Slowhand Seems To Be Struggling To Play...

[BiC]

Eric Clapton reveals incurable damage to his nervous system has left him struggling to play the guitar.

 

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[Larryz]

I too am developing a Slow Hand. I'm about 5 years younger than Clapton and can feel the pain in my fretting hand so my guitar playing is not as good as it was (which I'm still a novice at best)...In some ways I can be thankful that I was never as good or never will be as good as Eric. It is a shame when we lose icons like Les Paul and BB. Les with his physical issues, gives me inspiration to keep playing till I just can't play no more...I'm diabetic and have nerve problems with neuropathy too. Good luck to Eric Clapton and I hope he can keep playing as long as possible. He is one of my favorite clean players...

[whitefang]

That's sad to learn, but since peripheral neuropathy affects the LEGS, I wonder what ailment affects his hand(s) and bothers his playing?

 

My wife has diabetic peripheral neuropathy, and although in her case, not much(if any) pain is involved, it has a profound and dire effect on her mobility. So I feel for Clapton.

 

If it's the pain in his LEGS that affect his playing, we might soon see him B.B. King and Johnny Winter-like performing while seated in a chair.

Whitefang

[Larryz]

I suspect that he has diabetic neuropathy possibly due to his alcohol and drug abuse. Peripheral neuropathy is most common in the legs and feet. It can affect the upper body as well once it gets down to the knees. Both types are nerve diseases. Diabetic neuropathy causes numbness and pain in the hands, feet and legs...If his guitar playing is being affected, it is most likely in his hands. That's the problem that I suspect that I have anyway. It could also be Arthritis and/or Tendonitis which can be other pain factors that affect the hands.

 

The feet can have a whole lot of pain and are always examined when I get my annual check up. So far, I've been lucky. I have a vet friend that lost his toes, then his legs. Another neighbor had so much pain in her feet, she could no longer walk. Both are diabetics...

[desertbluesman]

I have a similar problem right now. My fingers lose their "ease of movement memory" if I don't play regularly. I am hoping the C-Spine surgery to come, helps because my hands and feet are somewhat numb most of the time, not all the way, but a bit. I never had that forgetfulness in my hands before this, unless I did not practice for many months, then it would all come back easily. Now it takes an hour of practice to loosen up. I could loosen up in 15 minutes even when I was a full time bricklayer (back when I was a young man of course).

 

According to that article, he had his diagnosis of lower spine problems initially, which makes my C-Spine case a bit similar.

[Fred_C]

I have been a huge EC fan since his days with the Bluesbreakers. This serves as a reminder that nothing is forever.

 

I have been diagnosed with Peripheral Artery Disease and have my first appointment with a vascular surgeon tomorrow. I have had serious problems with leg pain for the past several years, but have put off dealing with it until now.

 

Fortunately it has not impacted my playing.

 

 

[Larryz]

I have a similar problem right now. My fingers lose their "ease of movement memory" if I don't play regularly. I am hoping the C-Spine surgery to come, helps because my hands and feet are somewhat numb most of the time, not all the way, but a bit. I never had that forgetfulness in my hands before this, unless I did not practice for many months, then it would all come back easily. Now it takes an hour of practice to loosen up. I could loosen up in 15 minutes even when I was a full time bricklayer (back when I was a young man of course).

 

According to that article, he had his diagnosis of lower spine problems initially, which makes my C-Spine case a bit similar.

 

+1 @ DBM most of his problems are with his back. I have had low back pains for all of my life due to spondylosis of the L5. It may be the same reason I was getting pain in my hands as well...Eric really isn't complaining of hand problems in the articles so far, so I'm thinking he may not have diabetic neuropathy after all. It's mostly about his back and pain in his legs. So it could be peripheral neuropathy or a nerve problem related to his back condition. At any rate, I wish only the best for him. I hope your surgery goes well too!

 

ps. @ Brother Fred, I hope your appointment goes well too!

[whitefang]

My wife's troubles stem from both diabetic peripheral neuropathy combined with a couple of mini strokes she had in the early 2000's. And as I said, no pain is involved save for some occasional leg cramping, but it all took a toll on her ability to walk normally. I move her around the house on one of those computer chairs that are on casters.

 

As I also said, as it wasn't clear as to whether or not it was the PAIN in his legs and back affecting hi playing, or something affecting his hands was the problem, or what. So maybe Clapton, as I also suggested, might take to performing while seated, as did B.B. and Winter.

