Subject: Question regarding playing with a handicap
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 16:03:10 -0500

Hi there,

Greetings,

A friend of mine is in a band and he plays guitar. Unfortunately he has a deformed right hand leaving him with a partial thumb, index finger and ring finger - he has no joints in these fingers. He has been doing the best that he can, but his handicap has been causing him problems with his strumming and the clarity of his playing. He does not use a pick of any kind and is more often than not, hitting more strings than he should be all at the same time, producing a very muddy sound. I was wondering if there are any instructional videos, books, websites etc out there that would be able to give him some advice as to what he could be doing to improve his playing and what tools (specialized picks etc) there might be to aid him.

I haven't seen a video to date on instructing handicapped players...there should be considering the many questions we get concerning these physical learning blocks.

Here are some of my suggestions...and, he'll have to experiment with each one individually to see what best works for him...if any at all does...he may have already tried a few of these:

1. Try learning to strum and pick with a thumbpick...it would have to be a small one...one that fits very tight...all he would have to do would be to learn to wield the thumbpick itself...there have been some major players that used nothing but a thumbpick to strike the strings...

2. He might also try fingerpicks...the metal ones can be custom fitted very tightly...a combination of fingerpicks and thumbpicks may give him more clarity.

3. Have him try bracing his arm or wrist on the bridge area....this will assist him in focusing his playing hand...and force him to use nothing but wrist movement which will minimize the flailing....

4. Some players have been successful in attempting to play left-handed....if they found one hand seemed to perform better than the other at strumming...this may not be the case with your friend...

I'm not sure what other alternatives there may be....other than considering another instrument entirely that didn't demand the same dexterity on the playing hand...I'd like to hope that he does stay encouraged...and, just maybe, you'll find an alternative approach that works for him...

Mickey

He is very self-concious, he is a beginner and he's not comfortable going to an instructor at this time (he hides his hand as much as possible). I'd really like to be able to pass on some information that would give him a starting point and help to build his confidence - he has potential and he has the desire.

Thank you,
TT

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Subject: playing with liminted arm movement.
Date: Sun, 28 Mar 2004 16:28:17 -0600

Good afternoon my question is I have been wanting to learn to play the guitar for a long time now. But due to a car accident some time ago it has left my right hand kinda in a cup holding form and I have very little movement in my right elbow,so moving the right arm in a  swinging fashion is kinda impossible but I can move it about 2 inches in that way. So with all this I have went out and purchased a guitar and have started, as I'm a real beginner here. So is it possible to learn this? As I have found out my left finger tips get sore trying to hold the strings down on the frets. Any input would be deeply appreciated. Thanks Ronald from Illinois.


Greetings Ronald,

My suggestion would be to focus on the most accommodating medium...

With limited movement of your forearm on the right hand:
Don't even try to strum the guitar...don't attempt to learn to play flatpick styles...instead, focus on fingerpicking styles...this allows your right forearm to remain stationary while playing...you will then only need the free movement of your fingers...I'm not too sure about your finger dexterity after your accident...so, the fingerpicking approach may not work for you...it is one approach to the guitar that does not require any forearm movement...

Now, if you feel that your fingers are also limited in dexterity, then, my suggestion would be to try the flatpick and brace the palm of your hand on the bridge...this will force you to use nothing but wrist movement while playing...yes, your strums will be limited...however, you'll still be able to play fast linear lines...

Hope something here helps...Mickey

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Subject: fat short fingers
Date: Sun, 25 Jan 2004 14:44:31 -0800

Well I went out and bought a guitar, signed up and paid for a ten week class just to find out my fingers are fat, short and not coordinated. Now what? Is there any hope? This is a $500.00 investment for something I really want to do. Thank You for any help.

Thanks Again!
Gary

Greetings Gary,

I understand your concerns...and, I know how it may feel like an impediment. However, please keep in mind there have been others that have overcome this obstacle...one that comes directly to mind is Roy Clark. He had very short and very fat fingers...and even admitted to this before himself...if I recall...he obviously had such a passion to learn that he went forward to become one of the best multi-instrumental string players the world has ever seen.

