Can I play guitar considering I have mild cerebral palsy?
September 3, 2010 in Questions
I’d like to learn although every time I try I get frustrated because I have limited function in my right arm (more specifically my right hand). Is there some kind of special instructor that I could go to, or should I move on? If someone who understands or lives with this disorder could give some input, I’d appreciate it.
heidi. said on September 4, 2010
i’m sure that if you can type well like you can, then you can certainly play the guitar. why don’t you buy some books and stuff to teach yourself, that way you won’t get frustrated with anyone else (like a teacher).
formerly_bob said on September 4, 2010
You are the only one who knows what you can and can’t do with your hands. I do not have cerebral palsy and i have not gotten very good at the guitar after 4 years, so what probably matters most is whether or not you have musical aptitude (i apparently do not have it).
The effects of CP probably depend partly on whether you are right or left-handed. If you are right handed, you will probably have extreme difficulty in certain types of picking patterns, but may be able to do various types of strumming with relative ease. If you are left-handed, CP might have little effect or maybe you will have trouble only with certain cords – that’s not necessarily a big deal since there are alternative ways of playing cords. Regardless of which hand you favor, you might find an advantage by reversing the way your hold the guitar (left or right), but you would have to have the guitar altered at a music shop.