#1
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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 |
#2
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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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In order of appearance: Aria LW20 Dreadnaught Seagull Maritime HG Dreadnaught Seagull Natural Elements Dreadnaught Taylor 418e Taylor 514ce LTD |
#3
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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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"You start off playing guitars to get girls & end up talking with middle-aged men about your fingernails" - Ed Gerhard |
#4
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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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#5
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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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amyFb Huss & Dalton CM McKnight MacNaught Breedlove Custom 000 Albert & Mueller S Martin LXE Voyage-Air VM04 Eastman AR605CE |
#6
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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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#7
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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! |
#8
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Good one!!
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#9
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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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A bunch of guitars I really enjoy. A head full of lyrics, A house full of people that “get” me. Alvarez 5013 Alvarez MD70CE Alvarez PD85S Alvarez AJ60SC Alvarez ABT610e Alvarez-Yairi GY1 Takamine P3DC Takamine GJ72CE-12-NAT Godin Multiac Steel. Journey Instruments OF660 Gibson G45 |
#10
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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. And from Floyd, The sun is the same in a relative way But you're older Shorter of breath One day closer to death |