can you still play the piano with your right index finger missing?

Answer 1

Not only can you still play, but you can also play wonderfully.
Check out this paragraph, this is only one small section of a long article which talks about handicapped musicians who have risen above their disability and have proved geniuses in their art. Many had a full arm missing, or one hand missing, not only one finger.
Here is a section of the article;
"A number of other pianists had successful careers despite the loss of an arm. The most famous is Paul Wittgenstein who was wounded in World War I resulting in the amputation of his right hand. He went on to a brilliant career, a pianist for whom Ravel, Prokofiev, Richard Strauss and Benjamin Britten wrote masterworks for the left hand and orchestra. Otakar Hoffman, also wounded in WWI, defied the odds and embarked on a successful career as a left handed pianist, often performing Janacek's aptly titled Defiance for piano and chamber ensemble. Gary Graffman, more recently, has continued his virtuoso career although his right hand no longer functions; he often plays Ravel's Concerto for the left hand.

...There are instances of right-handed pianists, the most famous of whom would surely be Cyril Smith who suffered a cerebral hemorrhage while on a concert tour of the then-USSR in 1956. It left him with a paralysed left arm. So he re-invented himself as a one-armed pianist and for years performed successfully in recitals for three hands with his pianist wife Phyllis Sellick."
There are many other famous pianists who also were missing a hand or fingers, of course, this paragraph does not list all. Then again, let's not forget deaf, or blind pianists either. What about Beethoven?

Answer 2

Yes, I guess so, I myself play the piano and I know that there are loads of different finger arrangements that you can make up for pieces of music. Most of the time you don't use all of your fingers anyway, so other arrangements could easily be made.

Answer 3

Definetaly, if Stevie Wonder can play blind, some-one can play with a finger missing. Also if you've never played before it will be easier because you're learning with just four fingers and you won't have to struggle to reaarange.

Answer 4

Well, Django Rheinhart played brilliant jazz guitar with more than one finger missing from one hand so I guess the piano minus just one should be possible.

Answer 5

I can't remember all of my music history here, but I know there were a series of pieces written for only the left hand- written by a pianist who has lost his entire right hand durng WWI.

Answer 6

im syre russ conway had a index finger missing he had many hits in 60s

Answer 7

Sure you can! Why not? It's just the same, it might be a little bit more difficult, but where there's a will, there's a way! Good luck! :)

Answer 8

You're going to get a lot of sarcastic, wry or cruel answers to this one so I'll offer a constructive one that you can choose as the best answer: Use your nose.

Answer 9

I think Les Dawson had his thumbs missing, and he managed!

Answer 10

U deff can its going yo take alot more practice and ur own tricks