Do you play with your wedding ring on?

[Jonathan Peck]

Do you play with your wedding ring on? I've finally removed mine and put it away.

[Keith Erickson]

Do you play with your wedding ring on? I've finally removed mine and put it away.
Yes I absolutely do!!!

As a matter of fact, I haven't taken my wedding band off since November 22nd, 2005 http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif ...and I'm proud of that!!!

[burcher]

I noticed that David Grier and Matt Flinner played with theirs on their right hands - I figured it was b/c they get in the way. Personally, I leave mine on all the time ('fraid I'll lose it) and it's so small and tight it doesn't bother me.

[catmandu2]

Yes, good idea -- you'll get far more chicks now.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

But seriously, playing stringed instruments of all shapes, sizes and types--my ring has never impeded...but mine is very slender for that very reason.

[John Flynn]

I wear mine. It on helps keep women in the audience from throwing underwear on the stage, which is distracting. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[chip]

Why would one take it off? It doesn't get in the way, doesn't hinder playing, and most professionals play with their's on as one should. Very few people that I've noticed ever take it off. Sometimes I think these topics are just a way of spending idle time... http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[pjlama]

Yes but, when I play electric bass I usually take it off because of the noise it makes against the frets especially on the wider necks of six and seven string basses.

[TeleMark]

I usually play my own instruments with the ring on, but I take it off if playing someone else's axe. I have a 9mm tungsten carbide ring and while I don't worry about it knocking the neck of my own stuff, I don't want to damage someone else's property.

[Jonathan Peck]

Mine has never gotten in the way, but I find that my fingers can get swollen making the ring uncomfortable.

[Keith Erickson]

Mine has never gotten in the way, but I find that my fingers can get swollen making the ring uncomfortable.
Jonathan,

I'm not sure what part of the country you're located but would elevation have anything to do with your fingers swelling up?

I know that when I hike above the 6,000 foot elevation, I start to see my fingers swell up.

[Jonathan Peck]

I'm in NYC and I can honestly say that since I've stopped wearing it, nobody has thrown their underwear at me.

[MikeEdgerton]

I'd have to cut my finger off to get mine off. I don't plan on losing any fingers.

[Denny Gies]

I agree with catmandu2. My wedding ring has never interfered with my playing, it's just my skill level that interferes. This holds for guitar, banjo and mandolin.

[Scotti Adams]

Well of course.

[Bertram Henze]

It's on my right hand, so it does not get in the way. After wearing it for 19 years now I'd need a bolt cutter to take it off. I hope I never need an MRT.

Bertram

[Bertram Henze]

I'd have to cut my finger off to get mine off.
When you heat it up, does it show tiny elvish letters? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[MikeEdgerton]

I hope not. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[JeffD]

In some marriages both partners do not share the passion for music. As has been posted a few times, there are spouses that merely tolerate what for us is a passion bordering on mindles ecstacy.

If that is the case, taking off the wedding ring in order to play mandolin will have symbolic implications whose repercussions are far more uncomforable than that little ring of gold, or the occational ding on an instrument.

[miked500]

Jeff, well said!
I play with mine on; it doesn't seem to ever get in the way.

[Jonathan Peck]

Guess I'm in the minority, I married a musician. She doesn't wear her ring either.

[Milan Christi]

Yup all the time - right-handed ring wearer here.

[Scott Rucker]

I've never had a problem with my ring interfering when playing mandolin, guitar, or banjo. But I always take it off when playing upright bass. I put it on my key chain to keep track of it.

[burcher]

Hey JP - one pair of boxers comin' your way!

[twaaang]

Yes. Both of them. -- Paul

[allenhopkins]

Had a large, thick wedding ring which I wore for years; it really did interfere with finger movement. Then I went a few years not wearing one, because I was afraid if I kept taking it off and putting it on, I'd lose it. Finally bought as thin a wedding band as I could find (while still keeping the original engraved ring in my jewelry box). Doesn't get in the way of my playing, and my wife's happier than if I did all those gigs "looking single."

[Siminole]

Nope, never saw a need to take it off to play, and been wearing it so long I just consider it part of me.....and it is.........

Al http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[catmandu2]

My ring never interferes with my playing...but my MARRIAGE sure does!.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[G. Fisher]

I don't wear mine @ work and if I remember to I put it on during the weekend I have no issues playing mando while it's on.

[mandopete]

I'd have to cut my finger off to get mine off.
When you heat it up, does it show tiny elvish letters? #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif
WE WANTS THE PRECIOUS!

[Tillmanator]

Well I am female with very thin fingers. The diamond in my ring is in a very high setting so it sticks out quite a bit. If I leave my ring on while playing, occasionally it will rotate around (since my fingers are so skinny) and the diamond stabs me in either the side of my pinky finger or the side of my middle finger.

Henceforth, I remove it while playing. I don't wear it while sleeping either. I have a cute little silver elephant with its trunk extended up that I put the ring on when I'm not wearing it so it doesn't get lost.

[JEStanek]

I wear mine. Never gets in my way.

Jamie

[Rick Schmidlin]

I hope to have one on my finger someday.

[Bill Snyder]

I do not understand what having a wedding ring on has to do with playing mandolin. Is your ring so wide that it interferes with bending your finger?

