I thought I'd forgotten how to play!!
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- Опубліковано 18 вер 2024
- Apparently you can damage your muscle memory, and need to rebuild it .
After some hard physical work a week ago I found that I couldn't fret even basic chords. Why was this?
Perhaps I "reprogrammed" my hands for different tasks.
Seemingly, we have two types of skills: Cognitive, and Motor, and our hands ten to learn how to do things "automatically", because it is a skill that we
practice and develop but sometimes other skills tend to affect other things.
Here is my hand exercise video : • Hand Maintenance Upd...
Here is that most interesting video by Diego Alonso Audette : • What Does SCIENCE Say ...
totally self taught since '78. "discovered" the "F" cord because i needed it and it had to be there.
today you showed me how to play it "proper" as i learn more easily through example rather than instruction i cheat the "f" by using and strumming the top four strings only.
i fear losing my ability to play guitar as it is how i connect with God.
i have suffered with clinical depression for over twenty years and the guitar reminds me i am worth a darn.
Sorry to hear of your difficulties and appreciate your advice.
Lord help the world if i lose my guitar abilities and have to sing.
Hi Larry, Between 1983-1993, when a physical illness prevented my from playing, I took up photography, which forced me to got out of te house, and make my legs work, but being somewhare alone meant that when the pain was too much to bear, I could rest and have a quiet weep in blissful isolation. I did well as a photographer ultimately becoming a judge and public speaker telling my story with my images, and ultimately winning an international Gold medal. If I can help - I do these one-to one meetings vei Zoom.
@@SillyMoustache Congratulations on your achievements and your tenacity. i thank you for the offer. currently i have returned to work due to Bidenomics , perhaps after the shock of work after twenty years of self isolation wears off i may be able to take you up on that.
Thank you for your reply.
I never thought to look at my hands, I guess, partly because I do not see that well. I have a couple of guitars without any fret markers, just the side. I also do some hand stretches with my audience participants. I run my hands under warm water while massaging before I play. Works well. Thanks Andy.
Hi Tex, That all sounds wise and appropriate. Thanks as always, Andy ,
As a long time metal fabricator and welder I can relate to the hand problems associated with manual labour. I have to do hand stretches quite often just to keep them flexible enough to play at all. If you do the exercises the hands do respond very well to it but you have to do it very often throughout the day as well, the more the better. Glad they've come around for you, cheers.
Hi, thank you for this - I think your advice is good and I will follow it. Thanks
Thanks for sharing this.
You have, at least, confirmed my suspicion that physical exertion is a bad thing.
I recall once sitting in a pub, at a table, playing a piece on the guitar, holding a conversation, listening to a third party comment on how someone could do both of those things at the same time, and replying to them. Our brains can really do some stuff, but I'd really like to be able to operate the heater in the car and know where my other glasses are at all times.
Haha! I go yo the gym three times a week, but I get most exercises, looking for my specs, my gym watch, and other stuff.
When I learn a new song, I will watch where I place my fingers. After a few rounds of playing the song while watching, I close my eyes and keep playing till it sounds right. I feel one must learn to play with their eyes closed and know here their hand in on the fretboard. This has worked well for me and may not be the way for others. Thanks for the informative video and I will check the other two out. George in Montana
Thanks, George. Tex from another part of Montana!
I find that when I take a solo break in my songs as I tend to do after the second verse, I play best with my eyes closed. Best to Both, Andy
@SillyMoustache A solo is a great idea! I usually have the other person do a solo after a couple of verses at the Sunday Hymns and Sings. She is a public school music/instrument teacher. She'll play piano, flute, and violin. She does a great ragtime on the piano (part of the Sings), and she can honky tonk the hymns. She's having a great time with her violin playing along with me or lead
@@texhaines9957 Hi Tex, when I sing and play I have to play my own breaks because I have (sniff) no friends! Seriously, I've been askig an old friend to start playing with me again but he said. Andy, trouble is, you don't need a sideman. True, but it would be more fun!
@SillyMoustache It sure is more fun. She has fun, too. Her husband does his thing, and she plays/Sings for those who can't get out (assisted living, nursing care).
As a GP my advice would be to talk this through with your GP (explore the possibility of it being a ministroke). Take care!
If it was, could anything be done?
@@SillyMoustache yes, bloodthinners etc to protect you from future events. Its important to make right diagnosis first, maybe there is a benign logical explanation for your symptoms.
An old timer once told me that when your brain gets full, every time you remember something new it will delete something to make room. But the bad part is that you don't get to decide what that might be...
I guess that maybe true. Conversations with my wife trying to help each other remember the names of people and places, can be ridiculous.
Scary. I hope you continue to get your guitar groove back.
Nearly there - not quite as of Thursday night at my club, but improving. Thanks.
Thanks. Helpful information. I hope your hands are doing okay.
I think matters are returning to normal. I was OK at my club last Thursday, not withstanding putting up tables and moving heavy stacks of chairs - at least I don't have to lug a PA system any more.
Very nice! 🙂 Thanks.
Thank you.
@@SillyMoustache My pleasure! 🙂
Hi.Andy.My dentist told me that after he had put some effort into extracting a tooth, he couldn't do any delicate work for a number of hours.He had lost his delicate motor skills.
Kind regards and thanks for sharing.
That is very interesting. I hear/read that surgeons can develop hand tremors after a while too.
This was fascinating and helpful. Thanks for putting it out there.
Glad it was helpful!
Hello Andy, very interesting… sorry that you had this little hiccup. I know you’ll be back in rare form very quickly. Thanks for posting the two links. I’ll check them out. Be safe and well.
