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Small Win – Overcoming an old injury
I’ve been a dabbler since I started playing guitar in 1972. I joined TAC and started my 30 days to play on October 11th. I am currently finishing week 2 Chords.
Almost 7 years ago I forgot a safety rule in the woodshop and broke the middle finger on my fretting hand. Two surgeries and then physical therapy left me with a limited range of motion in my middle finger so it will not touch my palm in line with the other fingers. I didn’t let that stop me from playing but it means that some chords are a little more difficult than others.
Yesterday, day 5 of week 2, I was getting frustrated doing the D chord exercises. I could not get that middle finger back on the high E string smoothly. I stopped and looked at what I was trying to do and then it hit me, switch the index and middle finger positions. Not only can I do the exercise smoothly but I am able make the change to Dm & D7 a little quicker. Daily quickdraws on this new D are now going to be part of my warm-up.
Thanks Tony for getting me to step outside that box I was in.
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5 Replies
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Excellent notification @AlbertCW — if it sounds good it IS good, and any way you make it sound good is a “right” way to play it. Can’t tell you ow much more fun I started having once THAT sunk in. Congratulations and keep having fun!
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Congratulations on overcoming your injury @AlbertCW! 👏 🎸 Have a great guitar journey on TAC. 😎
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Nice adjustment. Good job.
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This is great stuff, Albert! Inspirational.
And what Kona_Bruce says— “if it sounds good, it IS good, and any way you make it sound good is a “right way to play it”. Can’t tell you how much more fun I started having once THAT sunk in”………
THIS IS SOLID GOLD.
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@AlbertCW This is a great story of overcoming a disability and succeeding. Tony often uses different fingers than others when fretting chords. If it works for you, then it’s a great thing.
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