Practicing while injured

[Abrahampost]

If another forum is a better place for this feel free to move

So I just had the misfortune of cutting my right index finger laterally between the two knuckles(palm side). Luckily it was a slow day at urgent care so didn't have to wait long for stitches. I talked to the doctors and the stitches come out in one week. I am scheduled to play at a festival two days after stitches come out and at a loss on how(if any) i could rehearse. My first idea is to reverse engineer all of our songs and make new chords sheets with notes so that the material will still be on my mind for the next 7 days.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[tmntfan]

listen to the songs if you have recordings.

Simplify the bass lines and work on using your thumb.

 

[MalcolmAmos]

+ 1,000 No way will you be able to play finger style, pick is out also, like has been said that leaves your thumb.

 

[Abrahampost]

Thanks for the responses guys. Part of me thinks a pick for some songs and resorting to some thumb thumping for simply parts might be the way to go. My real worry is how stiff my hand will be going into the weekend

 

[Humbled]

What's wrong with playing with the middle and ring finger? It's going to be easier than instantly turning into a good thumb picker.

I guess I don't understand the problem.

 

[Fergie Fulton]

If another forum is a better place for this feel free to move

So I just had the misfortune of cutting my right index finger laterally between the two knuckles(palm side). Luckily it was a slow day at urgent care so didn't have to wait long for stitches. I talked to the doctors and the stitches come out in one week. I am scheduled to play at a festival two days after stitches come out and at a loss on how(if any) i could rehearse. My first idea is to reverse engineer all of our songs and make new chords sheets with notes so that the material will still be on my mind for the next 7 days.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Sorry to hear about your problem, you do not say whether it is your pick or fretting hand, never the less the simple solution is to not use it.
If it is your picking hand you will, with a little practice, play using middle and ring finger with little or no discernable difference. If it is your fretting hand you just need to work out some new options to use that do not use, or minimise, the index finger.

It is not such an issue if on the picking hand, and who knows it may lead you to explore more plucking techniques.

 

[Abrahampost]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I took 5 days off to rest as much as possible and had my first practice with the full band last night. I am having success using my middle and ring finger on most songs and plan on playing most the set that way.

We do have a few tricky songs I don't think I will be able to do without my pointer finger and I will probably just have to push through the pain on them. As they say the show must go on.

Thankfully the stitches come out tomorrow