Missing right index finger

[neverfoundthetime]

Hi Dave, you got some good feed back from the guys with finger injuries already, Tony didn't mention his little finger can't be bent either, so these guys know what they are on about. I've never used a pick and use my index for strumming as Neil suggests but I find the middle finger works just as well on down and up strokes with practice. I've also used the thumb on up strokes at times. My tip is middle down and middle or thumb up. Let us know what you end up doing.... or maybe video it so we can see ... maybe helps you and others.

[davidallison]

Wow. This is an incredible site. Here I am in the middle of nowhere, Amarillo, Texas, and I have gotten fabulous tips from all over in the space of a few hours. Before this, I was huddled up in my house reading method books and how to books with nothing but frustration. This is going to be fun.

Thanks for the advice. This is going to be fun.
David

[dennisg]

davidallison wrote:

Wow. This is an incredible site. Here I am in the middle of nowhere, Amarillo, Texas, and I have gotten fabulous tips from all over in the space of a few hours. Before this, I was huddled up in my house reading method books and how to books with nothing but frustration. This is going to be fun.

Thanks for the advice. This is going to be fun.
David

David,

You haven't even scratched the surface on how useful this site can be. If it does nothing but give you a little goose to get you playing the guitar, it's well worth it.

[d_dog]

I think I read all the posts closely so I hope this isn't a repeat, but you mention that you like to play the down strokes with your thumb and ups with the pad of your middle (2nd) finger. Have you tried just the opposite? Play the downs with the back of your middle fingernail and the ups with the back of your thumbnail? This no doubt would feel very awkward at first but at least I think you could get a more even sound that way, using the backs of your fingernails for both strokes.
Please do let us know what prevails.
Take care David

[davidallison]

d_dog, Thanks. I am going to give it a try. I do think that it is interesting that strumming, intuitively, seems as if it should be easy but I have had trouble getting comfortable. My lesson is that nothing about the guitar is easy. Thanks again.