I thought I'd forgotten how to play!!

[@larryphelps6607]

totally self taught since '78. "discovered" the "F" cord because i needed it and it had to be there. today you showed me how to play it "proper" as i learn more easily through example rather than instruction i cheat the "f" by using and strumming the top four strings only. i fear losing my ability to play guitar as it is how i connect with God. i have suffered with clinical depression for over twenty years and the guitar reminds me i am worth a darn. Sorry to hear of your difficulties and appreciate your advice. Lord help the world if i lose my guitar abilities and have to sing.

[@SillyMoustache]

Hi Larry, Between 1983-1993, when a physical illness prevented my from playing, I took up photography, which forced me to got out of te house, and make my legs work, but being somewhare alone meant that when the pain was too much to bear, I could rest and have a quiet weep in blissful isolation. I did well as a photographer ultimately becoming a judge and public speaker telling my story with my images, and ultimately winning an international Gold medal. If I can help - I do these one-to one meetings vei Zoom.

[@larryphelps6607]

@@SillyMoustache Congratulations on your achievements and your tenacity. i thank you for the offer. currently i have returned to work due to Bidenomics , perhaps after the shock of work after twenty years of self isolation wears off i may be able to take you up on that. Thank you for your reply.

[@georgecrighton]

Hi Andy, I'm 85. I stopped doing that heavy yard work about 13 years ago. Light exercise is good. Walking is good. Anything more than that, in my opinion, is not worth the risk of a heart attack or a stroke. I don't climb ladders anymore. My balance is not as good as it was 15 years ago. I purchased a Martin nylon string guitar this past May just to see the contrast to the sound of my steel string guitars. I now find that I play the nylon string guitar much more often than I play any of my steel string guitars because it is so much easier on my old arthritic fingers. (I play guitar to accompany my singing. The nylon string sound I like better with my voice, too.) Glad you worked through your problem and good luck. I'd like to hear you for many more years.

[@SillyMoustache]

Hi George, I'm largely recovered, at least until last Monday when I was using a patrol brush cutter(about 8 feet long and heavy and fell over a log injuring , mostly, my right knee! Had to cancel dental appointment and meeting with gym trainer. I decided yesterday, that I'll take my 000 to my club tonight rather than a dread! I've also just received an appointment for an injection into my right hand CMC joint (thumb). Thanks for your advice and for your kind thoughts.

[@georgecrighton]

@@SillyMoustache You comment about taking your 000 to your club rather than a dread brought a smile to my face. I have guitars from a 00 to a jumbo size. I have learned that my ideal guitar is a 12 fret 000 with at least a 1 13/16 inch nut. My Martin nylon string guitar is a 12 fret 000 with a 1 7/8 inch nut. Maybe not for everyone but so much fun to play!! (Remember, it's good enough for Willie.) Please stop with the heavy work. You're retired man. Enjoy it. One of my docs told me recently: ""An once of prevention is worth a pound of cure' is an absolute truth" as he was giving me advice on a good healthy lifestyle.

[@SillyMoustache]

@@georgecrighton Hi, well i've had to hire a smaller usual room for tonight so thought I'd try the 000 with lights rather than my dreads with mediums. My growing fruit and veg, is supposed to be a hobby(!) and Mrs Moustache and I have been doing it for 20 years, but we both admit it is getting harder and this year has been a washout due to the heavy rains. We have put so much into it (including money!) over the years, but I guess there will come a time. Thanks for your kind thoughts.

[@georgecrighton]

@@SillyMoustache Now I'm curious. How did it go using your 000 with lights instead of your dread with mediums? Are you plugged in or miked at your club?

[@SillyMoustache]

@@georgecrighton Hi George, For large venues I'm using for my club there is no plugging in any more. The name of the club is the XXXXX Acoustic Music club, so it is .... acoustic. I had used a small p.a, in larger venues but tired of lugging black boxes around. My wonderful 2003 Collings 0002h performed beautifully. Thanks for asking. Whilst I'm an old bluegrasser and with thumb issues on both hands I may review my three dreads, lovely as they are.

[@deblane401]

When I learn a new song, I will watch where I place my fingers. After a few rounds of playing the song while watching, I close my eyes and keep playing till it sounds right. I feel one must learn to play with their eyes closed and know here their hand in on the fretboard. This has worked well for me and may not be the way for others. Thanks for the informative video and I will check the other two out. George in Montana

[@texhaines9957]

Thanks, George. Tex from another part of Montana!

