Hi, Guest!

[amateur]

About 6 years ago, my left pinky was jammed during a basketball game. I could not play classical guitar because my little finger was locked up everytime I tried to reach for the note. A year later, I quit playing guitar and started learning violin. My left pinky can reach better on the violin than on the guitar. I took violin lesson for 3 years, doing OK with it. In the last 2 years, my job demanded me too much traveling. I gave up taking lessons. Anyway, I posted my violin playing and my guitar playing on youtube.com. All my friends told me to go back playing guitar because I am better at it, although I had not touched it in five years. I love both instruments, but I have time for only one. I'm planning to take violin lessons again in the near future. I know I don't play violin well, especially when I know I'm recording it. Do you guys think I can do better with the violin? Or I better off with playing my guitar again. All your opinions are appreciated.
_________________
Why worry about tomorrow if you can't make it through today!

[Henry]

I jammed my index finger back in 6th grade during a basketball game. Lost some flexibility there, but it still works

Though I doubt the jammed finger will inhibit your violin playing ability significantly at this point, it may be crucial later on as you develop your technique. Because the guitar demands less precise finger positioning and because you have had more experience with the guitar, I'd say go with guitar. You can still play some very sweet transcriptions of violin music to guitar
_________________
"Mother organized violin lessons for me in order to prevent me from thrashing the children of our neighbors." -- Nathan Milstein

[Tony B]

IT broke my heart for a time but only for a short time. I have been a guitar player since I was 14 years old - telling on myself that has been 45 years I'd been playing the guitar. I had THREE, a nice acoustic electric I bought and maybe played a few times, a classical and I had just bought a brand new Baby Taylor for traveling around with. I had to give up playing due to osteo-arthritis in my left hand THUMB specifically. So I SOLD all three. BROKE MY HEART to have to do that and still cannot PLAY to this day - cannot Barre chord anymore, no strength in the left hand thumb. SO I did the next best thing that I knew wouldn't be so dependent upon my thumb - and something I wanted to do for a VERY long time - I started taking lessons on violin. Had a cheapo violin to begin with but quickly decided to "invest" in a better on (almost $1,000 bucks with TWO good bows - one @ $450 and a carbon fibre bow deal at $150). And I started lessons with a God-send teacher who I REALLY appreciate and has become a good friend too. So double lucky there. HOWEVER, I WISH I had the ability to play the guitar still - something I was never GREAT at but LOVED doing A LOT. SO the thing I suggest - and this is only an opinon - realize that you CAN already play the guitar and that learning to play violin is a big committment to learning something new, a different technique but if you stick with it long enough, very rewarding too. However you already KNOW how to play guitar and if it were MY choice, and I could still play, I'd likely be playing guitar. BUT THEN, I'd do both since I have loved both but in my case one replaced the other. In your case, you should probably DECIDE for you, what you want to do most. And since you already play to whatever degree, I'd be tempted to stay with that rather than picking up something else at the expense of the other time-wise. Tough decision I bet. Hope you make the right one for you and that whatever you do keeps you musically fed and happy.
_________________
Tony B

[amateur]

I understand about not able to Barre chord. At times when I tried to reach for the note with my left pinky, my hand was cramped. Yes, my little finger is developing some kind of arthritis nowaday. It's very frustrated. Anyway, I discussed with my prospected violin teacher earlier today. He watched me play both instruments. In his opinion, since I'm not going to be a concert violinist nor guitarist, I can do both. But I have to make time for them. He will work with me on violin techniques and sounds. With the guitar, I just have to play pieces that do not require too much reaching with the little finger. It sounds fair, no?
_________________
Why worry about tomorrow if you can't make it through today!