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Old 06-28-2017, 05:56 PM
Cypress Knee's Avatar
Cypress Knee Cypress Knee is online now
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Default Running from the Reaper, I think he's getting closer...

For the past forty years I have always played the A barre chord shape with my little finger because my ring finger wasn't flexible enough - I either had a three note chord or a 6th chord.

So I learned the barre with my little finger. It was perfect, the root note, three chord notes two frets down, and then the fifth ringing out on the first string. It really wasn't conducive to boogie-woogie rock, but it worked.

Two days ago I has playing and my C barre chord no longer worked. My finger would not bend as it had for forty years. I could get the root, the first fifth, and everything else was "thud".

For the past couple days I have been pressing, pulling, bending, jerking, just trying to flexibility back into my pinky finger joint so I can play an "A" type bar chord.

But I fear Father Time is starting to close in with all of his nefarious weapons.

CK
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Old 06-28-2017, 06:01 PM
Greg Ballantyne Greg Ballantyne is offline
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The reaper has been getting closer since the day you were born. Maybe if you put on a sprint, you can increase your lead for a while....
I used to take a couple of ibuprofen every morning for that sort of thing. Then I ran into a need for a kidney Dr, who advised me to stop doing that.....should make my kidneys last longer, but hand pains mess with me more. Lots of trade offs along the way. Keep pushing the envelop....
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Old 06-28-2017, 07:54 PM
zombywoof zombywoof is offline
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Many of us have been through this. Physical limitations brought on with age have forced me to change the way I approach a guitar several times. But I will keep playing. It may be bottleneck by then but I will depart this mortal coil with a guitar in my hands.
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Old 06-28-2017, 08:20 PM
ManyMartinMan ManyMartinMan is offline
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Just tell folks that you are finger-muting. It's a new thing and all the rage.
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Old 06-28-2017, 08:39 PM
amyFB amyFB is offline
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Could you Switch to new A somewhere else on the neck that might be more finger friendly?

XX7655
Or
XX2220

Not rock boogie friendly, sorry, but some options maybe.

Good luck
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Old 06-28-2017, 08:44 PM
Scott O Scott O is offline
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Cypress, how bout starting some hand strengthening and stretching exercises? And maybe apply some heat to your hands before you play?
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Old 06-28-2017, 09:09 PM
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The Grim Reaper came for me yesterday. I fought him off with the vacuum cleaner I had in my hands at the time.
Talk about dyson with death!
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Old 06-28-2017, 09:34 PM
M Hayden M Hayden is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xtjohn View Post
The Grim Reaper came for me yesterday. I fought him off with the vacuum cleaner I had in my hands at the time.
Talk about dyson with death!
Good one!!
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Old 06-29-2017, 03:04 AM
Oldguy64 Oldguy64 is offline
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I've been taking Glucosamine twice a day for a while for my knees, on the advice of my doctor.
I've noted that my playing has improved, and I have less pain in my hands as well.
The only caveat is that it may cause weird dreams, depending on what kind you take.
If I notice lots of crazy dreams I back down to taking it once a day, on the morning.
But I still advise talking to your doc first.
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Old 06-29-2017, 08:01 PM
jaybones jaybones is offline
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+1 on the Glucosamine and exercises. When I worked on my feet all day (bartending and serving) I took Glucosamine chondroitin and noticed that my feet didn't ache as much at the end of a day.

I'd also recommend a different voicing for the A chord if you can't get back to the way you were playing it before.



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The sun is the same in a relative way
But you're older
Shorter of breath
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