[@SillyMoustache]

I find that when I take a solo break in my songs as I tend to do after the second verse, I play best with my eyes closed. Best to Both, Andy

[@texhaines9957]

@SillyMoustache A solo is a great idea! I usually have the other person do a solo after a couple of verses at the Sunday Hymns and Sings. She is a public school music/instrument teacher. She'll play piano, flute, and violin. She does a great ragtime on the piano (part of the Sings), and she can honky tonk the hymns. She's having a great time with her violin playing along with me or lead

[@SillyMoustache]

@@texhaines9957 Hi Tex, when I sing and play I have to play my own breaks because I have (sniff) no friends! Seriously, I've been askig an old friend to start playing with me again but he said. Andy, trouble is, you don't need a sideman. True, but it would be more fun!

[@texhaines9957]

@SillyMoustache It sure is more fun. She has fun, too. Her husband does his thing, and she plays/Sings for those who can't get out (assisted living, nursing care).

[@Freeontheland2030]

As a long time metal fabricator and welder I can relate to the hand problems associated with manual labour. I have to do hand stretches quite often just to keep them flexible enough to play at all. If you do the exercises the hands do respond very well to it but you have to do it very often throughout the day as well, the more the better. Glad they've come around for you, cheers.

[@SillyMoustache]

Hi, thank you for this - I think your advice is good and I will follow it. Thanks

[@texhaines9957]

I never thought to look at my hands, I guess, partly because I do not see that well. I have a couple of guitars without any fret markers, just the side. I also do some hand stretches with my audience participants. I run my hands under warm water while massaging before I play. Works well. Thanks Andy.

[@SillyMoustache]

Hi Tex, That all sounds wise and appropriate. Thanks as always, Andy ,

[@crash0906]

As a GP my advice would be to talk this through with your GP (explore the possibility of it being a ministroke). Take care!

[@SillyMoustache]

If it was, could anything be done?

[@crash0906]

@@SillyMoustache yes, bloodthinners etc to protect you from future events. Its important to make right diagnosis first, maybe there is a benign logical explanation for your symptoms.

[@mmypainting]

I'm close to being an octarian & leant guitar at 11. I've recently torn my tendon in my left arm, like right off the bone. But after a month I'm still able to play, too old to operate. Sometimes it's the brain that needs warming up also. I have found that pentatonic scales are a wonderful wake up, particularly the C D F G A C or C D F A Bb C pentatonics, it just invites idea's, first one relates to the Indian Raga Durga, second one to Raga Gorakh Kalyan, more powerful than the usual C D E G A C that most people play. I do look when I play melodies because I'm often up around the fifth to twelfth fret, but chords in the first position don't require my eyes. Thanks for the guitar video's.

[@SillyMoustache]

Thanks for making contact. Presently, I can still "play" but can hear next o nothing, so I just put the guitar down again.Hope your arm mends itself. Andy

[@markharwood7573]

Thanks for sharing this. You have, at least, confirmed my suspicion that physical exertion is a bad thing. I recall once sitting in a pub, at a table, playing a piece on the guitar, holding a conversation, listening to a third party comment on how someone could do both of those things at the same time, and replying to them. Our brains can really do some stuff, but I'd really like to be able to operate the heater in the car and know where my other glasses are at all times.

[@SillyMoustache]

Haha! I go yo the gym three times a week, but I get most exercises, looking for my specs, my gym watch, and other stuff.

[@allan1302]

Hope get it all sorted out. Thank you for sharing your experience. Cheers!

[@SillyMoustache]

Thanks, Andy

[@therbulus]

This was fascinating and helpful. Thanks for putting it out there.

[@SillyMoustache]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tedwithers717]

I'm an older gent who had a stroke. My cognitive skills would not advance much afterwards. Neurologist suggested guitar. Had not played in 48 years. And in one year, I'm playing not particularly well, but my cognitive skills in daily life improved exponentially thanks to an old guitar. Much luck to you Sir.

[@SillyMoustache]

Hi Ted, that's a really positive message, Thank you, Best wishes, Andy

[@TheKempaz]

@@SillyMoustache medication and screening for atrial fibrillation

[@vte4chg]

Hello Andy, very interesting… sorry that you had this little hiccup. I know you’ll be back in rare form very quickly. Thanks for posting the two links. I’ll check them out. Be safe and well.

[@SillyMoustache]

Hi thank for you wishes, and for watching.