Hi thank for you wishes, and for watching.
Great video.
Thank you Rickey,
Hope get it all sorted out.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
Cheers!
Thanks, Andy
I'm an older gent who had a stroke. My cognitive skills would not advance much afterwards. Neurologist suggested guitar. Had not played in 48 years. And in one year, I'm playing not particularly well, but my cognitive skills in daily life improved exponentially thanks to an old guitar. Much luck to you Sir.
Hi Ted, that's a really positive message, Thank you, Best wishes, Andy
@@SillyMoustache medication and screening for atrial fibrillation
You may have had a Micro stroke?
Wow that's scary! and at my age possibly. I prefer to think it purely muscular at present.
I hope so Mr.@@SillyMoustache . It happens a lot with people dismissing it as a flu or cold or something. It happened to my Mom after she had covid. Something to think about for sure myself in almost being as old as you are.
❤❤❤
Wow, this is timely. Andy I'm a bit younger than you but due to some medical issues I took a 2 month break from playing and now that I have tried to resume playing I find trying to strum or fingerpick, gives me the shakes, like a bit of palsy..very unsettling..
Maybe you are tensing your hands too much ? Try to restart slowly and lightly.
Hello Andy, I hate to see you having to wear a brace of any type, that tells me you are having some pain, which isn't good with guitar playing. I look forward to seeing your videos as they are always uplifting. Take care of yourself my friend! Cheers from north Texas!!🤠
Hi, it is CMC thumb joint arthritis. Came on this year for both humble self and my wife.
physical labour is always a dangerous endeavour for those of us 'of age'
However, use it or lose it!
Super interesting indeed… playing in the dark also a nice way of practicing.
Like Guy Clark said, “got an old guitar won’t ever stay in tune…I like the way it sounds in a dark and empty room. “
Absolutely - should have worn a blue shirt!
I'm glad you're well. Years back I had a fall and broke my thumb and wrist on my right (dominant) hand. I almost put the toothbrush through the back of my neck!
Ouch ! Hope all is OK now. I think I've seen that name "Tenzin" for many years now! Hope you are well and happy!" Thanks for watching! Andy
Love the shirt!
Haha! Thanks,
I hope your motor skills are back in order, Andy! You were saying that maybe people who have trouble singing and playing, at the same time are and watch their hands when they play are maybe using mostly cognitive skills, vs motor skills. I don't watch my hands when I play, but I also have the same issue, i.e. I can't seem to sing along, when I fingerpick, but it's not an issue with strumming. I wonder if it's because I rely so much on reading the tab, (which likely uses a lot of cognitive skills). I seem to have a very hard time remembering the music, thus I so often depend on tabs. Thanks for your lessons and information.
Hi, there are many different waysof learning how to play. I used to attend an annual bluegrass camp, but stopped when they would not tell me whether the tutors used tab or not.
To my mind tablature is an operating manual similar to those old punch cards back in the day. It can only tell you how somebody else has arranged a piece with his/her hands, and that may not suit you.
Thank you for this - I'm going to make a video about this!
@@SillyMoustache I'm really looking forward to the video, Andy!
I have the same problem Im a farmer in Galway Ireland i always try to wear gloves and be mindful of my hands im in my mid 60s
Hi Nick, I did wear those thick red cotton/rubber gloves, but your point is well taken! Thanks, Andy
In a sense, this is what occupational therapists work on. Getting someone back to work, which can mean any activity as playing is an occupation, because it occupies us. My son has autism. In his younger days, learning how to walk, run, and play were assisted by a therapist because, at that tender age, playing was his occupation. Wishing you patience on your journey back to work.
Hi, the young lady tat showed me those exercises was actually called the "occupational therapist". My best to you and to your son. Best, Andy
Look after yourself old boy !
Doing my best, James, Thanks, Andy
I first saw this video on my phone and was only able to watch the beginning before losing my connection. Based on that, my initial thought was that due all the work you had been doing, you could be having issues related to that prior trigger finger surgery. To my layman's way of thinking, all of your stress from lifting, breaking, cutting, hauling could have caused inflammation, possibly due to some less than flexible scar tissue left over from the surgery. Inflammation related swelling might put enough pressure on a nerve or two that it interrupts, or short circuits, the signal to the fingers. If inflammation is the issue, ice could help, stretching might be good but exercise might create more inflammation. I won't pretend to be a doctor but I have experienced nerve inflammation issues and have had a couple cortisone injections, one through my neck to where the nerve exits the spine. Don't take anything I say as gospel, talk to a real doctor, especially since my next thought, autoimmune disease, definitely falls in a doctor's bailiwick.
Well, I spent a couple of hours strimming and weeding yesterday, and I'll be in the gym later today, then I'll check out my guitar skills.
I can tell you, you are too old for that yard work crap
May have been a mini stroke
Sadly, growing one's own veg and fruit, requires some physical labour.
@@SillyMoustache Of course. But sadly those are choices you have to make with age. I am 70 and still gig as a drummer in a blues band-2 or 3 hours banging on drums at this age is not the same as it was when I was 50, even.
This year I decided no more daytime outdoor gigs- it is hot as hell in Miami anyway and couldn't put up with the leg cramps after the gig
I f you get more enjoyment growing stuff than playing - it is just would you rather play or garden
we ain't getting any younger
Sir, that kind of outdoor work is not worth the risk to your guitar playing!! Stop it! 😮
Well bless you for the kind thought, but my other interest is growing our own fruit and veg, and that means maintaining the plots that I rent. Even though most green vegetable crops have failed this year due to heavy rains, lack of birds (so a plague of slugs and snails) as the obvious climate changes take effect.