Fretting hand injury

[lowendlover]

About 2 years ago i tore a ligament in the knuckle closets to the fingernail of my fretting hand pinky. This put a damper on my playing for a while because of pain, but i got over it and was back to playing. Last winter, i cranked that same finger backwards and apparently it broke but i had no idea, so it's healed itself slightly twisted. I can use it and everything to an extent, and being a somewhat serious player practicing daily and gigging 2 + times a week it ends up bothering me alot. Can't slide with it, have to be cautious of how much pressure i use. Would it be a waste of time to try and learn bass all over again left handed?? Has anyone ever done this?? or should i just deal with it, i do realize there have been players such as D'Jango with hand crippling accidents that continue on strong. Whats your take?

[gregh]

I have no idea if someone has done this in the past, but your brain is pretty adaptable and could rise to the occasion. Perhaps switch over gradually. Assuming you have another bass or guitar, why not try lefthanded whenever your finger starts hurting. That way you rest the pinky and learn a new skill at the same time

For the purposes the second bass doesn't even have to sound good, only be nicely playable.

[markkoelsch]

I would he seek out a Doctor who is a hand specialist. In the right hands this might be fixed nearly as good as new. I would know- I had my left index finger smashed in a door. I had to have surgery on it- a cadaveric bone graft. I started playing about 4-5 weeks after, and here I am a bit over a year later and it is essentially a non issue.

Mark Koelsch

[unclejane]

Originally Posted by lowendlover

About 2 years ago i tore a ligament in the knuckle closets to the fingernail of my fretting hand pinky. This put a damper on my playing for a while because of pain, but i got over it and was back to playing. Last winter, i cranked that same finger backwards and apparently it broke but i had no idea, so it's healed itself slightly twisted. I can use it and everything to an extent, and being a somewhat serious player practicing daily and gigging 2 + times a week it ends up bothering me alot. Can't slide with it, have to be cautious of how much pressure i use. Would it be a waste of time to try and learn bass all over again left handed?? Has anyone ever done this?? or should i just deal with it, i do realize there have been players such as D'Jango with hand crippling accidents that continue on strong. Whats your take?

I'm missing a piece off my left pinky (fretting hand), the bone is all there but the tip was basically chopped off when it got caught in a gate when I was child.

I played with just 3 fingers for a long time when I first started playing but one day just started using it. My hand is always a little bit out of position because the pinky is about 1/4 or 1/3" shorter than it should be, but I pretty much dont notice it now.

So, if you're not in pain, I say go ahead and use the sucker....

I gave thought to trying to learn lefty and it's just basically impossible for me. I just decided to live with a shorter pinky and continue playing right handed....

LS

[T.O.Bass]

It is definitely possible to switch over, though I would assume it's not easy.

A friend of mine who plays guitar is left-handed. He played only left handed for quite some time, but he's one of those people that can't see a guitar and just leave it be. Since it's almost always a righty that's laying around, he eventually learned to play right handed. Now he can switch back and forth at will. It's pretty rad to watch.

[guitarrock24]

This may sound a little excrutiating, but if the left handed playing doesn't work out this is a possibilty.
I've heard of stories breaking bones and then healing back incorrectly. Some cases, it isnt a big deal. But in other, they went to the doctors and had them rebrake it so the bone will heal back properly.
Dont know if you wanna do this, but if all else fails...