[@tenzinla1]

I'm glad you're well. Years back I had a fall and broke my thumb and wrist on my right (dominant) hand. I almost put the toothbrush through the back of my neck!

[@SillyMoustache]

Ouch ! Hope all is OK now. I think I've seen that name "Tenzin" for many years now! Hope you are well and happy!" Thanks for watching! Andy

[@KevinORourke25]

This happened to me also. Being 73 it scared the hell out of me. I had two surgeries on my hands for carpel tunnel and trigger finger maladies and it took several months for me to just pick up a guitar. I fould that I had forgotten a lot of hand positions especiall when it came to playing triads. It has cleared up mostly but the old grey mare ain't what he used to be!

[@SillyMoustache]

Hi Kevin, I had carpal tunnel in my left hand until I worked out what I was doing to cause it (the guitar death grip!) , trigger finger - yup on both hands - again, too much tension - its an RSI - over use - trying too hard, and/or heavy lifting - over developing the ligaments - NEVER use those things to strengthen your hands - the muscles for playing guitar are in your forearms, not the hands which simply need to be flexible no strong. Good ideas for a video though! Thanks.

[@KevinORourke25]

@@SillyMoustache Excellent advice my moustached friend ( and by the way, there's nothing silly about it!) I think I had applied the death grip a little too much also. I'm sure we're not alone.

[@jasper_north]

Super interesting indeed… playing in the dark also a nice way of practicing.

[@markinmemphis]

Like Guy Clark said, “got an old guitar won’t ever stay in tune…I like the way it sounds in a dark and empty room. “

[@SillyMoustache]

Absolutely - should have worn a blue shirt!

[@GarySchiltz]

Scary. I hope you continue to get your guitar groove back.

[@SillyMoustache]

Nearly there - not quite as of Thursday night at my club, but improving. Thanks.

[@bendummitt888]

An old timer once told me that when your brain gets full, every time you remember something new it will delete something to make room. But the bad part is that you don't get to decide what that might be...

[@SillyMoustache]

I guess that maybe true. Conversations with my wife trying to help each other remember the names of people and places, can be ridiculous.

[@richardharding9975]

Thanks. Helpful information. I hope your hands are doing okay.

[@SillyMoustache]

I think matters are returning to normal. I was OK at my club last Thursday, not withstanding putting up tables and moving heavy stacks of chairs - at least I don't have to lug a PA system any more.

[@mojo6778]

Hello Andy, I hate to see you having to wear a brace of any type, that tells me you are having some pain, which isn't good with guitar playing. I look forward to seeing your videos as they are always uplifting. Take care of yourself my friend! Cheers from north Texas!!🤠

[@SillyMoustache]

Hi, it is CMC thumb joint arthritis. Came on this year for both humble self and my wife.

[@CameraLaw]

In a sense, this is what occupational therapists work on. Getting someone back to work, which can mean any activity as playing is an occupation, because it occupies us. My son has autism. In his younger days, learning how to walk, run, and play were assisted by a therapist because, at that tender age, playing was his occupation. Wishing you patience on your journey back to work.

[@SillyMoustache]

Hi, the young lady tat showed me those exercises was actually called the "occupational therapist". My best to you and to your son. Best, Andy

[@homeofomfilms]

Very nice! 🙂 Thanks.

[@SillyMoustache]

Thank you.

[@homeofomfilms]

@@SillyMoustache My pleasure! 🙂

[@kenschachsieck1357]

Wow, this is timely. Andy I'm a bit younger than you but due to some medical issues I took a 2 month break from playing and now that I have tried to resume playing I find trying to strum or fingerpick, gives me the shakes, like a bit of palsy..very unsettling..

[@SillyMoustache]

Maybe you are tensing your hands too much ? Try to restart slowly and lightly.

[@John-ic6zo]

Hi.Andy.My dentist told me that after he had put some effort into extracting a tooth, he couldn't do any delicate work for a number of hours.He had lost his delicate motor skills. Kind regards and thanks for sharing.

[@SillyMoustache]

That is very interesting. I hear/read that surgeons can develop hand tremors after a while too.

[@stevefranklin6041]

I hope your motor skills are back in order, Andy! You were saying that maybe people who have trouble singing and playing, at the same time are and watch their hands when they play are maybe using mostly cognitive skills, vs motor skills. I don't watch my hands when I play, but I also have the same issue, i.e. I can't seem to sing along, when I fingerpick, but it's not an issue with strumming. I wonder if it's because I rely so much on reading the tab, (which likely uses a lot of cognitive skills). I seem to have a very hard time remembering the music, thus I so often depend on tabs. Thanks for your lessons and information.

