I screwed up my left hand when I was little, so I can't play the guitar. I do play the mandoln though, but It gets kinda old and I was hoping to try a bigger instrument. I heard a tenor banjo is somewhere in between... Maybe an octave mandolin?Any suggestions?
A 17 fret tenor banjo might suit you, but I don't know what you mean by "kinda old". Even with a 17 fretter there's a bit more stretch than with a mandolin, but you don't say what's up with your hand. I think an octave mandolin might be hard work for melody, though I haven't tried one.I've got a tenor guitar that's about the same scale length- but it's too quiet for sessions.
The problem with my hand is that I fell on a broken glass when I was little and cut half way through the tendon/nerve thing on my left hand. So If I hold my hand up I can't move my middle or ring finger at all. Basically I can't make the stretch for the guitar at all. Stupidwhistler-nice name ;) - Is right though. The mandolin is the only instrument I can play, and I'm kind of bored with it. I have a friend that plays the guitar and the trumpet, and just switches off when he gets tired of one, so I was thinking that'd be a good idea. cuts down on frustration too ;) . I LOVE TIN WHISTLES...and hate caps lock... but I think my roommates would kick me out if I brought one home.....
Could you play guitar left-handed? I know of a guy who decided to adopt this technique after an injury; it can be done. Maybe you already thought of that already.
I was also going to suggest the two-row button accordion, as all the difficult finger-work is done with the right hand, but I'm getting the idea you want to stick with stringed instruments. Also harmonica is cheap, you can play great tunes on it, it would be a break from mandolin (I love the mandolin though, don't give it up completely) but you did say "a bigger instrument".
I thought about proposing the left-handed idea, too - although I've never seriously tried it. What about a box or accordian? Maybe see if your fiddle teacher friend has a loaner that you could try out...
My left-handed daughter plays all her stringed instruments right-handed, but on the other hand ( ON THE OTHER HAND !! ) left-handed people have to accommodate the right-handed world all the time, so they get used to it.
Crooked hand question
Crooked hand question
I screwed up my left hand when I was little, so I can't play the guitar. I do play the mandoln though, but It gets kinda old and I was hoping to try a bigger instrument. I heard a tenor banjo is somewhere in between... Maybe an octave mandolin?Any suggestions?
# Posted on March 27th 2009 by steve...r
Re: Crooked hand question
A 17 fret tenor banjo might suit you, but I don't know what you mean by "kinda old". Even with a 17 fretter there's a bit more stretch than with a mandolin, but you don't say what's up with your hand. I think an octave mandolin might be hard work for melody, though I haven't tried one.I've got a tenor guitar that's about the same scale length- but it's too quiet for sessions.
# Posted on March 28th 2009 by RichardB
Re: Crooked hand question
By kinda old he means the instrument is becoming boring for him and he wants a change.
# Posted on March 28th 2009 by stupidwhistler
Re: Crooked hand question
My middle finger bend about one inch to side and I play guitar.
Mandolin might be easier, yeah, cuz the neck is a lot smaller.
Maybe you could learn a flute instrument instead???
# Posted on March 28th 2009 by Donagh17
Re: Crooked hand question
The problem with my hand is that I fell on a broken glass when I was little and cut half way through the tendon/nerve thing on my left hand. So If I hold my hand up I can't move my middle or ring finger at all. Basically I can't make the stretch for the guitar at all. Stupidwhistler-nice name ;) - Is right though. The mandolin is the only instrument I can play, and I'm kind of bored with it. I have a friend that plays the guitar and the trumpet, and just switches off when he gets tired of one, so I was thinking that'd be a good idea. cuts down on frustration too ;) . I LOVE TIN WHISTLES...and hate caps lock... but I think my roommates would kick me out if I brought one home.....
# Posted on March 28th 2009 by steve...r
Re: Crooked hand question
banjo sounds kind of good though... about how long is a 17 fretter?
# Posted on March 28th 2009 by steve...r
Re: Crooked hand question
Hmm if you play the mandolin I imagine you could play the fiddle too?
# Posted on March 28th 2009 by Donagh17
Re: Crooked hand question
maybe...if I can save up some money, I know a fiddle teacher too....hmmm...
# Posted on March 28th 2009 by steve...r
Re: Crooked hand question
How about slide guitar? Open tuning, bottle neck acoustic, or steel slide electric.
# Posted on March 28th 2009 by gam
Re: Crooked hand question
Could you play guitar left-handed? I know of a guy who decided to adopt this technique after an injury; it can be done. Maybe you already thought of that already.
# Posted on March 28th 2009 by Hammurabi Breathnach
Re: Crooked hand question
I actually tried that, but it hurt my head too bad so I learned the mandolin rigt handed instead.
# Posted on March 28th 2009 by steve...r
Re: Crooked hand question
I was also going to suggest the two-row button accordion, as all the difficult finger-work is done with the right hand, but I'm getting the idea you want to stick with stringed instruments. Also harmonica is cheap, you can play great tunes on it, it would be a break from mandolin (I love the mandolin though, don't give it up completely) but you did say "a bigger instrument".
# Posted on March 28th 2009 by Hammurabi Breathnach
Re: Crooked hand question
I thought about proposing the left-handed idea, too - although I've never seriously tried it. What about a box or accordian? Maybe see if your fiddle teacher friend has a loaner that you could try out...
# Posted on March 28th 2009 by tomw
Re: Crooked hand question
Oops, cross post and misspelling.
# Posted on March 28th 2009 by tomw
Re: Crooked hand question
My left-handed daughter plays all her stringed instruments right-handed, but on the other hand ( ON THE OTHER HAND !! ) left-handed people have to accommodate the right-handed world all the time, so they get used to it.
# Posted on March 30th 2009 by Guernsey Pete