 

@Fred:

 

I have(among other problems) what one doctor called "chronic venous insufficiency" which causes my left leg to swell up. It's what caused my medical retirement from GM. The only effect on my walking it has is that it's often numb and slows my pace noticably. It took a bit of time to get used to walking without fully feeling my footing, but I got past that.

 

I hope your situation isn't so serious as to cause drastic measures be taken that might detrimentally affect more than your playing. Best of luck to ya.

 

Man, it sucks getting old. But not as much as NOT getting old I guess...

Whitefang

[Larryz]

@ Fang, I have a DVD with Eric sitting and playing with Scotty Moore. It's OK to sit and play...Les Paul did it in his club for many years. I remember BB and Johnny sitting and playing on my Crossroads DVD. The crowd loved them...so, maybe Eric will take your advice...I enjoy sitting and playing at open mic's, it makes the crowd more relaxed and I don't have to wear a guitar strap. When playing at a Dance, you definitely want to be up on your feet and getting into it...energized bands having a good time and rocking out, get the crowd energized IMHO...

[DocPate]

We will definitely miss his guitar! But it happens to all of us. We all begin to die from the day of our birth! It's just a matter of time.

[desertbluesman]

M

Man, it sucks getting old. But not as much as NOT getting old I guess...

Whitefang

 

Well it all comes down to how long a person suffers to get there Fang, I ain't afraid to die (at least now when I am not up against it), I am afraid of suffering to get there however.

 

[desertbluesman]

@ Fang, I have a DVD with Eric sitting and playing with Scotty Moore. It's OK to sit and play...Les Paul did it in his club for many years. I remember BB and Johnny sitting and playing on my Crossroads DVD. The crowd loved them...so, maybe Eric will take your advice...I enjoy sitting and playing at open mic's, it makes the crowd more relaxed and I don't have to wear a guitar strap. When playing at a Dance, you definitely want to be up on your feet and getting into it...energized bands having a good time and rocking out, get the crowd energized IMHO...

 

I saw BB King live one night he was 82 years old that night, he had someone help him out to his chair. Place Lucille on his lap, and from then on it was one of the best shows I have seen in a long time. He played beautifully, His banter with the crowd left me believing he was a consummate showman. I walked out of there in awe of his showmanship, all the while never leaving his seat.

[Larryz]

+1 DBM, BB was a great crowd pleaser and a great artist that inspired so many of us. I wish I could have been at any one of his shows before he passed away. We all know that Eric and BB were the best of friends for many decades and I know it must have been hard on Eric to watch BB's health slowly diminish. Now Eric has his own health issues. I really hope he can keep playing as long as possible...

[whitefang]

Nothing wrong with sitting. As long as he's playing, I don't care if he's lying down!

 

I just had a vision of that old send up by SCTV of Perry Como lying in a bed with the mic lying beside his head( I think Rick Moranis was doing Como) to poke fun at Como's famed "relaxed" style.

 

 

Point is, it's OK to "change it up" sometimes. Remember: when Bill Cosby started out, his noted gimmick was sitting in a chair instead of doing standard "stand up" comedy. He did his stage comedy like that for twenty or so years. I remember on the old Mike Douglas show, he jokingly rferred to himself as a "sit down" comic.

 

Both age, with it's ravages and physical ailment can cause one to consider performing with an instrument seated in situations when it was always customary to be standing. I saw Maestro Isaac Stern perform with the DSO, and he was at an age where he felt more comfortable playing while seated.

 

And due to being a victim of childhood polio, violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman always performed while seated(as well as conductor James DePriest). And NObody ever complained!

Whitefang

 

[Fred_C]

I have always played standing when playing with a Blues band. However, when playing solo, either "Piedmont Style" acoustic Blues or Chord Melody Jazz, I always play sitting down. Both genres are technically challenging and I require the stable platform of the instrument sitting on my leg to execute the technique. Solo Jazz guitarists like Joe Pass, Jim Hall, Barney Kessel and just about all the greats tended to play sitting down as well.

[DocPate]

I have always played standing when playing with a Blues band. However, when playing solo, either "Piedmont Style" acoustic Blues or Chord Melody Jazz, I always play sitting down. Both genres are technically challenging and I require the stable platform of the instrument sitting on my leg to execute the technique. Solo Jazz guitarists like Joe Pass, Jim Hall, Barney Kessel and just about all the greats tended to play sitting down as well.

Plus, when you get so d**n old and arthritis has you struggling just to walk, well sitting is mandantory! Thanks FredC

[Eric Iverson]

Re: getting old. Julian Bream (the great classical guitarist) in a recent interview said, in light of him being 80 years old: "I'm a better musician than I was when I was 70, but I can't PROVE it."

