right handed - injury - considering switch left

[audiotom]

I had a freak tether ball accident in August where I completely dislocated my left index finger. It was snapped back in after a good 3 hours in the emergency room, but all the tendons snapped - not pretty) It's been eight months and it's still hurts (not totally excruciating pain but still totally prohibits me using my left hand on the neck) - I have 3/4 range of motion no problem - but I can't fully bend my index finger (critical second digit) and apply necessary pressure without big pain

I am considering learning to play left handed

either restringing my 78 p bass with jazz neck or going to an electric upright or left hand electric

I have enough range of motion with no pain to use my left hand to pluck with (and could even develop a three finger approach) Had it been any other finger not as much of an issue - I really can't pivot my hand to various positions and hold it without pain, I'm considering some therapy for it (I can bend more in the hot tub than normal)

I was learning the simandal method - 4 fingers - three frets - slide positioning and played some 1 finger per fret stuff - I used to play mediocre guitar

Any suggestions on gear - lefty or electric uprights, or relearning techniques, therapy drills would be great.

I was an intermediate student (in my 40's ) can read music and was learning bass and jazz bass (1 1/2 years). I've really been upset not being able to play. My instructor in New Orleans is a good friend and plays electric and upright. He thought I could even start over on an electric upright and learn bowing technique with my left hand.

thanks and God Bless

Tom

[Deacon_Blues]

Wow, sorry to hear that.

Don't really know if I can help you with any tips or something, but it reminded me of a smaller accident I had maybe 5-7 years back involving mainly my left thumb. For the few months (3-6), I had a real trouble pushing the thumb against my index/ring finger. I couldn't use my left hand anymore for squeezing the shampoo bottle, for instance. It just hurt too much. (I'm lefthanded, play righthanded). After the first few months, it kept coming back and disappear for at least a couple of years...

Anyway, I cannot recall having any major difficulties playing the bass/guitar at that time... Maybe it was because I've always kept the action quite low. Perhaps you could try a super-low action. It doesn't work on all basses but it would reduce the force you need to push the strings to almost zero. You could also try to support your index with the ring finger when you want to press it down.


I had another injury in the gym in August last year. For 6 months, I couldn't lift anything straight upwards with my left arm when laying down (benchpress) or when sitting up (which was even harder). I got the advice not to stop using the muscles that hurt but start using other machines involving the same muscles. When I did that, it gradually went better. It hurt in the beginning but now I'm back where I used to be... Just told you this story too because what seems impossible now might become better if you start over with a slightly different approach.

Hope you don't have to switch to a lefty... I definitely wouldn't like to do that unless it was my only way out.

[user101]

ouch. I guess playing with 3 fingers may still be an option to consider. I am playing right-handed and tried some time ago, just out of curiosity to play lefty style. I gave up after a few months out of frustration. I think it's easier to continue playing with 3 fingers and use the index maybe for muting purposes.

[audiotom]

great day

met with my bass teacher / friend

I tried his Yamaha electric upright
it has a nice rounded neck and guess what
it's wide enough that I am not playing in pain using my left as my fretting hand

he lent me it for two weeks

we also drove over to GC
they has an NS bass
it was ridiculously priced at $2789
The neck is narrower and it plays more like an electric than a double bass

I took a lesson from him on upright technique -
started back at the start of Simandal and couldn't be happier
those db players sure have a lot more intuition, hard gained virtuosity etc

I'm looking forward to progressing on the EUB

tom

[dvs20]

I smashed my left middle finger and had to get stitches in my finger tip, and now I have scar tissue in the pad of my finger right where i push on my string. so I play without my middle finger. (now it's starting to get used as I fight through the pain!) if I were you, I would keep playing and not switch. incorporate you hurt finger as the pain subsides. you need to use that finger to rebuild the muscles for stability purposes. (I dislocated my right elbow, left middle finger, left shoulder 4 times and right shoulder once) I have some experience with the dislocations

[joegeezer]

Originally Posted by dvs20

I smashed my left middle finger and had to get stitches in my finger tip, and now I have scar tissue in the pad of my finger right where i push on my string. so I play without my middle finger. (now it's starting to get used as I fight through the pain!) if I were you, I would keep playing and not switch. incorporate you hurt finger as the pain subsides. you need to use that finger to rebuild the muscles for stability purposes. (I dislocated my right elbow, left middle finger, left shoulder 4 times and right shoulder once) I have some experience with the dislocations

I agree, don't switch. 8 months ain't nothin. It took me several years to come back from some real bad surgery, and had to totally retrain new muscles and such. Had to change my right hand picking style entirely. Don't give it up yet. It'll come back, you need to just stay at it. 8 months is not long enough yet, You must suffer Grasshopper. I play with a guy who had both his hands smashed between chain and sprockets, almost took them both off. He studied some Jango Reinheart stuff, at 21, he's 53 now, plays with 2 fingers, and blows most guys away. He plays every weekend. You ain't got it bad, believe me.

[audiotom]

thanks for the encouragement
and I'll get back to my electric
sorry to hear of your injuries

the upright is working great
and I'm back playing again!!!