Chris Poland, three and a half finger shredding

Doctor J

Keep an eye on his left hand index finger, he can't bend it after severing a tendon many, many years ago but the way he gets around it, either through just using the other three fingers or finding ways to take advantage of it is just stellar. This guy's touch and bends are so unique, he has such an identifiable sound. He plays fast but with personality, a fine example of advanced technique, but with soul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6PsJEYU1n08

red_ice

my worst nightmare.

Zapp Brannigan

He inspired me when I started (although I play bass). I had my pinky crushed between a gate and a pillar when I was a kid and as a result the top halp of it came off. I can't bend it anymore so it made it quite awkward when I started playing, but I heard about poland and just decided to get over it!

Maccattack

thats very inspiring!

I have a similar problem - though not the technique

I hurt my little finger a while ago. I slammed it hard on the fretboard and really hurt it. a big lump formed on the lower knuckle.

I went to the quacks who told me i have arthritis in my hand. It is now extremely painful to use my little finger. This at a time when ive really started learnng scales and arpegios etc.

It hasnt stopped me using it as i just play through the pain but its really affecting my fretting as my finger is fighting me.

Its now at a point where - Dont laugh - i am seriously considering getting the top part of the finger amputated. it is affecting my progress that much. the other option i have is to have it set so that there is a permanent bend at the top of the finger. somehow i think it would be better to just have the top removed but maybe the finger will then be too stumpy.

im not sure what to do yet. i dont trust the quacks here anyway. ill be in Oz soon and was thinking i should see a specialist there first.

Doctor J

Jaysus, sorry to hear it :eek:

I remember reading about Paul Simon having something like that during the 70s, he had calcium deposits which formed into lumps in his finger joints in his fretting hand, painful and restricting movement. He worked around it by developing a lighter playing technique and visting a herbalist.

Definitely don't commit to anything permanent until you get a second and third opinion. Good luck with it.

Maccattack

Doctor J wrote:

calcium deposits which formed into lumps in his finger joints in his fretting hand,

yes. i think thats what the quack said it was it looks like a giant blister. My whole left had is feeling 'arthritic'.

it has made me fret that bit lighter so maybe it will be a positive development in the long run. at the moment though the effect is to make my hand apprehensive. almost like it has a mind of it own. like its saying 'Please dont make me do this'.

steveland?

Maccattack wrote:

yes. i think thats what the quack said it was it looks like a giant blister. My whole left had is feeling 'arthritic'.

it has made me fret that bit lighter so maybe it will be a positive development in the long run. at the moment though the effect is to make my hand apprehensive. almost like it has a mind of it own. like its saying 'Please dont make me do this'.

My mother banged her hand a while ago and went to the doctors when it wouldn't stop hurting and started to swell all around her hand.

She was told she had arthritis which is a bit of a pain as she's running a cafe and really needs both of her hands for in the kitchen etc.

A friend of hers is an osteopath or similar... don't know what they're actually called. A fancy masseus basically...

She went up to her when her neck was hurting, the osteopath had a look at her hand, asked what was wrong with it, mam said it was her arthritis, osteopath said "That's not arthritis, let me try this" and basically attacked her upper arm...

Hurt like hell being poked and prodded violently all over her arm but the next day the swelling had gone down and her hand stopped hurting as much. Now her hand isn't exactly like it was before, she still has a touch of arthritis in her hand but it's definitely more mobile.

Not saying your finger could be anything like that or that your arthritis could be cured by an osteopath but just saying might want to explore all the options before you get it amputated!

Just a thought, you have nothing to lose by asking someone other than a doctor doctor to have a look, if it turns out there's nothing that can be done then you've lost nothing.

Maccattack

thanks for that. i dont trust doctors at all. theyre are a pack of over paid head up their arz w@nkers in my humble opinion.

i do plan on getting it checked again by someone else. i know getting the top chopped off is extreme so do want to avoid that at all costs. it can get very painful while im playing so i find i dont use it as much which is far from ideal. especially when chording.

ill try one of those fancy massage people. never know might be fun uh huh uh huh.:p