# Playing guitar with a ripped hand. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 11, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896 "2010-08-11T01:34:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/1 "2010-08-11T01:34:54Z")
Hi. I cut my hand (under the pinkie on my fretting hand) pretty badly about 6 weeks ago, and even now find it difficult to play guitar, in standard tuning, anyway. So, just wondering if any guitarists out there know of a tuning that might be easier to use…? ---
**Author:** ![ctywkr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@ctywkr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ctywkr)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/2 "2010-08-11T02:41:40Z")
Open e and a slide on your ring finger? ---
**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/3 "2010-08-11T02:46:08Z")
I’ve never been good at the whole slide thing, but it’d be worth a shot, I guess. Good opportunity to try something really different. Thanks for the suggestion! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/4 "2010-08-11T10:55:31Z")
Use the time to just play 3-finger chords but focus on practicing groove/rhythm stuff? How far away does your finger feel like it is from firmer fretting? …and could your username possibly be more smirk-worthy? I mean that in a good way - I can’t say it without a Butthead “huh huh” after it 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/5 "2010-08-11T23:39:34Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Use the time to just play 3-finger chords but focus on practicing groove/rhythm stuff? > > How far away does your finger feel like it is from firmer fretting? > > …and could your username possibly be more smirk-worthy? I mean that in a good way - I can’t say it without a Butthead “huh huh” after it 😃 My username is very dear to me, as it’s the name my mama gave me. It’s derived from… Nah, I couldn’t think of a username, so I asked my friend and he blurted out, ‘BOOMERWANG!!!’. My pinkie can move OK, but the tip is numb, which makes it hard to feel if I’m fretting the string or not (obviously I can hear a misfretting :eek:). Power chords are out for now. ☹ But I like your suggestion of focussing on the 3 healthy fingers, and explore different grooves etc. I’ll try it out. Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/6 "2010-08-11T23:58:55Z")
“Apparently, the tattoo really says ‘Welcome to Saskatchewan’.” I know this is hard, but I’d try to lay off altogether for a week or so until it heals up good. Do you have any idea why the tip is numb? That concerns me… (I am not a doctor, but I don’t like the sound of that at all.) Sending you healing vibes… {{{{{{ **BOOMERWANG** }}}}} ---
**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/7 "2010-08-12T00:37:18Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > “Apparently, the tattoo really says ‘Welcome to Saskatchewan’.” > > I know this is hard, but I’d try to lay off altogether for a week or so until it heals up good. Do you have any idea why the tip is numb? That concerns me… (I am not a doctor, but I don’t like the sound of that at all.) > > Sending you healing vibes… {{{{{{ **BOOMERWANG** }}}}} Thanks for the mad vibes, **LMD l’au-delà**. I’ve already rested the hand and fingers for 6 weeks, while the cut was healing. Now I’m trying to get the strength and co-ordination back in my hand/fingers. The docs tell me the tip is numb coz of tissue damage/trama/something, and it will heal in time, as no nerves were severed. I don’t get the tattoo reference, sorry. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/8 "2010-08-12T01:15:21Z")
get Marty to play for you ---
**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/9 "2010-08-12T01:28:45Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > get Marty to play for you 😕 x 1000000 ---
**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/10 "2010-08-12T01:38:12Z")
Back To The Future? I’m not much of a movie buff. :blushes: ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/11 "2010-08-12T01:56:32Z")
> [@boomerwang](#): > > > [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > > > “Apparently, the tattoo really says ‘Welcome to Saskatchewan’.” > > I don’t get the tattoo reference, sorry. ☹ It’s a crude joke up here in Canada, where there’s some new (insert your favourite ethnicity here) guy in the old folks home with a tattoo on his dick that says ‘Swan’. All the nurses and orderlies are puzzled by that intriguing tattoo, until the youngest orderly comes back from giving him his sponge bath and says… > [@](#): > > I’ve already rested the hand and fingers for 6 weeks, while the cut was healing. Now I’m trying to get the strength and co-ordination back in my hand/fingers. The docs tell me the tip is numb coz of tissue damage/trama/something, and it will heal in time, as no nerves were severed. Hoy, bugger - I missed that on the first read. Now, if you were a classical guitarist, I’d be telling you this is the ideal time to work on ‘pinky set’. This is an exercise/technique where you place the pinky first, balance the thumb directly on the other side of the neck of the pinky and then place all the other fingers without disturbing the pinky. There’s no pressure, squeezing, Hell, you don’t even have to ‘play’ - this technique is just there to get the pinky in the ideal position and get the other longer, stronger fingers to do their work to help the pinky out. Gentle does it - you’re teaching your hand to find its most efficient positions. This is also a fun time to re-discover the relationship between 2 and 3. Drop them on different strings, but the same fret and slide them up and down, playing the other open strings against them in some basic arpeggios. 2 and 3 can also play the open Perfect fourth power chord, a la ‘Smoke on the Water’. Crank the overdrive and pump up the bass on your amp to hear how the sound fills in that missing fundamental. You could also tune in major thirds - E G# C E G# C - this is absolutely awful for ‘campfire’ chords, but it’s great for running lines. Caution - this will either drive you crazy enough to become a musician, piss you off or become incredibly habit forming. You’ll know it’s formed a habit when you start contemplating mixing and matching strings to even out the tension across the neck. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/12 "2010-08-12T02:07:13Z")