[@SillyMoustache]

Hi, there are many different waysof learning how to play. I used to attend an annual bluegrass camp, but stopped when they would not tell me whether the tutors used tab or not. To my mind tablature is an operating manual similar to those old punch cards back in the day. It can only tell you how somebody else has arranged a piece with his/her hands, and that may not suit you. Thank you for this - I'm going to make a video about this!

[@stevefranklin6041]

@@SillyMoustache I'm really looking forward to the video, Andy!

[@RickeyMcDaniel]

Great video.

[@SillyMoustache]

Thank you Rickey,

[@jarlathoreilly1725]

Love the shirt!

[@SillyMoustache]

Haha! Thanks,

[@Kalamazoom]

❤❤❤

[@SillyMoustache]

Thanks ... I think, I don't really understand icons.

[@nickworley1000]

I have the same problem Im a farmer in Galway Ireland i always try to wear gloves and be mindful of my hands im in my mid 60s

[@SillyMoustache]

Hi Nick, I did wear those thick red cotton/rubber gloves, but your point is well taken! Thanks, Andy

[@DavidRees43]

physical labour is always a dangerous endeavour for those of us 'of age'

[@SillyMoustache]

However, use it or lose it!

[@patricklundquist9869]

I first saw this video on my phone and was only able to watch the beginning before losing my connection. Based on that, my initial thought was that due all the work you had been doing, you could be having issues related to that prior trigger finger surgery. To my layman's way of thinking, all of your stress from lifting, breaking, cutting, hauling could have caused inflammation, possibly due to some less than flexible scar tissue left over from the surgery. Inflammation related swelling might put enough pressure on a nerve or two that it interrupts, or short circuits, the signal to the fingers. If inflammation is the issue, ice could help, stretching might be good but exercise might create more inflammation. I won't pretend to be a doctor but I have experienced nerve inflammation issues and have had a couple cortisone injections, one through my neck to where the nerve exits the spine. Don't take anything I say as gospel, talk to a real doctor, especially since my next thought, autoimmune disease, definitely falls in a doctor's bailiwick.

[@SillyMoustache]

Well, I spent a couple of hours strimming and weeding yesterday, and I'll be in the gym later today, then I'll check out my guitar skills.

[@jamesmaddock]

Look after yourself old boy !

[@SillyMoustache]

Doing my best, James, Thanks, Andy

[@kennethbransford820]

You may have had a Micro stroke?

[@SillyMoustache]

Wow that's scary! and at my age possibly. I prefer to think it purely muscular at present.

[@kennethbransford820]

I hope so Mr.@@SillyMoustache . It happens a lot with people dismissing it as a flu or cold or something. It happened to my Mom after she had covid. Something to think about for sure myself in almost being as old as you are.

[@andreasfetzer7559]

Dont worry, just stop for a minute, start again and do not!!!!!! ever start thinking of it, it makes it worse. I found out, that all the therapists make it worse. They implant bad thoughts in you. Do not think about it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@SillyMoustache]

Thank you Andreas, I think that the unusual physical activity "changed my motor skill programming on my hands for a while. Dexterity (or sinisterity) is returning, if slowly. Thanks for your kind concern.

[@miamistomp]

I can tell you, you are too old for that yard work crap May have been a mini stroke

[@SillyMoustache]

Sadly, growing one's own veg and fruit, requires some physical labour.

[@miamistomp]

@@SillyMoustache Of course. But sadly those are choices you have to make with age. I am 70 and still gig as a drummer in a blues band-2 or 3 hours banging on drums at this age is not the same as it was when I was 50, even. This year I decided no more daytime outdoor gigs- it is hot as hell in Miami anyway and couldn't put up with the leg cramps after the gig I f you get more enjoyment growing stuff than playing - it is just would you rather play or garden we ain't getting any younger

[@v2807]

Sir, that kind of outdoor work is not worth the risk to your guitar playing!! Stop it! 😮

[@SillyMoustache]

Well bless you for the kind thought, but my other interest is growing our own fruit and veg, and that means maintaining the plots that I rent. Even though most green vegetable crops have failed this year due to heavy rains, lack of birds (so a plague of slugs and snails) as the obvious climate changes take effect.