Player's worst nightmare

jmacfee · #1 03-18-2008, 08:31 PM

Not sure if this is the right place for this thread. My apologies if it is. This past Friday I managed to sever my left index finger between the first and second knuckle. I'm right handed so it was my fretting hand.The finger couldn't be saved and was amputated half-way between the first and second knuckles. My first thought was that I wasn't going to make the gig that night. I did make the gig on Sunday and played keyboards. They managed to find a fill-in bass for Friday and Sunday's gigs. The cast comes off on Monday and I'm looking forward to trying to play again. I guess my guitar playing days are over and I'll have to change my keyboard style a bit, but I'm thinking I should be able to handle the bass using my other three fingers until the stump heals up. I'm not looking for sympathy here. It was stupid mistake. I'm wondering if anyone else out there has been through something similar. Any suggestions? I'm thinking of Tony Iommi's use of rubber finger tips as a start. I've been playing for over forty years, bass for the last eighteen. I've been hanging around this forum for about six months and it's a great site! I figured this would be the best place to get the best ideas. Thanks!
John
or as my band has nicknamed me..............Stumpy

von buck · #2 03-21-2008, 10:20 AM

I knew a bass player in New Hampshire, nick named "Fingers" BTW, he played right handed. He was missing the two middle fingers of his fretting hand (ring and the bird finger) He got around perfectly fine with the two remaining fingers.
I had a leg amputated a few years ago. When I got out of the hospital, I went back to the studio to finish up a recording project I was hired for before the amputation (the producer wanted me on the recording, so he waited until I got out to proceed with the recording)
So there I was sitting in the wheel chair waiting for playback when I suddenly realized, I lot my tapping foot. I'm so use to tapping with my left heel and it was gone!
Oh well, got through it ok.
Get better and start playing
Andy

RED5 · #3 03-21-2008, 11:38 AM

I thought I was poor, I had no shoes, Then i met a man had no feet...who said that?

jmacfee · #4 03-22-2008, 02:09 PM

Von Buck,
Jeez! A leg! Man, I'm sorry to hear that. Here I'm whining about half a finger! Thanks for the support but more importantly, thanks for the inspiration.
John

jmacfee · #5 03-25-2008, 06:08 AM

Von Buck
Got the cast off yesterday. Went over to my guitar player's house to try playing. Went pretty well. Had some problems with a few songs. The fingers still want to go where they're used to going but I know I'll work it out. Jammed for about two hours. I'm looking forward to Saturday night's gig. Great to be back in the saddle again.
John

flickfan82x · #6 03-28-2008, 04:24 PM

Dude, I have all five and still need more. You should be pretty damn good at what you do. Props