From what I can infer it sounds like you, yourself have ambition to do this...really, this is most of the battle for most beginners: having the drive to achieve. Hence, you have most of the journey under your belt just by having the desire to do this...now, my suggestion would be to take your time and start with the simplest exercises possible and build up slowly....do not expect too much of yourself too quickly...enjoy the learning process and take your time by achieving the smallest hurdles first...

Keep on Pickin', Mickey

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Subject: guitars and guitar lessons
Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 09:19:30 -0600

Hi folks,
Just a couple of questions. I would like to learn to play the quitar along with my daughter. Due to a damaged ring finger on my left hand, try as hard as I might I cannot place that finger on the sixth string where it needs to be. Are there any guitars strung for picking with the left hand? I thought about just restringing a guitar but the grooves on the neck and the body are slotted for the size of the strings the way they are set up.
My other question is there availble video taped lessons for beginners. If so do You have them.
Thank You for Your attention to these questions
Miles Evans

Greetings Miles,

There are a couple of things to bypass your ring finger problem:

1. Try reaching your thumb over the back of the neck to fret those notes...many blues guitarists used this technique to good effect.
2. Try open-tunings...for chording, this means you would only have to bar with the index finger across all six strings to accomplish major chords. Your ring finger needs not come into the picture at all with open tunings.
Open G Tuning: (form low to high) D G D G B D
3. And, as you've thought of, try restringing your guitar for left-handed playing...this usually requires a repair technician to perform this type of lefty conversion. Optionally, there are left-handed guitars available too. Mickey

Yes, there are some great instructional videos available on learning to play guitar...we have two that we've produced as follows:

Beginning Guitar Technique and Form:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3583.htm

VHS Format
Recorded in High Fidelity Digital
1 Hour in Length
Level: Beginner Level
Includes Split Screen Insets


Intro to the Acoustic Guitar:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page3357.htm

VHS Format
Recorded in High Fidelity Digital
2 Hours in Length
Level: Beginner Level to Intermediate
Designed for the beginning guitarist looking to learn all approaches and mediums for acoustic guitar.
Includes Split Screen Insets

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Subject: guitar with physical handicap
Date: Fri, 07 Nov 2003 20:38:58 +0000

hello mickey,

Greetings Luke,

I'd be glad to assist:

thank you for taking time to consider my guitar question.....i really hope you have a suggestion(s)....

i just read the question & response, someone had sent you, regarding learning to play with physical handicaps. i have a simliar dilemna, if not a little more challenging.

i, too, have a disabled left hand....but mine is not just the pinky finger, all the fingers on that hand are essentially paralyzed.....and formed/atrophied into a tenodesis type grip, from a spinal cord injury. i'm surprised by how much contact i am able to make with the strings.....but nothing that i think will be suitable for fretting.

as with your other query, i am still very anxious to learn to play (from a complete beginner standpoint, also, sorry), and just got a starter acoustic guitar as a gift. i've been looking into slide guitar tutorials, etc, but find you still seem to need more finger useage than i have in that left hand. my other thought is to restring the guitar, learn to fret left handed, and just slip a pick over the gimpy finger(s)....it still doesn't seem like intricate picking would be possible, but i would be thrilled with any insights you could provide. the fingers on my right hand function fairly normally, so it must be workable somehow.

I believe you have two solid options here:
1. Yes, you can re-string for left-handed playing...and holding a pick in your left hand is far less challenging than fretting...this would be a worthwhile experiment. I, myself, am a left-hander that learned to play right handed...

2. You might also try playing a Squareneck Dobro...this is a lap style instrument and requires only holding the bar with the left hand...the dexterity required with a Squareneck lies more in the right-hand picking...and in the elbow movement of the left fretting arm. It's not at all like playing regular slide guitar where some fretting is still required.