Because his hands no longer work as well as they once did.

But he had a long and distinguished career, and his old records still sound fantastic.

[Larryz]

"I love pulling old music back out and playing it...

 

Summertime goes back to 1932

Scotch and Soda goes back to 1935

 

But these are more sit-down tunes " Larryz

 

I've lost some of my ability to play as I got older due to arthritis, diabetes, tendonitis, etc., but I'm still learning new stuff as I play the old stuff as best I can. I enjoy sitting down and playing like many of the jazz greats that Brother Fred mentioned (to include BB and others that have been mentioned). I hope Eric Clapton does the same if the pain will allow him to sit and play...

[skipclone 1]

I`m noticing a bit of overall slowdown in my dexterity but I wouldn`t call it impairment at this point. I get the feeling that in my case there are psycholgical factors affecting me physiologically.

Anyway, if you get a chance have a look at the video I just posted. The guitar player with that orchestra is clearly not a kid but he tears it up rather well.

[Eric Iverson]

Segovia was still giving concerts when he was 90! And Horowitz at an advanced age.

Were they are in their prime? Maybe not, but they were still Horowitz and Segovia.

They say, "60 is the new 40" etc. I guess, then "80 is the new 60". Does that mean "20 is the new zero"? LOL

[Larryz]

+1 Skipclone, The guitar player tears it up very well and he's sitting down and he's looking my age LOL! All of the players appear to be in good health over there. I enjoyed the Sitar and the bongos [insert real name] too...

 

@ Eric, at 66 I feel about 56...If I make it to 96, I hope I'll feel about 86. I don't know how new that will be LOL! I do know that I'll never be as good as Segovia even if I practice practice practice...

[whitefang]

THAT'S something that slipped my mind!

 

I can't off hand think of ANY classical guitarists that ever performed while STANDING.

 

And both EARL KLUGH and JOHN McLAUGHLIN(when he was playing his nylon acoustic in his "Bela Horizonte" period and beyond) performed while seated. I imagine Klugh still does.

Whitefang

[Scott Fraser]

I can't off hand think of ANY classical guitarists that ever performed while STANDING.

Whitefang

 

Yeah, that doesn't (& won't) happen, ever. At least in purely classical music. I'm going to theorize that it's because it's a formal concert music experience, not a dance experience. The advantage to playing seated is the physical stability of the instrument. Since classical guitars don't have strap pegs (although there's no design reason they couldn't) using a strap on one involves a neck strap which goes under the body & clips onto the edge of the lower part of the sound hole. I've never used one but I'm imagining this kills some resonance of the top & back, plus is nowhere near as stabile as the standard seated position, 'cradling' the guitar. Willie Nelson uses a version of this kind of strap, but he's not exactly 'classical'. (Though a true 'classic')

[DocPate]

So true!

[Eric Iverson]

It's important for the performer to feel COMFORTABLE, isn't it? We can play better when we're not stressed.

I can and have played standing on many occasions, but prefer sitting. A lot, depends, though, on the situation and audience expectations.

Most rock players play standing, but I think that it's largely a question of showmanship and entertaining the audience. But I do note that Robert Fripp often played sitting - of course, King Crimson wasn't a "party hearty" band, LOL. Not saying they were boring or weren't enthusiastic about their music - at least judging from live videos I've seen.

[whitefang]

I can't off hand think of ANY classical guitarists that ever performed while STANDING.

Whitefang

 

Yeah, that doesn't (& won't) happen, ever. At least in purely classical music. I'm going to theorize that it's because it's a formal concert music experience, not a dance experience. The advantage to playing seated is the physical stability of the instrument. Since classical guitars don't have strap pegs (although there's no design reason they couldn't) using a strap on one involves a neck strap which goes under the body & clips onto the edge of the lower part of the sound hole. I've never used one but I'm imagining this kills some resonance of the top & back, plus is nowhere near as stabile as the standard seated position, 'cradling' the guitar. Willie Nelson uses a version of this kind of strap, but he's not exactly 'classical'. (Though a true 'classic')

 

I remember in my old folk days, and when watching that TV show "Hootenanny", seeing a few folkies using that kind of strap. My thinking was that they might have felt that by hooking one end on a strap peg at the end of the body, and tying the other end around the headstock JUST behind the nut( which I also saw a lot of) might eventually cause the instrument to go out of whack somehow.

 

Let's just wish the best for Slowhand and hope he finds it easier to get back to the level of play he's accustomed to and gets back out there.

Whitefang