Questiion,, Amputated middle finger

Jon Logan · Post by **Jon Logan** » 23 Oct 2020 6:19 am

I don't know where to put this but I have a question. Anyone know of any steel player who has managed to play missing the top joint of their middle finger ? Maybe using index and ring finger ? Just lost mine and wondering..... It will be some time before it heals good enough to try...
Thanks

Nicholas Cox · Post by **Nicholas Cox** » 23 Oct 2020 6:25 am

Jerry Garcia was missing his middle finger and played pedal steel with picks on ring and index. Heâ€™s the only one Iâ€™m currently aware of. Iâ€™m sure switching to index will work fine but take some time to master.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 23 Oct 2020 6:35 am

Nicholas, didn't you mean the ring finger?

Nicholas Cox · Post by **Nicholas Cox** » 23 Oct 2020 7:09 am

Joachim Kettner wrote:Nicholas, didn't you mean the ring finger?

Yes I meant switching to ring. Sorry.

Fred Treece · Post by **Fred Treece** » 23 Oct 2020 7:35 am

It will take some retraining, but I donâ€™t see why you couldnâ€™t play using thumb/index/ring. Many players use thumb+3 fingers. In your case it would still be thumb+2, but with a twist. You might even discover some wider open voiced chords are easier to grip.

Sorry about the loss of your fingertip, just the same.

Tucker Jackson · Post by **Tucker Jackson** » 23 Oct 2020 11:50 am

Really sorry to hear that, Jon.

If it's any consolation, there have been several times where I had a bad gash on one finger or the other, and I couldn't put a pick on it. It was shocking how quickly I was able to adjust to just using a thumb and one fingerpick (like a half hour to get comfortable) Played several gigs like that. It was surprising how easy it was to get used to picking that way.

I am, however, concerned about your ability to wage war in traffic without a middle finger. The ring finger can work there there, but makes it seem like you're a newbie to road rage. No respect!

scott murray · Post by **scott murray** » 23 Oct 2020 11:56 am

Garcia made it work, he was a great 3-finger banjo picker too. best of luck to you Jon.

Don R Brown · Post by **Don R Brown** » 23 Oct 2020 4:18 pm

We're all presuming you meant on your right hand (or should I say picking hand, in case you're a lefty). Or was it on your bar hand?

Bob Womack · Post by **Bob Womack** » 23 Oct 2020 5:26 pm

Phil Keaggy plays fingerstyle missing the middle finger of his picking hand from the medial joint down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wpn6LVxX0s

Bob

Jon Logan · Post by **Jon Logan** » 24 Oct 2020 5:15 am

Thanks for all the thoughts and advice,,, Just take some time to adjust,,,,

Darrell Criswell · Post by **Darrell Criswell** » 24 Oct 2020 8:54 am

I have seen everything, an amputee played steel at the show at Gulfport and I saw a blind man playing steel at the show at New Philadelphia.

Andy Jones · Post by **Andy Jones** » 24 Oct 2020 5:06 pm

The steeler you saw at Gulfport is Will Stewart,a very smooth and steady player.
There was a blind steel player in my hometown,Meridian,MS.His name was Leroy White.He was very good.He passed away a few years ago.
Speaking of Gulfport,I assume the show in November has been canceled,as I haven't seen or heard anything about it.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 24 Oct 2020 7:04 pm

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Questiion,, Amputated middle finger

Questiion,, Amputated middle finger

Amputation