Introduction

[Woolysock]

I recently turned 66 and was diagnosed with PD two years ago. Interested to hear from folks who play music (I'm a bass player) and folks who experiment with CBD and med-pot.

[Tryguy]

Hello I am an acoustic guitar player and songwriter. I pretty much have not played my guitar in between two and three years. I pick it up once or twice a week but I am unable to play or finger pick especially. My left fretting hand seems relatively OK, but I have been on able to find any fine motor skill in my right hand. That includes the inability to strum rhythm. Sometimes it comes back a little-just enough to give me hope- and then it is disappears again. I do have a band called the healing project that performs out every now and then. I do vocal solos and A small part of the show is PD awareness. How goes it with you?

[Woolysock in reply to Tryguy]

Before I was diagnosed it felt like my left and right hands were clubs, blunt instruments incapable of anything musical. But my neurologist prescribed Sinemet and said he'd have me back playing again. Sure enough, I can play for as much as an hour at a time. But my left hand shakes like crazy while "resting" between tunes. I no longer take on pro gigs, I just play jazz with pals for fun.

[Dpeachey in reply to Tryguy]

Tryguy, your difficulty on the guitar mirrors my own experience. Even before I was dx almost 4 years ago I found myself not enjoying playing so much. Now I pick up the guitar occasionally, but within a few lines I find my rhythm getting clumsy and blocky. I joined an a Capella choir and love it, but I've lost a couple of octaves range, so I'm limited there. Gettin' old isn't for sissies, is it?

[Pauldmd in reply to Tryguy]

I share your frustration, particularly with finger picking. I thought myself to play and played a lot by ear. Several years ago I decided to take some lessons. The teacher was teaching me the finger picking pattern to "Dust in the Wind". I was trying to get it and literally dripping with seat from the effort. I finally have up and turned on the TV but held onto the guitar. I suddenly noticed I was playing the pattern perfectly. I was hearing the music in my head and my fingers just went to the right places. When I was focused on the mechanics of moving my fingers I was unable to do it. I still pick up the guitar occasionally but not often as I find it more frustrating than rewarding. In fact, I have given up listening to music entirely as I find it so distracting that it interferes with my ability to control my movements. One of the many things I still miss. I can however do a mean "Old MacDonald Had A Farm" for my 2 year old granddaughter.

[Serenity_finaly-1]

I personally believe that you can get more control in that hand by pushing it even harder. I have found that fingers that I had little control over while playing Mario Kart became much more disciplined after I had to make them control an inkling in Splatoon.