Be sure to check out a few of our video samplers on the Squareneck Dobro...and hopefully, they may be of inspiration to you:
http://www.folkofthewood.com/page319.htm

Keep on Pickin', Mickey

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Subject: Searching for the Right Guitar
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2003 12:48:06 -0500

Dear Mickey:

Greetings Richard,

I'm glad to assist if I can:

I am hoping that you can help me select a new left handed guitar. Because of a physical injury (missing two fingers on my left hand), I am only able to play left handed guitar. My problem is two fold - I do not know a lot of guitar terminology (do not play professionally - I play strictly for my own enjoyment) and because I am limited to left handed, it is difficult to test run guitars to see what I like. I have played off and on for the past 20 years, using an Alvarez Model 5822. It is a right handed guitar that I have simply flipped the strings on. O.k. sound, but do find problems with accurate tuning, playing harmonics, and keeping barre chords from humming. For awhile, I played a friend's Gibson (believe it was a J-45 or J-50) and this had some of the sweetest sound I have ever heard. Bottom line - I basically know just enough to know that I don't know enough, so I really need to find someone to work with who will act in my best interest and that I can trust their opinions and choices. From the comments on your website, you seem to run that kind of business, so I figured I would give you a shout. Perhaps the best thing I can do is describe how I play and hope that you can match me up with the best acoustic guitar choice. So here goes:

Type of music: Primarily contemporary folk and folk/rock singer-songwriters. Musicans I would like to emulate include: Patty Larkin, Michael Hedges, John Gorka, David Wilcox, Joan Armatrading, James Taylor, John Prine, CSN and John Martyn. I am primarily a finger picker, but would like to also learn other styles including flat picking. I also play with a lot of open tunings.

I, too, love Michael Hedges...his playing was transcendental. In assessing the line-up of artists you've listed, and their approach to guitar, you'll most definitely want a very responsive acoustic guitar that would lend itself to a variety of mediums...both fingerstyle and flatpicking. I, too, play many open tunings...and love a guitar that resonates in open G. One of my favorite artists, and a big influence on my playing, is Jorma Kaukonen of Hot Tuna fame. His acoustic guitar of choice was an older Gibson J model.

Patty Larkin's main guitars are a Martin D-18 and a 1993 Olson SJ Cutaway.

Michael Hedges main guitars are a Martin D-28 and a Lowdon, as well as his Dyer Harp guitar.

David Wilcox's main guitar is an SJ with a cedar top

James Taylor's main guitar is an Olson SJ guitar

John Prine played a Martin

Stephen Stills' main guitars were Martins...there's even a signature model in his name today...

I'm not too sure about John Gorka nor John Martyn (who truly had an interesting musical career)...

It appears that most of the artists you've chosen play an Olson...

Type of sound: I like a sweet clear full sound, without it being overpowering - warm balance without being too bright or crisp. I would like a guitar that has extremely accurate sound reproduction in terms of staying in tune. Have always used light weight silk 'n steel strings.

Yes, I too like a balance tone...from bass to treble and no loss of tone when playing in the upper register. I currently play a Breedlove and a Martin M-38. The thinner body on my Martin seems to lend itself well to a balanced tonal range. Unfotunately, the intonation is off and seems to change depending on the gauge of strings used. The Breedlove is also well balanced...since the Breedlove was recently built, the intonation is right on...my Martin dates from the early '70s...


Architectural/Design Preferences: I have large fingers, so preference is not to have a neck that is extremely thin across the top. At same time, do like a thin neck in terms of front to back so that I can easily thumb over the top. Like the concept of a cut-away, as it opens up easily accessible additional play areas, but not attached to that feature. Also, my preference is toward a simple looking design (no fancy inlay or fancy pick guard) and also have a preference toward a darker top (similar to the 000-15 mahogany topped Martin guitars).

Yes...I like a wide fingerboard with a thin neck...


Electronics: Would like to be able to record my music, so preference would be to have a built-in pick-up so that I do not have to have one added at a latter date. Pick-up would be used for recording rather than plugging into an amp if that makes any difference.

