Thread: Appreciating a straight shave

They say you don't appreciate it until it's gone. In January I had an accident with a table saw that resulted in the amputation of the last joint of my middle finger, left hand, and severe tissue damage to my thumb pad and index finger. Among other activities, that halted my shaving with a straight razor. I have a great double edge with German blades which I have been using, but today I used the straight again. It's still a bit shaky with the left hand, but I am now reminded why I shave with a straight razor. What a nice, smooth shave.
My guitar playing came to an abrupt end, but I'm learning to play with a slide and open tuning. New beginnings. The only lasting problem is I don't get any respect in traffic with my shortened midddle finger.

Hello, Roadkill:

Life is full of new beginnings. They call for improvisations. As a musician, you know all about improvisations. So play on as best you can.

Regards,

Obie

Hi Roadkill,

I'm sorry to hear about your accident, and I hope you continue with your recovery. I'm glad that you did not have to stop your shaving, and that you are able to keep playing guitar!

I'm a guitar player as well, so I fully understand your desire to keep playing. Theres really no other instrument like it!

I'm not quite sure what to suggest about the problem with the traffic though..!

All the best,

Stuart

Originally Posted by Stubear

Hi Roadkill,

I'm glad that you did not have to stop your shaving, and that you are able to keep playing guitar!

I'm a guitar player as well, so I fully understand your desire to keep playing. Theres really no other instrument like it!

All the best,

Stuart

Hello, Stuart:

The great composer Chopin said: "The only instrument better than the guitar is two guitars."

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by Roadkill

The only lasting problem is I don't get any respect in traffic with my shortened midddle finger.

I wish you a speedy recovery. It's refreshing to see that you still were able to find humor in such a serious matter.

When ever things go wrong for me, or I feel like it can't be any worse, I remind myself that someone, somewhere has gone through and overcome worse.

stay strong.

P.S. I'm terrible at music history and origins, but I know that the drop D style of tuning and playing originally came from a famous player who lost his finger tips. Although he had prosthetic tips, they weren't strong enough to fret any notes, so he down tune the guitar to be able to play.

Originally Posted by freyguy

P.S. I'm terrible at music history and origins, but I know that the drop D style of tuning and playing originally came from a famous player who lost his finger tips. Although he had prosthetic tips, they weren't strong enough to fret any notes, so he down tune the guitar to be able to play.

Hello, Freyguy:

That guitarist was the Belgian gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, who, with violinist Stephane Grappeli, formed the famous jazz quintet the Hot Club of France. Great music. A fabulous guitarist.

Regards,

Obie

Originally Posted by Obie

Hello, Freyguy:

That guitarist was the Belgian gypsy jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, who, with violinist Stephane Grappeli, formed the famous jazz quintet the Hot Club of France. Great music. A fabulous guitarist.

Regards,

Obie

I'm thinking that was Tony Iommi. EDIT to add: Who incidentally was shown Django Reinhardt when he thought of abandoning guitar after the loss of the tips of his middle and ring fingers of his fretting hand.

Hello NFlames:

Thank you for your note.

I'm afraid the "famous player" to whom SRP member Roadkill refers, as do many others, is Django Reinhardt. Of course, in some instances, as you note, Tony Iommi comes in the picture, too.

Alas, that is not the topic of this thread and should be discussed, if necessary, in another thread. For now, we must concentrate on helping our friend Roadkill to overcome the physical difficulties and keep working on new improvised skills for the straight razor.

Hello again, Roadkill:

Stay with it any way you can, for shaving with a straight razor is worth the effort. I have two banged up thumbs, more so the left, and a nasty tennis elbow in the right arm (and I don't even play tennis). Through the years I have had to make many adjustments to overcome these physical problems. I'm afraid they will not go away and, therefore, I must continue to adjust.

And I do, because I cannot see starting my day without a shave with the straight razor. So keep at it, and keep in touch with your progress. We're all here to help.

Regards,

Obie

Thanks Obie, I knew someone would know. I think there was et another, more main stream artist who did it as well.

Yeah, Iommi lost two the tips of two fretting fingers - I believe they were his index and middle finger, but I'm not sure.

Also, Jerry Garcia's brother chopped off one of his fingers with an axe when they were kids. That didn't stop him from becoming a skilled banjo and guitar player. From one axe to another, I guess.