Missing fingers!

[joshmickelson]

I was reading on this recent thread about finger placement:

Play thru the pain?

and was laughing to myself about how I don't have a choice but to use 1-3-4. I lost my left hand middle finger in a farming accident when I was 13.

I was just curious if anyone else on here is missing any fingers, and if you have any tips on improving performance?

I honestly don't feel restricted a whole lot at all. There are certain things that are hard to pull off, but in general I think I can keep up with most bassists.

Other musicians always do a double take when I play because they think I am folding my finger for some reason, haha.

[Basshappi]

That would be me.
I have a birth defect of my left hand. I am missing my middle finger and the other fingers are shortened and deformed. The thumb is normal.

Due to this I play left handed. I am able to play without much difficulty (and have been doing so for 32 years) though I find slap is not something I can do very well because of the reduced muscle control in my wrist.

I took classical piano lessons for 3 years as a kid and adapted to that. I am working on learning to play guitar but of course I will be limited in regards to fingerpicking because my left hand fingers (not thumb) can not curl. Guess I'll just have to work more on my flatpicking technique.

You can kinda see my left hand in this photo:

[joshmickelson]

that is really neat that you were able to adapt to left handed playing! Nothing can come between a man and his music!

[Basshappi]

Amen brother!

"Never give up, Never surrender!"

[Fergie Fulton]

And you won't feel restricted because you function with what you have to suit the application.
Jango Reinhart is always cited as an example of what is possible with missing fingers.
Jango was left with two fingers to use (1 and 2) after a fire damaged his fretting hand ( his 3rd and 4th were all but useless except for some chord work) as a young man.
But as we know if you have the imagination in music then technique will florish to support it, and Jango done this with amazing results that are heard in his recordings, even today he leaves fully abled players amazed by his playing.

Again it is the situation you are in that ultimatley determines technique used, it is personal and unique to the individual. yes many techniques and styles look the same, even sound the same.

As you have lost the middle finger, you have enough function either side from the thumb and forefinger and the ring and little finger to cope with any situation.
I would assume the ring and little finger would work well as the shared functions of tendon and attachment with the middle finger is not an issue (correct me if i'm wrong) as the others just take over the duty. I would assume you put no thought in to there use but just do what come natural?

The one function we do not want to lose is the thumb, it is what defines the human hand, it is unique to humans so unique in evolution.
It took us million of years to develop the hand we have, and since playing bass guitar was not a factor to consider in that development, then it use is a compromise as is all finger use in playing.
This compromise some handle better than others due to personal hand use and history, hands may look the same, but they are unique to the person using them, and therefore so is technique.

[Jojabeau]

Django played the most advanced guitar solos of the 50's in 1930 - with only his index and second finger. Most guitarists have trouble playing his s&&t with four good fingers NO ONE has his feel and style. You are never required to play 32dn triplets on bass to gig so I see no reason not to push on and enjoy. I had a wrist injury that kept me off the bass for two years - I took up the sax and found that when I could return to bass I was better player. Still suck on the sax though.

[sleepytime]

Amputated the tip of my right index finger. It barely reaches the last joint of my middle finger, but I can still pluck with them. It hasn't been that big a deal. I don't have the touch I used to, though.

[Fergie Fulton]

And of course as a young apprectice Tony Iommi of Black Sabbeth lost the tops of two fingers, so made two new ones from plastic bottle tops and learned to play left handed. Again we see technique born out of need because the imagination was there. The Drummer from Def Lepard Rick Allan has done the same in drumming and is a match for any drummer...only limit is yourself and the lack of desire to adapt.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Jojabeau

Django played the most advanced guitar solos of the 50's in 1930 - with only his index and second finger. Most guitarists have trouble playing his s&&t with four good fingers NO ONE has his feel and style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iJ7bs4mTUY

by far my favorite guitarist of all time, with or without his two smaller fingers.

i don't have any specific advice, but i can tell you that you can make music as good as anyone out there no matter what obstacles there are. just always give it your all and have fun with it, and you can do anything you want.

[Gearhead43]

"Lefty" from the Flametrick Subs plays upright bass with no left fingers, and rocks the hell out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBNJ0etA2y8

[Thingus995]

No missing digits, but some seriously mutilated ones... Partially degloved my left index, and shattered the left pinky knuckle (the one that connects it to my hand) makes some stretches a little difficult but nothing that's gonna stop me from playing, glad to hear you guys still get to make music as well!! Necessity is the mother of invention.

[jaymag_87]

No missing digits, either. But I do have Rheumatoid Arthritis (in remission, fortunately). As I am a VERY new student of the instrument, I have not found myself playing anything complex...yet.

I have found my left pinky to be somewhat useless and in the way. Not non-functional, I just tend not to use it. I should probably work on that.

[groovenut57]

Thanks for this inspiring thread!

I'm the one who always whines and complains because my hands are too small with fingers that are too short, etc...etc...

Meanwhile, I have 10 perfectly healthy fingers (well, 8 fingers and 2 thumbs) that function just fine.

No more flimsy excuses!

[your idol]

Originally Posted by jaymag_87

No missing digits, either. But I do have Rheumatoid Arthritis (in remission, fortunately). As I am a VERY new student of the instrument, I have not found myself playing anything complex...yet.

I have found my left pinky to be somewhat useless and in the way. Not non-functional, I just tend not to use it. I should probably work on that.

i used to not rock the pinky with the mix but it more complicated. i trained my pinky on an acoustic bass with high action and now i use it where i would typically use my ring finger ALOT. its eased a ton of stress on my hand when palying for long periods of time,slides are more efficent and sound better and ive gotten faster. dont neglect that pinky, build it up...youll thank me

[your idol]

i know theyre guitards but Tony Iommi (sans fingertips) and Jerry Garcia (sans middle finger) got by and made it...you can do it

[Mad Russian]

Humans have excellent adaptation. Great thread guys! I am blessed to have all my digits. There were several times in the past few years when I came very close to circular saw accidents - glad i'm still intact!

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by Gearhead43

"Lefty" from the Flametrick Subs plays upright bass with no left fingers, and rocks the hell out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBNJ0etA2y8

Lefty..... you are an inspiration to anyone to over come adversity. Thanks Gearhead i will use this clip as inspiration to others that ever have doubts about injuries.

[joshmickelson]

Originally Posted by your idol

i know theyre guitards but Tony Iommi (sans fingertips) and Jerry Garcia (sans middle finger) got by and made it...you can do it

I believe phil keaggy is also missing a middle finger on his right hand.

nice black flag avatar ps!

[vegas532]

Radial club hand on the right hand, non-functional left thumb. I'm unable to post a link right now, but youtube thom Brady bass and that'd be me.

[joshmickelson]

is that you on the wal? sounds great:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uhIlPtemIM