My suggestion here would be to consider a combination mini-mic and piezo...or saddle pick-up such as a Blender...this gives you the best of all worlds for choosing the right tonal color at the right time.


Price Range: Would prefer to stay under $1,500.00 (substantially less if I can) but will explore other options if that is your recommendation to meet my needs. Am looking for a guitar that I can have and play for years so am not looking for an instrument that I will need to upgrade in the near future. Also, would need to obtain a hard case so that I can travel with my guitar, so please factor that cost in.

In adding in all of your needs within your projected budget, I'd have to suggest that you look for a used Breedlove or Taylor guitar with on-board EQ. Look for a thin-body or smaller body guitar...steer away from the dreadnought models (these would be too boomy on the bass end)...whomever you do decide to purchase through, make sure that they inspect the guitar for any structural problems and that they will stand behind it with some kind of warranty.

Ultimately, to get every feature you're looking for in one guitar, it would be best to have one custom built. Unfortunately, this can become quite costly.

Finding a used lefty with all of the features you're looking for, can be quite challenging (as you probably can already attest to)...

We do have some very nice used Taylors and Breedloves...however, they are all right-handed models.

Breedlove would be more than accommodating on building a left-handed model to fit your needs. I believe this cost would be from 2000.00-2500.00 for one of their S models...You might also contact Taylor to see if they can provide any options...one other possibility would be a custom Martin.

Let me know if I can ever assist you further in your research efforts.

Mickey

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Date: Fri, 19 Apr 2002 08:01:05 EDT

Please Help! I really want to learn to play but have little use of the little finger on my fretting hand--the other fingers are fine----I should say that the pinkie is not completely useless--as I can fret say, the high E string in a "G" chord. But it won't do much more than that. Is it possible to play scales and melodies "up the neck" without the little finger usage??? The pinkie will NOT move out from the ring finger much at all. especially on the lower (pitch) strings,i.e., fretting the third fret of the heavy (top)"E" string with my index finger, I can fret the fourth and fifth frets with my next two fingers, middle and ring, but the pinkie wont do it at all. I try to stretch and hold it and force it but it cant do it!!!!!!!!! Am I lost forever to playing the guitar. Can I do without its use???( the pinkie on the other hand does the same!}.
It has been nearly impossible to get a straight yes or no answer on this question and I need to know because I want to practice. But if it is not possible, perhaps I'll give it up before I get too much into it and find that I really "DID" need the use of the finger after all. The answer to this is very important to me. So please be very frank with me. -------------------------------Thanx, John

Greetings John,

I emphatically state a "Yes"!

Your desire to learn should be your guiding light in making this decision.

There are ways around having to use the little finger on your fretting hand:

1. Tune your guitar to an Open Tuning such as G and learn to play everything out if this position. Chording usually only takes one to two fingers. Playing leads and solos also only take minimal fingering...in fact, many open-tuning players use a bar on the little finger for slide technique. So, in reality, they themselves have only the three finger to play. Who knows, this may also assist you in developing your own style and set you apart from the standard guitarist.

2. Learn to play like Wes Montgomery. Wes only had three fingers to play with himself...I believe his ring finger was completely useless. And, what a legacy he has left behind!

3. Many chords only require 3 fingers to play...in standard guitar tuning for instance, the G, D, A, E, Am, Dm, C, F, Em all only require 2 to 3 fingers...therefore, back-up guitar should be no problem whatsoever.

4. I've witnessed many lead players, who do have the functionality of their little finger on the fretting hand, and yet, only use the first three fingers to play all of their leads. This is really common amongst rock and blues players.

The pinkie on the right hand is never used for picking...unless you're a flamenco player and need to brush the strings with all four fingers (rasquerdo is the term I believe)...for flatpicking you only need to hold the pick with the index and thumb...for fingerpicking, the standard approach would be to use the thumb, index, middle and ring fingers...

Hope the above helps in some way...Mickey