I know I've emailed you in the past but I'll just try a comment this time.
This article was definitely a bit more personal for me since I actually only have one hand and no thumb yet I play the drums and guitar. I even just had to take a piano class in college. Anyway, it was interesting hearing about your experience adapting and seeing that video of Django. Since I never had proper limbs to begin with, I've learned that it might as well take a whole lifetime adapting and figuring out new ways to play instruments that will hopefully lead to a unique sound. I always find that to be the trickiest part because, on one hand, I want to be able to play what all my musical heroes play and be able to sound as good as good as any other musician, however on the other hand (obviously not literally), that will never fully happen so I might as well use the tools given to me to sound like no one else!
so good to hear from you again, Marcus! Your story is super inspiring, thank you for sharing it with me. I can only imagine the challenges and creativity involved with those sorts of constraints. Wow.
I use my pinky for piano and guitar tricks. I've had finger infections that meant not using my middle finger or pointer finger and having to hold my pick in an entirely different way. Weird, but I did it for weeks. I also sliced my pinky and it would not clot last Thanksgiving while cutting Brussels sprouts, but insisted on practicing piano and made it bleed more so had to go to urgent care. Yep. Also, many a sprained ankle, bicep tear, etc as a fitness instructor and dancer. You learn the healing process: injury, diagnosis, ice, rest, rehab, recovery and try to prevent from reoccurring.
It's funny how clichés stop being clichés when it's your lived reality you take them from, and not a quote posted on a melancholic background photo with a filter. ;)
And it's really fascinating how so many unique artistic voices have been found because of accidents, biographical events, mistakes, and chance meetings. Quoting another overquoted, cliché poet, "Your life is your life" - let's make the most of what we get.
(I've been experimenting/empathizing just now, and discovered I can still grap the full octave without the pinky, even if with some hand gymnastics involved, what do you know)
(Yeah, I have small hands and struggle with octaves D:)
Yes! I can actually just about still reach a tenth (C to E) on the keyboard without my pinky, which is pretty wild. It's just a little more awkward / less practiced.
Ha! from Google: A bent or dented pinky finger from holding a phone is informally called "smartphone pinky," a temporary indentation from resting the phone's weight, though prolonged strain can lead to real issues like nerve pain, trigger finger, or cubital tunnel syndrome (also known as "smartphone elbow"), which involve numbness, tingling, or inflammation in the hand and pinky. AND OF COURSE... I was holding my iPhone to get this response 8^) No pain. Just... weird.
Hi Ian,
I know I've emailed you in the past but I'll just try a comment this time.
This article was definitely a bit more personal for me since I actually only have one hand and no thumb yet I play the drums and guitar. I even just had to take a piano class in college. Anyway, it was interesting hearing about your experience adapting and seeing that video of Django. Since I never had proper limbs to begin with, I've learned that it might as well take a whole lifetime adapting and figuring out new ways to play instruments that will hopefully lead to a unique sound. I always find that to be the trickiest part because, on one hand, I want to be able to play what all my musical heroes play and be able to sound as good as good as any other musician, however on the other hand (obviously not literally), that will never fully happen so I might as well use the tools given to me to sound like no one else!
-Marcus K.
so good to hear from you again, Marcus! Your story is super inspiring, thank you for sharing it with me. I can only imagine the challenges and creativity involved with those sorts of constraints. Wow.
I use my pinky for piano and guitar tricks. I've had finger infections that meant not using my middle finger or pointer finger and having to hold my pick in an entirely different way. Weird, but I did it for weeks. I also sliced my pinky and it would not clot last Thanksgiving while cutting Brussels sprouts, but insisted on practicing piano and made it bleed more so had to go to urgent care. Yep. Also, many a sprained ankle, bicep tear, etc as a fitness instructor and dancer. You learn the healing process: injury, diagnosis, ice, rest, rehab, recovery and try to prevent from reoccurring.
It's funny how clichés stop being clichés when it's your lived reality you take them from, and not a quote posted on a melancholic background photo with a filter. ;)
And it's really fascinating how so many unique artistic voices have been found because of accidents, biographical events, mistakes, and chance meetings. Quoting another overquoted, cliché poet, "Your life is your life" - let's make the most of what we get.
(I've been experimenting/empathizing just now, and discovered I can still grap the full octave without the pinky, even if with some hand gymnastics involved, what do you know)
(Yeah, I have small hands and struggle with octaves D:)
Yes! I can actually just about still reach a tenth (C to E) on the keyboard without my pinky, which is pretty wild. It's just a little more awkward / less practiced.
Thanks for the comment, as always :)
Thanks for the kind words Ian. I'm looking forward to listening to that Fela Kuti podcast - nice tip!
It's very good, as is expected. I'm always so impressed in particular with the treatment of sound in their productions.
Cell phone pinkie...? Mine is so. Can't straighten it. Such is life... 8^)
Oh no!!! Sorry to hear that. Mine’s called “Mallet finger” apparently
Ha! from Google: A bent or dented pinky finger from holding a phone is informally called "smartphone pinky," a temporary indentation from resting the phone's weight, though prolonged strain can lead to real issues like nerve pain, trigger finger, or cubital tunnel syndrome (also known as "smartphone elbow"), which involve numbness, tingling, or inflammation in the hand and pinky. AND OF COURSE... I was holding my iPhone to get this response 8^) No pain. Just... weird.
WHOA! Never even knew this was a thing. And I definitely resonate with this... no pain, just weird. Good luck out there!