Bending finger joints backwards - safe?

Subject: Bending finger joints backwards - safe?
From: Marion
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 04:01 PM

Ok, I've been thinking about the G chord; I understand the logistic advantages of the 2-3-4 fingering, but I like the sound of the Indigo Girls G (an extra D: second string, third fret).

I found that I can play a Indigo Girls G (in isolation, at least) with the 2-3-4 fingering if I bend my little finger backwards at the first joint to cover both first and second strings.

This would appear to be the best of both worlds, but before I try to learn to play it in progressions, I'd like some thoughts on whether this is a good idea. It seems to me that somebody here said they had arthritic problems in only the finger they used to do A-shape barre chords.

Marion

Subject: RE: Bending finger joints backwards - safe?
From: Mark Cohen
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 06:06 PM

Any repetitive stress on a joint can lead to acute problems such as tendonitis and other joint-tendon syndromes, as well as problems like arthritis down the pike. On the other hand, many people do gnarly things to their joints and do fine. It depends on how often, how long, how hard, how you rest the joint at other times, your genetics, your diet, your general level of health.... In other words, bending your finger like that, especially if you're doing it frequently, could lead to long-term problems, but it would be impossible to say whether it actually will in your case.

One rule (that should be common-sense but usually isn't) is that if your hand or finger starts to hurt, STOP and rest it for a couple of days. If it hurts again when you start playing again, you should look at what you're doing and see if you can do it differently.

If you are a serious musician and having serious problems, I'd suggest finding an occupational therapist, or a physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation (a/k/a PM&R, or Physiatry) -- if possible, one who has experience working with musicians. Hope that doesn't leave you more confused than you started!

Aloha,
Mark

Subject: RE: Bending finger joints backwards - safe?
From: Midchuck
Date: 02 Apr 01 - 07:56 PM

That may have been me that said that, since it is the case. I used to play a Bb or B or C using an A form barred up, by barring with the first finger and getting the 2nd, 3rd and 4th strings two frets higher with the little finger, bending it back to miss the first. There is some arthritis now in that one joint of that one finger, and I can't do that anymore, although the finger still works ok for "normal" use in fingering chords.

Keep in mind - it took 30 years of using that chord formation for the problem to develop. So whether to do it or not may depend on how old you are now....

Doesn't seem like you'd need to do anything like that for that G chord formation, anyway. I just use four fingers and it works fine. And you have more options for quick changes.

Peter.

Subject: RE: Bending finger joints backwards - safe?
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 08:30 AM

I agree with Peter/Midchuck -- it sounds more awkward to me that the four-finger option. One thing people do when they're learning is they try to find alternative fingerings to make up for the fact that their fingers don't naturally fall into the correct places. I'm not sure whether the fingering you suggest will cause you problems down the road or not, but I would encourage you to try working with the more conventional fingerings. They're not really that hard -- they just require a little practice (like all playing does).

And when did this become the "Indigo Girls G," anyway?

Subject: RE: Bending finger joints backwards - safe?
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 08:38 AM

It may be an occupational hazard.

The problem of the "A-shaped" barre chords might've been avoided if the ring finger had been used to make the A-shaped mini-barre, as it is a bigger and stronger finger, more suited for holding the 2-3-4 strings down. And it keeps with the rule of assigning successive fingers to successive frets (once the index finger has been anchored), for those who like to follow such things. (This "rule" says that if your index finger is on a fret, the middle finger is used to note the strings on the next fret, the ring finger to note the strings on the following fret, and the pinkie to note strings 3 frets away from the initial fret).

Then again, rules are made to be broken.

Subject: RE: Bending finger joints backwards - safe?
From: GUEST,Matt_R
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 09:59 AM

Whistlestop, I was wondering the same thing about the "Indigo Girls G"!

Subject: RE: Bending finger joints backwards - safe?
From: Midchuck
Date: 03 Apr 01 - 10:15 AM

Except on this forum, I've heard it called the "Tony Rice G" rather than "Indigo Girls." I suppose it depends on who you listen to. Certainly no one has a patent on it.

Peter.