Help For Finger

Subject: Help For Finger
From: Jeep man
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 11:18 PM

The index finger on my left hand was injured when I was about 15. A mis-lick with my Boker knife almost cut the end off. Never have had much feeling in this finger.

Problem. This makes it very hard to properly note guitar or banjo strings. (No its not a recent problem. I started 50 years ago.)

When I play a C chord or F or anything needing that finger, it is very difficult to play and sound properly.

I seem to remember a product that was used by folks learning to pick that would harden the fingers like a callous. Something like that might help. Jeep

Subject: RE: Help For Finger
From: Mudlark
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 12:58 AM

My sympathies, Jeepman...I've got a trigger finger that makes a simple D chord a tour de force. I've heard of people putting Crazy glue on their fingers for extra callus...don't know that I'd do it tho...god knows what in that chemical brew and skin is a porous membrane! Good luck...

Subject: RE: Help For Finger
From: Blackcatter
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 01:28 AM

After 50 years this may be a big change, but what about playing lefty?

Subject: RE: Help For Finger
From: GUEST,bluenose
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 03:01 AM

try a thimble

Subject: RE: Help For Finger
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 12:14 PM

Maybe it's not your finger. When I took my first guitar lesson, I told the prof that I had difficulty playing a C chord, and he said, "You're not supposed to play C on the guitar." I was liberated.
F is worse, so I suppose it applies even more.

Being a very good teacher, he did point out to me that the index finger can swivel on its base so that you can play strings with the side of it, not just the tip. Sometimes this helps. Nonetheless, I still believe that "you're not supposed to play C on the guitar."

If you are having to play lots of C chords to accompany a song, change the song to D.

Subject: RE: Help For Finger
From: Peace
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 12:52 PM

Open tunings?

Subject: RE: Help For Finger
From: Jeri
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 12:55 PM

Try looking at Learning guitar with a wonky digit or 2.

There's also a thread (see the list of related threads up at the top) on instant calluses. I don't know if that would help, because I don't really understand the problem.

If you're missing a callus.

If you're missing the fat pad between the skin and the bone, there's no amount of callus that will help, because then the callus will press against the bone and hurt.

If you have a mushy finger (*), I'd suggest open tuning or adapting your technique. Taping your finger so it doesn't squish might help, or some sort of leather and elastic prosthesis. It will interfere with your sense of touch, but if the tip's alread numb and you've learned how to find the strings without feeling them, it shouldn't be too much of a change.

My problem's likely different than yours, but I play a 3-finger C using index, ring and little fingers. I can do a full or partial barre for the F.


(*) All obvious, overused jokes about digital erectile dysfunction and Viagra hereby pre-thought of..

Subject: RE: Help For Finger
From: Sorcha
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 02:00 PM

Actually, a leather quilters thimble might not be a bad idea or you could try Nu-Skin.

Subject: RE: Help For Finger
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 21 Jul 04 - 10:35 PM

I once talked to a wonderful player who had had extra-large frets installed by a luthier. He needed very little pressure to get a string in tune. Maybe you should try something like that.

By the way, how do your chords that are not C and F sound?