When you get injured...
I had a fall two weeks ago, and hurt my left wrist and elbow, as well as my right knee. I had bruising, swelling, and pain, but no broken bones. My left (fretting) arm is still in rough shape. After a few days of not playing at all, I slung the strap over my shoulder and worked on right hand techniques: strumming patterns, tremolo, and pick pressure. I've been finding it valuable to be able to put all my concentration into my right hand for a while, without being distracted by what I'm doing with my left hand. Now, I've healed enough to be able to play a couple of tunes for about five minutes. And I'm concentrating of left foot toe tapping.
Robert Johnson's mother, describing blues musicians:
"I never did have no trouble with him until he got big enough to be round with bigger boys and off from home. Then he used to follow all these harp blowers, mandoleen (sic) and guitar players."
Lomax, Alan, The Land where The Blues Began, NY: Pantheon, 1993, p.14.
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