I wish you all the luck and skill! I play lefty; however, I write and do many things right-handed. Switching hands definitely gives you that "level 0" feeling, but you've got this!
@@keithconner9036 so am I am - I’ve been grateful that I’m able to play some regular, but I’m excited to relearn. All the things I’ve thought ‘here’s what I would do if I started over” - we’ll, I’m doing all that now 😆
Good on you for retaining your motivation. One that inspires me is how Django Reinhardt lost 2 fingers and was able to play some of the most incredible gypsy jazz guitar heard to this day.
The Major and minor scale and intervals are extremely important. Learning to play in all the keys is extremely important also. All too often I see guitar players struggle to play the major scale or a mixolydian mode because they spent so much time on the pentatonic scale. The pentatonic scale is missing two very important notes. For example, name me a Christmas song or a song with a beautiful melody that only uses the notes of the pentatonic scale. Excellent video by the way.
Thank you! I agree with that, the only caveat I have is that because the pentatonic scale is SO EASY on guitar it is often easier for students who ALREADY KNOW their pentatonic shapes to learn to ADD IN those two vital missing notes, instead of learning them as new scale shaped. I always imagine it to go CAGED octave shapes > triad shapes > pentatonic scales > Then Major Minor Mixolydian As alterations to the pentatonic they already know.
Finally! Waited 40 years to meet a guitar teacher that understands playing with a missing finger. Had two of them outright refuse to help, because they said they couldn't teach someone with a missing ring finger, as their brains couldn't process the info properly. If you have to be minus one finger, you'd rather it be your pinkie, than a ring one. That ring finger is so much strong and longer than my poor over worked pinkie. Subscribed and waiting for more!
Wow! Great to meet you! Glad I can help :) I'm so sorry someone turned you away - that's crazy. A ton of famous players have lost fingers or suffered major hand injuries. Missing a ring finger is different that a pinky for sure, but I'd look in to Robin Ford. He isn't missing a finger, but he was worried about having a weak pinky, so used it instead of his ring finger, and he rarely uses his ring finger. He's the opposite of most other guitar players that way. And his technical facility is amazing.
@@joshcoughx thank you so much! Gotta stay positive, things will get way less fun pretty fast. It was a difficult time at first, but things are definitely getting better :-)
@@alfonso365 I’ve been playing in open E tuning for gigs and sessions for the last few months. 😀 Starting lefty is another experiment. I’m wondering g how hard it will be Tom lead. How long will it take. Mostly, it is also to come along side my beginner students who are beginners too. I think seeing me conquer the beginner stage again will be inspiring and valuable.
Have you considered learning guitar left handed? Maybe it could mitigate the pinky finger you lost since its not needed for strumming or finger picking
@s8tn622 that’s actually what I’m talking about in this video. I’m starting learning lefty on Jan 20th 😀😆 I can actually play pretty well righty, and lefty I am like a new born deer 🦌 but, I’m going to end up doing both!
In a regular session of playing, how often would you say is your brain trying to connect with your pinky to do a certain task? I imagine it takes a while for the gray matter to realize that it's kind of pointless now to still shoot messages to the pinky.
It isn't only when playing. Actually, that's when I notice it the least. It's really all the time they my brain is trying to 'find' my pinky. Which results in phantom pain constantly. It isn't fun and I'm doing a bunch of PT to try to get my brain to learn, but the therapist says it could be 6-12 months to see progress.
You've got this Jake. Happy to be a part of your transformation
@@JakeYakes I’m starting to feel excited about it - it’s going to be a lot of fun 😆
I wish you all the luck and skill! I play lefty; however, I write and do many things right-handed. Switching hands definitely gives you that "level 0" feeling, but you've got this!
@@TheCSpang thank you! I’m excited to give it a shot. I’m actually left-hand dominant, so I’m hoping that’ll help. :-)
I know the circumstances of losing the pinky were not great but I am excited about the left hand journey.
@@keithconner9036 so am I am - I’ve been grateful that I’m able to play some regular, but I’m excited to relearn.
All the things I’ve thought ‘here’s what I would do if I started over” - we’ll, I’m doing all that now 😆
Good on you for retaining your motivation.
One that inspires me is how Django Reinhardt lost 2 fingers and was able to play some of the most incredible gypsy jazz guitar heard to this day.
