Originally Posted by: SusanMW

Haha, that made me laugh.... :)

I had surgery on my fretting hand. I still have to listen very carefully and stop playing when it starts to get painful. Piano remains very gentle and great therapy for my fingers though.

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So if your freting hand is complaining about playing guitar....I would suggest trying Bottle Neck Guitar. Tune your guitar to an open chord, put the Bottle Neck on ( you need at least one finger behind the bottle neck to mute the strings behind the Bottle Neck) , and start playing guitar with no chord fingering required. You might find that you even enjoy Bottle Neck.

I am sure there are lessons here on GT about playing Bottle Neck Guitar. Look them up and see if that can fit your ravaging appitite for a wider musical plalette. It could be easier on your individual fingers since there is no need to forms chords with your tender, recovering fingers . You could even try holding the guitar on your lap like a dobrough player if that feels better on your recovering fretting hand (much less counter pressuring thumb/ fingers required) . It could easily be another gateway instrument to learn without having to buy another instrument... bottle necks are cheap! Hell, with a litte imagination and practice, you could even become the world's best Slide Uke Player!