United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

Is there anyone who has had any success in playing guitar with one arm.

there is a technique called legato which means smoothly. In classical and modern guitar its a technique in which you only use your fretting hand to hammer-on and pull-off the strings to create a smooth passages. Many guitarists practice this technique constantly and once mastered can really make beautifully even melodies. Takes ALOT of patience and practice. Also there is a company called Fernandez, which makes sustainers, basically you get this sustainer kit and have it installed in your guitar what it does is magnectically vibrate the strings by a toggle switch that is also built into the guitar, so you dont have to use your picking hand to strum the strings, it does it for you in a sense. The main purpose of this is to sustain any note you want on the guitar as long as you can without the note decaying. The kit itself is $200 US, installation is separate. Its an awesome kit by the way. Look into it if you'd like. By the way, this is for electric guitars only.

where is this place at? This will help Brandon feel like he can still do the same things he use to do befor the accident. Brandon played lead and some base guitar. Is there something that will work for the left brachial plexus injury? His bpi was on the left. plese if you have any more information about this modification pleasse let me know. Thanks Stacey

Hello Stacy,

At 19 I was playing bass viol in a university orchestra when I broke my neck and got a left-side brachial plexus injury. I can no longer move my hand reliably without support - so no bass viol, nor can I finger a fretboard. What I have learned to do is to play an electric steel guitar which I play on my lap. The fretboard gives me just enough support so I can manage to move my arm (with chest & back muscles) to and fro. And I can clench the steel bar instead of fingering. It has finally given me a chance to play with musical groups again and I love it! You can see an inexpensive steel guitar here: http://tinyurl.com/cqpc3

I hope this might help your son. I know how hard it is to give up your music.

Trish