WOW, I just found this website. Funny, I found this site AFTER I purchased the app. LOL. I purchased 2 new guitars, an Acoustic then I heard that Electric was easier to start with I got a KILLER deal A $1700 Ibanez RGA that had the smallest scratch on the back, so small they had to point it out to me. Short answer is, I got it for $800.
My problem. I have dislocated my ring finger several times. It is now, due to scar tissue, nearly impossible to bend. Is there a way to play the D and A chord without using this finger?
Sure.
Use your index finger as a barre across 2nd fret, mute the high E with your index finger. Play. xo222x.
Then it’s pretty easy to go from that A chord to D by using the same index finger to barre the top three stings on 2nd fret. Use your middle finger to get the note D on the 2nd string, 3rd fret. The notes played will be xxo232.
I play it this way often.
Welcome to the community Ken.
take a look at open tunings. or even slide guitar
without doing something like that, you’re going to have a difficult time with a lot of chords if you can’t use your ring finger.
1 Like
I like the sound of the slide
me, too. I’ve used a slide a little bit on my acoustic and on my electric (and having a much more difficult time of it on my electric). but I’m currently shopping for a resonator guitar whose primary function will be open tunings and slide.
there’s apparently a local guitar instructor where I live who likes to introduce kids to guitar with slide. it’s an interesting idea.
No one else has mentioned it, you appear to be starting out to some degree; can you teach yourself to play left-handed so you have full use of your right hand/fingers for chord shapes? You don’t need the ring finger on your picking hand for the most part. Only for finger picking or sometimes hybrid picking. Give it a try. Nitsuj is.
3 Likes
that’s a solid option, also.
plenty even play with the strings flipped over (so a lefty playing a righty instrument or even a righty playing a lefty instrument) so the high E string is at the top and low E is at the bottom so you don’t necessarily even need to buy a new guitar.
Very interested to hear how you overcome this. I deal with arthritis in general and have not given up on playing. The one finger barrre on the A chord definitely is a good starting point. I don’t see how anyone can get three fingers on the one fret like you’re supposed to do it unless small fingers maybe.
@Mustela Albert King played that way, left-handed, with the high e string on top and low E on bottom. You could always switch the strings around too, so it’s standard tuning top to bottom. Would make it easier to read tabs, etc. that way. One less thing to have to reverse if you give left-handed playing a shot. I have large hands, good for things like turning wrenches or swinging a hammer, but for something like an A chord, I use my middle and ring fingers. The ring finger holds down string 2, and the index squishes down on strings 3 and 4. Good luck. Keep us posted. It may be a slight learning curve and feel awkward at first, but if you start now, early on from the sounds of it, you may make it work for you. Wish you much success with it.
1 Like
Eric Gales plays that way, too. Not sure if he’s using standard tuning or something else, but he’s definitely playing a right-handed guitar left-handed, with the high-E on top.
So does Hawaiian guitarist Keni Blue (this kid is really good - saw him play at a local market event on Maui a couple years ago).
And so did this guy. But he’s just a nobody.
1 Like
WOW, thank you all for your ideas. I will start by turning the guitar upside down and see if my right hand fingers will reach the strings correctly. If that works, I might restring so the strings are in the correct order. If not I will try a slide. Hard to tell right now as I am a truck driver sitting in the cab of my truck. I was an electrician for about 40 years so my fingertips are very callous. One good thing is I dont have finger pain from the strings, just my joints.
yes, just started about 3 weeks ago
1 Like
Perfect timing then, nothing lost so have at it. Keep us posted and do post a video of your progress. It’ll help many others, I’m sure.
I was going to suggest learning left-handed since you’re a brand-new beginner, but I saw you had already bought right-handed guitars, so I thought maybe you wouldn’t want the hassle.
If you flip them upside-down, the pick guards and strap buttons will be in the wrong place. Following Justin’s lessons will be confusing if you leave them strung right-handed, and if you re-string them so they’re in the familiar order, you have to turn the nuts around, as they’re cut for the gauge of the string that goes in each slot. It won’t be quite as easy as it seems.
Okay, I FINALLY got the “D” chord with my left hand. Turning the guitar over did not seem to work as the amp chord was up now, and yes, the strap is wrong as well. By twisting the top of the guitar away from me, I was able to overcome the lack of motion in my left wrist the guitar is now 5 degrees or so twisted, and took pressure off of my wrist. Took about 20 times VERY SLOW, one string at a time and using my right hand to force the fingers into the correct position. Once I can lift may fingers and put them back again without lookling (I am guessing 2 to 3 years) I can work on the “A” chord. I meant 2 to 3 weeks.
2 Likes
I did not know each nut was cut for a certain guage. Thanks. I am NOT taking a screwdriver to my new guitar. Not that they are expensive, only $800 each, just that I will destroy them if I try to do it.
I have the Electric with me in the semi, and keeping the accustic at home. I am going from Fla with 100% humidity to Montana with 7% every 4 days or so. Dont think that will be good for the wood on the accustic.
2 Likes
