BeerBorg

Since there seems to be quite a few musicians here, I need some help. I love playing the G'tar but can't seem to get it down. My problem is.... I have severe carpel tunnel on top of arthritis... yea, I know, if I were a horse, they would just shoot me. I'm learning to read scores (notes & cords, not the cheat sheet tabs (no offense to those that do tab)) so I don't think that would hinder the process.

My question is, since I love stringed instruments, what would the guys/gals in the know suggest I try to learn? I played piana when I was young, don't want to do that, same with wind instruments, don't want to get back into da trumpet/cornet. I mentioned violin to my wife and she is all for it. I could handle the bow ok I think, but just how accurate, fast, etc would I have to move da fingers? I do have problems moving them fast or accurately most days with the arty/carpl problems. Is there something I could get into that would not be hindered by bad fingers and sound decent, somewhat recognizable?

House of the rising sun

My twin had CT surgery last year and it does bother me somewhat playing guitar. I use to play a coronet in grammar school in the last century. But, I've tried teaching myself banjo and mandolin with just a little luck. All string instruments will affect CT if you have a bad case of it. I do hand exercises and sometimes, wear a brace on my hand (or hands depending on the night) that seem to help a bit.

On days like today where I lift a pot with over 6 gallons of liquid in it, I really feel it at night on my hands so, I literally, feel your pain!

Yankeedag wrote:House of the rising sun

I really love that song!! I've been working on xmas songs and Jim Croce ballards, not very will though I'm afraid.

Beer-lord wrote:My twin had CT surgery last year and it does bother me somewhat playing guitar. I use to play a coronet in grammar school in the last century. But, I've tried teaching myself banjo and mandolin with just a little luck. All string instruments will affect CT if you have a bad case of it. I do hand exercises and sometimes, wear a brace on my hand (or hands depending on the night) that seem to help a bit.

On days like today where I lift a pot with over 6 gallons of liquid in it, I really feel it at night on my hands so, I literally, feel your pain!

Thanks man! I have to wear a brace on both hands every night or I wake up screaming in pain in the morning. I also must sleep with a CPAP or I might not wake up, I snore bad and stop breathing at night. I could keep going but won't.. don't want to whine much... LOL

It's like a bud always tells me, it sux to get old, but beats the alternative. Until then, I really want to play something.

How about a lap steel guitar? Or a full blown steel guitar for that matter...

Or a harp... Traditional harp or harmonica I guess...

I have to wear splints on both my hands every night. So I feel your pain literally too. I've also got a genetic hand disorder thanks to my Viking ancestors. One of the many reasons I stick with small batch brewing.

Anyways, hammered dulcimer might be just the thing. Its a string instrument but you hold the beaters very gently, no stress. (they are really not "hammers!"). You'd need to try it yourself, but I know that I can do it without pain.

IE see the instrument the being played in this video. Its a Chinese hammered dulcimer, but it's the same principle as any other kind. You can see how light and delicate the "hammers" are.

I love guitar but I can't play it, I just make noise. I had gone to bass hoping it would be easier to learn but for me it wasn't. It was however easier on the hands, for me atleast. The violin/fiddle is a good choice. I've never tried to play one so I can't say how it is to learn and play but the music it makes is just as satisfying to me as guitar.

Hammer dulcimer is a lovely instrument, and wouldn't be a strain on your hands, it's true. But the orientation is completely unique, and actually opposite to a keyboard. As a trained pianist myself, I'm both fascinated and baffled whenever I see a hammer dulcimer being played, and I've talked to the artists, and they say it can be difficult for someone who is entrenched in the keyboard mentality to make the adjustment.

Or it may just be me; my mind often puts up barriers like this once I've learned something, and I got acclimated to the keyboard at an extremely young age. I never learned how to play guitar, either, because of this mental block.

You might look into the autoharp, too. More portable than a hammer dulcimer, and they produce some lovely sounds.

tune your tar to an open g and learn to play slide like skynard's guitarists. you already got the guitar, you just need a beer bottle for the slide. like the lead break in the following.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 9lsx0Q#t=5

just play!!! It will all come. Now I should shut up and take my own advice. I quit playing after my last shoulder replacement. I just need to make noise and be happy with it!!!

Thanks for the ideas ya'll. I don't know what I'll do yet, gonna go see the experts at a big music store in town today.

Thanks jim... watched the video and started watchin more and more..... love the old music.. now that the morning is wasted... LOL gave some ideas though.