I don’t want to live in a world where Back to the Future references are not instantly recognized. I need a time machine to get back to the year 1985 ---
**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/13 "2010-08-12T04:26:48Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > > [@boomerwang](#): > > > > I don’t get the tattoo reference, sorry. ☹ > > It’s a crude joke up here in Canada, where there’s some new (insert your favourite ethnicity here) guy in the old folks home with a tattoo on his dick that says ‘Swan’. All the nurses and orderlies are puzzled by that intriguing tattoo, until the youngest orderly comes back from giving him his sponge bath and says… > > > [@](#): > > > > I’ve already rested the hand and fingers for 6 weeks, while the cut was healing. Now I’m trying to get the strength and co-ordination back in my hand/fingers. The docs tell me the tip is numb coz of tissue damage/trama/something, and it will heal in time, as no nerves were severed. > > Hoy, bugger - I missed that on the first read. > > Now, if you were a classical guitarist, I’d be telling you this is the ideal time to work on ‘pinky set’. This is an exercise/technique where you place the pinky first, balance the thumb directly on the other side of the neck of the pinky and then place all the other fingers without disturbing the pinky. There’s no pressure, squeezing, Hell, you don’t even have to ‘play’ - this technique is just there to get the pinky in the ideal position and get the other longer, stronger fingers to do their work to help the pinky out. Gentle does it - you’re teaching your hand to find its most efficient positions. > > This is also a fun time to re-discover the relationship between 2 and 3. Drop them on different strings, but the same fret and slide them up and down, playing the other open strings against them in some basic arpeggios. 2 and 3 can also play the open Perfect fourth power chord, a la ‘Smoke on the Water’. Crank the overdrive and pump up the bass on your amp to hear how the sound fills in that missing fundamental. > > You could also tune in major thirds - E G# C E G# C - this is absolutely awful for ‘campfire’ chords, but it’s great for running lines. Caution - this will either drive you crazy enough to become a musician, piss you off or become incredibly habit forming. You’ll know it’s formed a habit when you start contemplating mixing and matching strings to even out the tension across the neck. All great advice. Just one thing: what’s ‘the neck of your pinkie’? Never heard this term before… Oh, I’m getting an amp tomorrow (my other one died recently - RIP) so I can CRANK IT UP!! Looking forward to it, obviously! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![fachverwirrt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/94ad74/32.png) [@fachverwirrt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fachverwirrt)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/14 "2010-08-12T10:27:22Z")
> [@boomerwang](#): > > All great advice. Just one thing: what’s ‘the neck of your pinkie’? Never heard this term before… > > Oh, I’m getting an amp tomorrow (my other one died recently - RIP) so I can CRANK IT UP!! Looking forward to it, obviously! 🆒 I think he means “the other side of the neck _from_ your pinkie” as in place your thumb on the other side of the guitar neck. As for advice, my guitar playing is limited to about 10 chords and _Auld Lang Syne_, so you should listen to everybody else. ---
**Author:** ![Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/le_ministre_de_l_au-dela/32/12181_2.png) [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Le_Ministre_de_l_au-dela)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/15 "2010-08-12T13:33:04Z")
Yes, “the other side of the neck _from_ your pinky” would have been a lot clearer. Despite being a native speaker of English, I often manage to speak as if it were my second language. 🙂 Picture it this way - say you’re about to play the CMaj7 that’s up the neck - 4th finger, 10th fret, (4) string; 3rd finger, 9th fret, (3) string; 2nd finger, 8th fret, (2) string; 1st finger, 7th fret, (1) string. Your hand is going to settle and function much more effectively if your thumb is also at the 10th fret. For this exercise, you would place the pinky first, then the thumb, then arrange everybody else without changing the good position you’ve found for the pinky. ---
**Author:** ![Molotok](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecd19e/32.png) [@Molotok](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Molotok)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2010, 6:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/playing-guitar-with-a-ripped-hand/549896/16 "2010-08-14T06:13:16Z")
> [@Le\_Ministre\_de\_l\_au-dela](#): > > Yes, “the other side of the neck _from_ your pinky” would have been a lot clearer. Despite being a native speaker of English, I often manage to speak as if it were my second language. 🙂 > > Picture it this way - say you’re about to play the CMaj7 that’s up the neck - > > 4th finger, 10th fret, (4) string; > 3rd finger, 9th fret, (3) string; > 2nd finger, 8th fret, (2) string; > 1st finger, 7th fret, (1) string. > > Your hand is going to settle and function much more effectively if your thumb is also at the 10th fret. For this exercise, you would place the pinky first, then the thumb, then arrange everybody else without changing the good position you’ve found for the pinky. Ah. I’ll try that. Thanks! 🙂