneter! I know after the event it is too late but one piece of advice that saved me a bunch of pain is, cut away from your body and never hold the thing you are whittling or chopping up eg a carrot! I use a vice if its wood and table fork if a veggy :0) Since I managed to mess up my elbow realy bad I cannot use a hammer or wood plane or bunch of other stuff no more - that hurts! But that was not my fault my exemployer let me try to do the work of three people and I wore out my elbow! Ditto to Graham's comment bout the fiddler :0) my buddie now 76 can make a hoedown tune hop with nearly no notes at all, I know it is his bowing and timing but it cannot be copied - I try real hard and cannot reproduce the sound - Also I have seen younger fiddlers play a thousand notes in the same tunes but they sound like crap! Is it magic or something?
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Date: 18 Nov 99 - 01:34 AM A few BTWs: Jerry Garcia was missing his right middle finger at the 1st joint which mainly affected the way he held his pick. I read somewhere that he was really adept at shifting between strumming and finger-picking mid-song since he could slip the pick away between his index finger and the stump. The guy who plays (played) guitar for Black Sabbath lost the tips of 3 fingers on his left hand. He played through his whole career with prosthetic finger tips (!) |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Easy Rider Date: 18 Nov 99 - 11:21 AM Bugsy: Do you have TAB, in open D, for the songs you mentioned? Barbara Allan, Pallet on your floor, Dawn 'til Late, Love in Vain,... |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: bob schwarer Date: 18 Nov 99 - 03:48 PM Almost cut my toes off with a chain saw one time. Cutting a tree on the ground & got tired & let the saw drop. Not too much blood, but ruined a goog pair of shoes. What's this got to do with playing a guitar? I don't know. Also got a finger caught in a hedge trimmer(electric). That was a real mess. While the doc was sewing it up, the nurse kept running her fingers up & down my leg so the day was not a total bust. Still I won't do it again. The lesson is when you get tired, stop and rest awhile. Bob S.
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Jon Freeman Date: 18 Nov 99 - 05:28 PM Damien Barber is a superb singer English Concertina and melodeon (C#/D last time I met him) player who lost a finger in an arguement with a car's fan belt earlier this year. I have since read a post in uk.music.folk that said that not only is he back playing brilliantly minus one finger, he has taken to the guitar and is doing exceptionally well on that as well! Not sure which finger he lost though - I'm pretty sure it was a little finger but can't remember which hand. Jon |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Rick Fielding Date: 18 Nov 99 - 05:32 PM Holy Cow Alex, I'm sorry! I had a very scary accident happen the first week I took up leather carving, and maybe I might be able to add a suggestion or two to the good ones already here, but I gotta teach in five minutes. I'll be back at midnight and see what's transpired here. Rick |
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Subject: RE: Ouch! From: Rick Fielding Date: 18 Nov 99 - 07:43 PM So I'm back earlier! (but only for a few minutes) I sliced open my index finger with a leather carvers knife and while blood was shooting to the ceiling I kept thinking "No more music...Oh my God, that means no more job!" Took seven stiches in the finger and couldn't play a barre chord for about two years! Thank goodness I learned in an unorthodox way at the beginning which employs the thumb not only on the bass string but also the 5th. Believe me that got me through a lot over the next while. You know how Django couldn't really use his last two fingers? Well he learned a completely new style of playing but few of us have his genius so maybe there's another way. My suggestion would be to make sure you try not only D tuning but also G. Perhaps DADGAD. Just for variety sake, why not get a "Stevens bar" (a dobro bar) and try some playing on your lap. It's a lot of fun. You need a bit higher action to make it glide smoothly, but here's a way to do that. You need a metal rod about 3" long. (The kind that's in the cheap elastic capos works great) Take the elastic off and slide the rod under your strings up to just behind the 2nd fret. That'll raise the strings just a bit, and it makes your starting point the 2nd fret. Now tune to an open D chord. Here's the important part..put another capo (any kind) on the guitar just behind the second fret. Put it on fairly loosely..just tight enough to keep the now raised strings from buzzing. Put your MIDDLE finger in the groove of the Steven's bar with your thumb holding the right side and your other fingers lightly touching the strings to the left of the bar. Start sliding. Rev. Robert Wilkins, and "The Black Ace" played that way and they are two superb artists. Good luck my friend. Rick |
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