Thank you 🙏
The Major and minor scale and intervals are extremely important. Learning to play in all the keys is extremely important also. All too often I see guitar players struggle to play the major scale or a mixolydian mode because they spent so much time on the pentatonic scale. The pentatonic scale is missing two very important notes. For example, name me a Christmas song or a song with a beautiful melody that only uses the notes of the pentatonic scale. Excellent video by the way.
Thank you! I agree with that, the only caveat I have is that because the pentatonic scale is SO EASY on guitar it is often easier for students who ALREADY KNOW their pentatonic shapes to learn to ADD IN those two vital missing notes, instead of learning them as new scale shaped.
I always imagine it to go CAGED octave shapes > triad shapes > pentatonic scales >
Then
Major
Minor
Mixolydian
As alterations to the pentatonic they already know.
Jake you got this, sounds like you’re in a good place to work through the switch to lefty guitar
@@karisumner4709 I think so - if nothing else it’ll be fun. I get to be a beginner again 😊
You are truly an inspiration dude! Way to stay positive!
@@beemanrunning977 thank you so much! It wasn’t my first impulse, but I’d rather be excited than upset. I have to practice doing that every day :-)
Finally! Waited 40 years to meet a guitar teacher that understands playing with a missing finger. Had two of them outright refuse to help, because they said they couldn't teach someone with a missing ring finger, as their brains couldn't process the info properly. If you have to be minus one finger, you'd rather it be your pinkie, than a ring one. That ring finger is so much strong and longer than my poor over worked pinkie. Subscribed and waiting for more!
Wow! Great to meet you! Glad I can help :)
I'm so sorry someone turned you away - that's crazy. A ton of famous players have lost fingers or suffered major hand injuries.
Missing a ring finger is different that a pinky for sure, but I'd look in to Robin Ford.
He isn't missing a finger, but he was worried about having a weak pinky, so used it instead of his ring finger, and he rarely uses his ring finger.
He's the opposite of most other guitar players that way. And his technical facility is amazing.
Your are a good teacher.
Thank you! I'm so glad it was helpful for you!
Thank you! I"m so glad it was helpful for you :)
I love that you still seem so positive despite life throwing you a curveball! I wish you the best of luck. Subscribing.
@@joshcoughx thank you so much! Gotta stay positive, things will get way less fun pretty fast.
It was a difficult time at first, but things are definitely getting better :-)
Good luck in your journey of learning left-handed, you've got this!
Thank you! I'm excited and ready to get started :)
So Strong ❤❤❤❤ love from Germany
Much appreciated!
I would try different tunings... this Jacob Collier tuning basically just needs index and middle finger for barred chords (major and minor).
@@alfonso365 I’ve been playing in open E tuning for gigs and sessions for the last few months. 😀
Starting lefty is another experiment. I’m wondering g how hard it will be Tom lead. How long will it take.
Mostly, it is also to come along side my beginner students who are beginners too.
I think seeing me conquer the beginner stage again will be inspiring and valuable.
Have you considered learning guitar left handed? Maybe it could mitigate the pinky finger you lost since its not needed for strumming or finger picking
@s8tn622 that’s actually what I’m talking about in this video. I’m starting learning lefty on Jan 20th 😀😆
I can actually play pretty well righty, and lefty I am like a new born deer 🦌 but, I’m going to end up doing both!
In a regular session of playing, how often would you say is your brain trying to connect with your pinky to do a certain task?
I imagine it takes a while for the gray matter to realize that it's kind of pointless now to still shoot messages to the pinky.
It isn't only when playing. Actually, that's when I notice it the least.
It's really all the time they my brain is trying to 'find' my pinky. Which results in phantom pain constantly.
It isn't fun and I'm doing a bunch of PT to try to get my brain to learn, but the therapist says it could be 6-12 months to see progress.
How did you lose your pinky?
@@curtgottler9961 it started as a break that was bad enough to need surgery.
It got infected…
And it had to go to save the hand.
@@guitargymproso sorry, I would have guessed table saw.
@@sdb6757 that’s probably more likely.
I’m level 0 but have a guitar. Im hoping to start at the beginning of the year.
@@noahbrink4127 that’s amazing! You can do it!! I’m excited for you - guitar is a blast.
If you love music you will do it.
@@Matt-jj5po That's the truth. We always find a way.
How did you lose your finger?
@@noahbrink4127 I broke it and needed surgery because the break twisted. That got infected…and they had to take the finger to save the hand.
@@guitargympro💔