Playing without index finger?

[Darrell Criswell]

I went to the orthopedist yesterday due to my index finger being stiff and tendinitis. He gave me a steroid injection and my finger is OK now, but he said he probably couldn't give any more injections if my finger gets stiff again. My question is does anybody have experience playing without their index finger, can your other fingers take over OK and you play without the index finger. My index finger is the only finger that has problems due to previous surgery and a fracture. Should I just start playing with my other fingers and forget about the index finger as the stiffness will probably return. Thanks so much!

[Jerry Overstreet]

Yes, you can. Adopt the Jeff Newman thumb, middle technique.
Search around here for some posts.

I know a guy who used the 3 finger method of thumb, middle and ring finger due to an issue with the pointer also.

[Eric Dahlhoff]

I sometimes play with a flatpick and my 2nd and 3rd fingers. Been doing that with "normal" guitar forever.

[Tucker Jackson]

Yes, you should be able to do it.

Many times, I've had a cut on a finger and just either played without a pick, or put that pick on my ring finger. It's shocking how quickly your brain can rewire and make that work.

Anyone can test this out by just removing a pick and seeing how it feels...

[Dave Grafe]

If you're not already using a third finger pick now is a good time to try it out. You can do all of your single note runs and diatonic harmonies with thumb and middle finger a al Jeff Newman, and the third finger helps with top strings and thumb-and-two patterns. You've got this, and if your hand recovers you've got added skills

[Lee Rider]

Jerry Garcia played with index and ring finger. Where there's a will....

[Garry Vanderlinde]

Jeff Newman recommended playing with the middle finger and thumb at his steel guitar school. Specially on two string harmonies and speed picking.
He said the middle finger was stronger than the index finger and a better match to the thumb in striking the string.

[Bob Shilling]

We humans are great at adapting. Jerry Garcia has already been mentioned, and I'll add Django Rinehart to the list.

[Bruce Coffman]

And Tony Iommi (Black Sabbeth) whose “Metal” chording wouldn’t have happened except the loss of the tips of his fretting hand ring/middle fingers.

Use what you’ve got, and use them well!