Tony Iommi style missing finger end!!
Hi everyone - I have been learning for about a year and am getting to grips with barre chords. Thanks to Neil and Target, my playing has improved dramatically over the past three months, I wish I had been involved with Totally Guitars from the start! I have a simple question - I lost the end 4mm of my left pinky finger in an accident 20yrs ago, not too dissimilar to the accident suffered by the great Tony Iommi. This means I have to play G Major with my first three fingers, rather than Neil's preferred way. Is harder to go to C, but I am OK with it. It is more of a problem when moving to barre chords as I tend to muffle the strings and cannot really feel where the finger is - does anybody know where I could get a finger cover to make the tip of my finger firmer? I know Tony Iommi melted down plastic and stuck it on, but there must be a better way! Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks!!
Hey Rush, Congrats on joining TG.
Forgive me if I ask some questions. Does it cause discomfort to press down with you shortened pinky? Is the end of your pinky toughening up(Calluses)? Is there a physical reason you can't get your little finger to press down on the fretboard, other than being 4mm shorter? I'm wondering why you can't extend your shortened finger down a little more to reach the fretboard. I am not trying to be critical, I don't know what mobility issues your injury has caused you. I am just thinking, what if someone had a naturally short little finger wouldn't they just adjust their playing to reach the fret? Have you talk with your doctor about the prospect of a modified prosthetic for your finger? Sorry for all the questions, I am just trying figure out how to help.
Welcome again,
Steve
Forgive me if I ask some questions. Does it cause discomfort to press down with you shortened pinky? Is the end of your pinky toughening up(Calluses)? Is there a physical reason you can't get your little finger to press down on the fretboard, other than being 4mm shorter? I'm wondering why you can't extend your shortened finger down a little more to reach the fretboard. I am not trying to be critical, I don't know what mobility issues your injury has caused you. I am just thinking, what if someone had a naturally short little finger wouldn't they just adjust their playing to reach the fret? Have you talk with your doctor about the prospect of a modified prosthetic for your finger? Sorry for all the questions, I am just trying figure out how to help.
Welcome again,
Steve
Rush- many of us have hand problems or shortcomings (no pun intended!). I smashed my right middle finger in a tractor accident and can't grow a nail but I'm really lucky I still have it! I have to play with the pads of my fingers only or use fingerpicks. Neither solution is as good as real nails.
I guess my point is we all have to work around our deficiencies. Playing the G chord the way you do is done by a huge percentage of all guitarists, most of which have no handicap! It's just an adaptation that will become second nature.
Sure, it would be nice to have all four fingers to use and although the pinky is certainly the least used, it does have its place. But so what? You can become a wonderful guitarist without it! Look at Django Reinhart. He only had two useful fingers and became an amazing legendary guitarist. Anything is possible!
I question whether fingertip extensions will give you the feel you need to become effective but try everything. What's to lose?
Good luck my friend and let us know if you need any moral support. Learning this crazy instrument is never easy so the whole process is just one big compromise anyway!
Cheers! :cheer:
I guess my point is we all have to work around our deficiencies. Playing the G chord the way you do is done by a huge percentage of all guitarists, most of which have no handicap! It's just an adaptation that will become second nature.
Sure, it would be nice to have all four fingers to use and although the pinky is certainly the least used, it does have its place. But so what? You can become a wonderful guitarist without it! Look at Django Reinhart. He only had two useful fingers and became an amazing legendary guitarist. Anything is possible!
I question whether fingertip extensions will give you the feel you need to become effective but try everything. What's to lose?
Good luck my friend and let us know if you need any moral support. Learning this crazy instrument is never easy so the whole process is just one big compromise anyway!
Cheers! :cheer:
Thanks for posts guys - and to answer your questions....no, it does not give me discomfort - my finger is kind of rounded off and soft - instead of being pointed, so it will be difficult for a callous to form. The main problem I have is that when trying to form, say an F barre chord, because I have to press the string from the back of my finger rather than the tip, I muffle the strings. Imagine touching your finger with your thumb on the same hand - it naturally goes to the back rather than the tip. I have no problem reaching, it is just the physical nature of not being able to press down with the tip. I am sure over time I will overcome it...but hey, what are forums for!! When I think of what I can play now from just 6 months ago I am amazed, we all overcome these difficulties and this will be, for me anyway, just one more. I may try strapping the finger with tape below the point to encourage a callous and this may help. Thanks for your replies - they are encouraging and most welcome. I live in the UK, so will be little behind in replying.
Rush- I forgot to welcome you to the site and the TARGET program! We have lots of members from the UK so please go over to the Please Introduce Yourself thread and tell us a little about yourself if you haven't done so already. What city are you in?
We really enjoy getting to know each other so a good intro is a big help. I'm glad you jumped in and asked a really good question. We don't have all the answers but try to help each other when we can!
Happy playin' and Cheers! :cheer:
We really enjoy getting to know each other so a good intro is a big help. I'm glad you jumped in and asked a really good question. We don't have all the answers but try to help each other when we can!
Happy playin' and Cheers! :cheer: