Arthritis and other stuff--need to try slide

[John F.]

I play righty, and my left thumb joint swells and hurts whenever I play these days. Its arthritis. To compound things, my left index finger tip every now and then feels like it getting jabbed by a pin when I play. Dr. said something about an exposed nerve due to repetitive use. This all started about 2 years ago, and I just haven't played much since--and I really miss it. I've read a number of threads here about arthritis and playing, and I've become convinced that there's no magic cure that's going to make this go away (and I was counting on you guys). This results in no loss to the world of music, but I really want to play more.

So, I'm going to try slide. The stuff I play now is fingerpicking stuff with bare fingers. Mississippi John Hurt, Jorma, Doc (simplified), etc. I've seen some great acoustic slide delta-blues type players--solo acoustic stuff.

I'd really appreciate some instructional materials recommendations. Solo acoustic slide blues stuff. Thanks.

[random works]

sounds like a thoughtful plan. If you are going to only play slide and know you will not be fretting any notes, you can set your action really high. You can also use alternate tunings, say in the key of E or G that work well for the slide but maybe not so well for someone who would be fretting a lot. There is something soulful about the slide.

It might be easier on your hands to use a bar slide and have the guitar horizontal. Let us know how it goes.

[Toby Walker]

It's a very viable solution and one that can be extremely rewarding.

I knew this woodworker who before losing a finger in an accident played fingerpicking blues guitar. Afterwards he asked me to teach him slide and ever since couldn't be happier. He now plays all kinds of Mississippi Fred McDowell, Bukka White, Tampa Red songs as well as making up many of his own, all of which is in the open tunings D and G. Any chords he plays are very simple, requiring only one or two fingers. This can be achieved and will open up all kinds of exciting new doors in your life.

I teach fingerpicking acoustic blues and also have downloadable lessons available which are available on my website, one of which is specifically geared for beginning slide guitar. Here's the one on slide:

http://www.littletobywalker.com/lear...by-walker.html

You can also look into instructional materials from Homespun tapes as well as Stefan Grossmans Workshop.

For lap style blues you may want to check out this:
http://www.homespuntapes.com/Instrum...le-two-dvd-set

Here is a link from Homespun regarding Dobro playing:
http://www.homespuntapes.com/Instruments/Dobro

[The Bard Rocks]

If you are going to go the way of a dobro player, look at the playing of Tut Taylor. He plays beautifully, unlike all the rest, uses a flat pick. That will get you way from the problems on both hands.

[guit3090]

I have the same type problem, and have thought about slide, hopefully I will be able to play again, I keep trying different things. Martin Flexible silk and phosphor seem promising ,plus tone is good.

[Edbuff]

Slide is good idea also try a weissenborn, good change from the dobro from time to time

[John F.]

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to get an appointment with a hand specialist for this nerve thing before I move on to slide.

Toby-

I saw you play once in Rockhall, and missed your last trip here because of family obligations that I just couldn't get out of (my wife didn't like the idea of postponing our 25 anniversary dinner so I could see you play). You were great--just great. Fellas, if you haven't seen Toby play, you need to.

[Toby Walker]

Originally Posted by John F.

Thanks for the advice. I'm going to get an appointment with a hand specialist for this nerve thing before I move on to slide.

Toby-

I saw you play once in Rockhall, and missed your last trip here because of family obligations that I just couldn't get out of (my wife didn't like the idea of postponing our 25 anniversary dinner so I could see you play). You were great--just great. Fellas, if you haven't seen Toby play, you need to.

Thanks John. Glad you enjoyed the show.

Seeing a hand specialist is a good idea. Maybe you can find one that plays the guitar!!

[D. Churchland]

I've had several students with hand problems whom I taught slide guitar, all of them found it quite fun and you can get sounds out of it that you just can't get otherwise (blue notes are a good example)

It's a very fun solution, give it a shot once you see your hand specialist!

[punkybub]

I'm sorry to hear about your hand pain - I've had similar problems and have manged to fight it off for a while using those Chinese metal balls (Health Balls or Baoding Balls) you roll around in your hands.

You can find them on Amazon and other places on the net, sometimes locally in gift shops or the like. Some come with internal tines that chime as you use them, others are solid - I prefer the solid ones and use them while watching the tube or reading. The more I use them the more flexible my hands are and the less painful they are.

It's a good idea to get a couple of different sizes I think, as they work different parts of your hands and fingers. Whenever I feel stiff-handed, an hour or so with them really helps.

Hope you find a solution, whether it's slide or getting your hands back to playing shape.

[mstuartev]

you can experiment with all sorts of slide guitars. The Weissenborn is way cool (I got one and I reckon it will be my late in life arthritis go to guitar).



(David Lindley)


played with a steel, all slide. Great tone.

[darylcrisp]

John

i have what sounds like a similar issue. my left thumb base has osteoarthritis and it at times is very sore, weak in that thumb base, and does create issues using the left hand on a guitar.

couple things i've found that worked great-acupuncture.
yep, worked almost immediately and whenever that area acts up i get a treatment and good to go for a long time. i lived with it for years-you could not touch my left thumb without causing me pain-it would lock up at times also. now, i rarely have any trouble.

guitars-i gravitated to taylors early on due to the ease of playing and low action.
not sure what style music you like, but definitely consider sitting your guitar lapstyle and learning to fret from the top and use the right hand likewise(a thumbpick works great for strumming). you will be amazed how easy it is to fret and it will come with some short time and practice. doesn't use the thumb that much either unless you want to use it to fret.

you can always have a higher nut cut and use your existing guitar for slide, or use a nut raiser(about $5). you don't need a new instrument.
here is a great video of this style play(kelly joe phelps)
http://www.homespuntapes.com/Instrum...lly-joe-phelps

these are great video also from Cindy cashdollar-she is using a resonator but a guitar turned down is fine-you can pick up the technique and make it your own:
http://www.homespuntapes.com/Instruc...luegrass-dobro

as others mentioned, a weissenborn is excellent for alternate, dropped tunings: check out ed gerhard(homage is a good song)on youtube

and be sure to investigate the mountain dulcimer. check into bing futch(http://darkstudios.com/index.html), david beede(,http://www.davidbeede.com/) and aaron orourke(he flatpicks a dulcimer)
http://www.folkcraft.com/1310110.html

folkcraft and david beede make mountain dulcimers in diatonic and chromatic(like a guitar fretboard). the regular style is diatonic(very easy to play).

the dulcimers are well made and cost right around $500 for solid wood(folkcraft) and go up from there for special additions.

the dulcimer is very musical and can be played fingerstyle or with a pick or wood dowel-and for folks like us, they do not bother the hands/fingers when playing.

another thought is to check into DADGAD tuning-a great DVD for this is:
http://www.acousticmusicresource.com...ab9023482194e4

DADGAD can be played on any guitar and sounds awesome-and the neat thing is you can play tons of songs without chord shapes so much-just a couple notes-and, this can be adapted with the guitar on the lap. DADGAD sounds huge when played. if you like that style music.

good luck, PM me if you need more suggestions, but the above will take you a lot of places
d

[krisls]

Have a look at this guy, does a lot of nice slide work, mostly in Std Tuning. Seen him play many times and he is good. There's some youtube vids and free lessons plus he does a nice DVD if you fancy it.

https://www.youtube.com/user/planetalk

Kris

[Chicago Sandy]

+1 on the dulcimer. Although if you chord you might have to use your left thumb, it’s a different sort of motion from playing guitar in that you aren’t bending your thumb to grip a neck. I don’t use a noter (I prefer Mixolydian mode for the versatility of chording using all strings) but those who play traditional style in Ionian mode do. Much of what is played in DADGAD, open D or open G can be played on dulcimer in Mixolydian mode tuning (I-V-i).

Just a thought--has your doc checked uric acid levels? Painful joints, hypersensitive fingertip could be gout. I’m sure punkybub would agree that a trial of tart cherry juice (drink it, don’t apply it) might help.

[Time2play]

I HIGHLY recommend Toby for lessons.

He is an excellent teacher, and provides comprehensive materials both for downloading and online use (Tab and video for lessons). AND....his lessons are VERY reasonbly priced. After looking at DVD and now CD/online guitar instruction for many decades, I have NEVERfound a better, enthusiastic and supportive teacher(andmaterials). btw: I don't know Toby and have no connection with him other than being a very satisfied customer. www.littletobywalker.com

Keni Lee Burgess offers great open tuning slide instruction, and can be found on youtube and ebay(CD's). I believe his materials also can be found at: https://www.etsy.com/people/kennethburgess

As mentioned, www.homespuntapes.com has a great assortment of DVD/online options.

Stephan Groosman's www.guitarvideos.com site also has an extraordinary assortment of teaching videos.

Let us know what approach leads you to enjoying guitar again...
Bob