Finally picked up a guitar again!

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gibsonjunkie

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So, last April I had an unfortunate incident with a table saw and lost a good chunk of the end of my right index finger, It really did a number on me, both physically and mentally. Even though it was only my pick hand, I just couldn't bring myself to play. This weekend I had to review a microphone for Amazon (a TZ Audio Stellare X3) so I played my F-30 for quite a while. It felt GOOD! My wife even came upstairs and said, "Thank God - you're playing!" I have a lot to relearn, but I'm glad I got "it" back!
 
Stagefright

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Welcome back. Where this a will, there is a way.

Are you using your index finger to have you moved to the next available digit? I could see using the middle finger with the index resting on top.
 
Cougar

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Good to have you back! Long ago I broke the index and middle finger of my fretting hand. I make do with what I've got! (I've got to put the lyrics back into that mix!)
 
davismanLV

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Well that sounds just awful!! Glad you've recuperated enough to pick it up again. Finally played again last night after slicing my right (pick holding) thumb on the mandolin slicing veggies for stir fry. Luckily it's BBQ pork stir fry. No one noticed the pink tint to the veggies!! It's healed up enough to grab my pick again. Yours sounds WAY worse!! Hooo boy!! :eek:
 
Coop47

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Congrats! As someone who has a few significant finger injuries on both hands (chopped, crushed, cracked, pulled, twisted), you've taken the hardest step. It gets better from here and eventually you'll be paying attention to your playing and almost none to your hand.
 
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I have been experiencing some carpal tunnel issues that make the fingers on my strumming hand go numb after playing a while.

I have started using a thumb pick more and more. After reading your post, I thought you might like to experiment with one.
 
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gibsonjunkie

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Stagefright said:
Welcome back. Where this a will, there is a way.

Are you using your index finger to have you moved to the next available digit? I could see using the middle finger with the index resting on top.
Click to expand...
I am forcing myself to use the index finger - it's just hard to get much pressure using it. There was bunch of nerve damage and tendons still don't work right so it's hard to grasp things. I found these little rubber things that stick onto guitar picks to make them easier to grasp. That helps a lot.
 
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gibsonjunkie

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Neal said:
I have been experiencing some carpal tunnel issues that make the fingers on my strumming hand go numb after playing a while.

I have started using a thumb pick more and more. After reading your post, I thought you might like to experiment with one.
Click to expand...
I did get a thumb pick and have tried to use it, but I haven't yet bonded with it.
 
walrus

walrus

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gibsonjunkie said:
I did get a thumb pick and have tried to use it, but I haven't yet bonded with it.
Click to expand...

I tried that too but couldn't get the thumb pick to be comfortable. I have switched back to large triangle picks, which I used years ago. They are definitely easier to grip. Going through the remains of a gross of Guild celluloid triangle picks from the '90's right now! Funny how sometimes you cycle back to the past....

Also, "Cool" picks have a "sandpapery middle" if you wanted to try them.

walrus
 
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