I used my thumbs and my picky would be flying... for my entire playing career. I have osteoarthritis and have since a young age. Then, about 5 years ago, I injured my wrist and arm. Late, I realized that it was from the way I was playing. Thing was: I couldn't play any other way! ...or I thought, at first. It's been awhile but now, I'm better than I was. I had to relearn some basics, which was a bummer [read as: caused some depression] but now... I can do more, with less motion and less pain. I had given up for awhile and, for me, I'm the "if I can't play guitar...what's the 🤬 point of living" type of person. I wasn't going to just quit. I wish I had learned this earlier but, I'm just stoked to be able to play and to be actually making musical progress again. That's pretty cool when you're 40 [which isn't old, but when you've had arthritis in your fingers and the rest of your bones for 20years at that point...it's not sprightly either] and still get to have the excitement of having so much more that I get to learn! I mean that. I've played trumpet for years (competitively for 8 years) and my performance background is jazz and concert music. Jazz being more my thing....because I LOVE the blues! so, if you are like me (my condolences 😂) and you enjoy almost every kind of music there is, there is an endless amount of things to learn and that is a blessing! Currently: I'm trying to learn keyboard/piano, so I can make backing tracks with an acoustic, keyboard and a drum machine ....just for fun. I'm not talented enough to feel morally right about selling any of my music yet. 😂 I learned how to make digital beats and beats that others can rap to. That is a blast since you can just go a step further and make a electronic type song from a beat. I want to learn set but... I don't have room for that, so a midi drum machine with pads and keyboard are what I'm learning to use. I can play bass..... but my *dream* (it likely won't happen, as it's been decades and still hasn't...but it's fun to dream 😂) is ridiculously simple and relatively inexpensive: I want an acoustic bass so I can record some of my favorite songs, but play all the parts and all acoustic. It's taken me this long to save up enough to get an electric bass and an electric guitar that I actually wanted (I have teens, so getting them an acoustic and an electric to play became a priority. Now, instruments aren't in the budget, but that's cool).... but, stay at home dads don't make much $$, it turns out, even teaching through a public charter school. 😂 .....but one day.....I will have the $400 it takes and life will be even better than I likely deserve ♠︎ 🤘 It's also nice to have something to dream about. I may never own one...but I play it in my mind all the time. 🤘 You're never too old to learn something new. I used to think otherwise and I was wrong. It's also cool to have a dream, even if you know you likely won't get it. 🤷♂️ ♠︎ [read as: I don't know that I deserve basic needs more than any other human does...so, everyday is a luxury that is likely better than 'I deserve', all things considered. I'm saying "I'm grateful to be alive at all"...not "I don't deserve anything 😢" 😂 I'm clarifying because I say that a lot and it's a common problem]
I thank you for the encouragement! I bought a mandolin and have hardly picked it up. I feel intimidated. But I’m going to get lessons, and hopefully that will help. ☮️
Spider exercise is the first thing I teach a new student so their fingers get it right from the start.
Watching this reminds I need to book an opticians appt
I used my thumbs and my picky would be flying... for my entire playing career. I have osteoarthritis and have since a young age. Then, about 5 years ago, I injured my wrist and arm. Late, I realized that it was from the way I was playing.
Thing was: I couldn't play any other way! ...or I thought, at first. It's been awhile but now, I'm better than I was. I had to relearn some basics, which was a bummer [read as: caused some depression] but now... I can do more, with less motion and less pain. I had given up for awhile and, for me, I'm the "if I can't play guitar...what's the 🤬 point of living" type of person.
I wasn't going to just quit. I wish I had learned this earlier but, I'm just stoked to be able to play and to be actually making musical progress again. That's pretty cool when you're 40 [which isn't old, but when you've had arthritis in your fingers and the rest of your bones for 20years at that point...it's not sprightly either] and still get to have the excitement of having so much more that I get to learn!
I mean that. I've played trumpet for years (competitively for 8 years) and my performance background is jazz and concert music. Jazz being more my thing....because I LOVE the blues!
so, if you are like me (my condolences 😂) and you enjoy almost every kind of music there is, there is an endless amount of things to learn and that is a blessing!
Currently: I'm trying to learn keyboard/piano, so I can make backing tracks with an acoustic, keyboard and a drum machine ....just for fun. I'm not talented enough to feel morally right about selling any of my music yet. 😂 I learned how to make digital beats and beats that others can rap to. That is a blast since you can just go a step further and make a electronic type song from a beat. I want to learn set but... I don't have room for that, so a midi drum machine with pads and keyboard are what I'm learning to use.
I can play bass..... but my *dream* (it likely won't happen, as it's been decades and still hasn't...but it's fun to dream 😂) is ridiculously simple and relatively inexpensive: I want an acoustic bass so I can record some of my favorite songs, but play all the parts and all acoustic.
It's taken me this long to save up enough to get an electric bass and an electric guitar that I actually wanted (I have teens, so getting them an acoustic and an electric to play became a priority. Now, instruments aren't in the budget, but that's cool).... but, stay at home dads don't make much $$, it turns out, even teaching through a public charter school. 😂
.....but one day.....I will have the $400 it takes and life will be even better than I likely deserve ♠︎ 🤘 It's also nice to have something to dream about. I may never own one...but I play it in my mind all the time. 🤘
You're never too old to learn something new. I used to think otherwise and I was wrong. It's also cool to have a dream, even if you know you likely won't get it. 🤷♂️
♠︎ [read as: I don't know that I deserve basic needs more than any other human does...so, everyday is a luxury that is likely better than 'I deserve', all things considered. I'm saying "I'm grateful to be alive at all"...not "I don't deserve anything 😢" 😂 I'm clarifying because I say that a lot and it's a common problem]
Inspired, thanks for sharing. I'm sending love ✌🏻💋 🌹💕
I thank you for the encouragement! I bought a mandolin and have hardly picked it up. I feel intimidated. But I’m going to get lessons, and hopefully that will help. ☮️
Definitely worth it. With a little time and dedication, you'll be able to do quite a lot
Thank you! How much do you want for the grip master? : )
Is that your new guitar? So cool. Amazing story. Congratulations!
I appreciate you. 🌻