[jim_n_virginia]

Come on ... you married dudes... tell the truth! You wear your rings because your wife would kill you (or at least make your like quite uncomfortable) if you took your rings off and went out playing looking like a single guy!

a married man's ring does NOT belong to him... it belongs to his wife and it is to mark the man and warn all other female HANDS OFF HE'S MINE! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[Patrick Sylvest]

Can't take it off http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

Incidentally, it does mean what it means....committed! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Brad Weiss]

Check these (http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=THfpx60SZSw) out. #I think the ring looks cool. #And I'd be just as lousy a picker without it...

[cooper4205]

I do not understand what having a wedding ring on has to do with playing mandolin. Is your ring so wide that it interferes with bending your finger?
Not to answer for someone else, but in my case I have thick knuckles and skinny fingers, and sometime the ring can slide around some and get caught up around my knuckle where it limits how much it bends. It doesn't happen all the time, so I don't always take my wedding band off to play, but if I notice it bothering me and sliding around I'll slip it off (as long as the Warden isn't looking!)

[gnelson651]

Never even knew that a wedding ring would hinder ones playing. Mine has been on since Aug 17, 1986. As #others have said, it would take cutting off a finger or using bolt cutters to get it off.

I'm old, fat and ugly. I doubt if any women would be throwing their underwear at me regardless of how terrible I play. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[F5G WIZ]

My ring never interferes with my playing...but my MARRIAGE sure does!.. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif
HA HA. Here, here. I'm with ya there buddy! I take mine off in the studio just to avoid having any inadvertant noise. But normally in everyday playing it stays on.

[Hans]

I have not worn my wedding ring for years because of machinery and the fear of losing a finger.

[MikeEdgerton]

I have not worn my wedding ring for years because of machinery and the fear of losing a finger.
If one works with power machinery one shouldn't wear rings. I think that's pretty much a given on the safety side of things. For my part, I've never seen a computer rip a finger off.

[Mark Walker]

My wife and I have been married 54 years (27 apiece) and my wedding ring has always been on. It doesn't interfere with my poor playing whatsoever.

It is a relatively 'thin' one, so doesn't affect the movement of my stubby little fingers. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[mandobsessed]

I never take mine off. It doesn't seem to interfere with my playing of any instrument, guitar, banjo, mandolin, bass, whatever. If I took it of my broken fingers would interfere a lot more.....

[Gail Hester]

Wearing a big ol'e ring seemed to work for this guy. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Crowder]

It should only bother you if you let it. Unless you wear a HUGE ring.

[mounmon]

In earlier years I wore a heavy band that I was always taking off and unfortunately lost a couple..oops.. Nowadays I wear a very thin ring from somewhere in southeast Asia and most times I don't even know it's there.

[300win]

Yes. The only time I've removed my vow ring is when I have cleaned it. My wife is the best in the world, never would I be without my ring of faith and promise to her. She gave me a banjo a couple of years ago, and allowed me to finally get a Gibson mandolin. She's a special girl to me, and the ring I wear on my finger represents that.

[jim_n_virginia]

I have not worn my wedding ring for years because of machinery and the fear of losing a finger.
I just remembered when I was in the Navy on my ship an Electrician was working on a live panel and somehow the electricity arc'd and gold being one of the best (if not the best) conductor there is, the power arc'd to the guys ring.

The gold ring burned his finger so bad that he eventually ended up losing the finger. It burned the flesh dang near to the bone! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif

[Bertram Henze]

I just remembered when I was in the Navy on my ship an Electrician was working on a live panel and somehow the electricity arc'd and gold being one of the best (if not the best) conductor there is, the power arc'd to the guys ring.
I thought in the Navy your every move is regulated. Working on a live panel is not allowed by the regulations, I suppose? Because you NEVER do that, ring or no ring, much less if voltage is high enough for arcing.

Bertram

[Tracy Ballinger]

I used to wear my ring when playing, but my mandolin became jealous and refused to sound nice. So I took it off, and discovered that it still didn't sound nice... it didn't take me long to figure out that it wasn't the mandolin's fault! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Tracy

[Tim Bowen]

I'm a bit embarrassed to admit it, since I'll soon be married (and totally monagamous) for ten years, but I'm not sure where my wedding band lives within our house. Maybe I should ask the Mrs. No? Perhaps not, I hate sleeping on the lawn.

Before I married my wife, I told her that I had an absolute aversion to jewelry of any sort. I don't wear a watch, and I can't even be comfortable with a T-shirt unless the sleeves are rolled up to my shoulders.

[sam60]

When my wife and I exchanged rings a couple years ago I was hoping to leave the rings on at all times but a couple of fishing trips and one where i slipped and bruised my finger and removed the ring till the swelling went down but avoided putting it on when fishing...hate to explain that a fish now has it. My wife is a nurse and does not wear her rings at work...but we do put them on but I have not played with the ring on and maybe should try. But did spend 22 years in armed forces and wedding rings and machinery dont always mix.

[Jonas]

I sometimes switch my ring from left to right hand when I play. Most times I don't think about it, but other times my finger will get a little swollen and then I change to the right hand.

[Bernie Daniel]

Goooooleeeeeeee,

I never would have thought this topic would be so lively. Here is one solution...............

[Bertram Henze]

Here is one solution...............
I don't get it - is she working on live mandolins or playing heavy machinery? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[PaulD]

Because you NEVER do that, ring or no ring, much less if voltage is high enough for arcing.
My rings are pretty simple: a white gold Celtic knot wedding band on my left ring finger and a silver Celtic knot band on my right. As far as I know they've never gotten in my way when I'm playing, at least I've always blamed it on lack of practice.

The only time I usually worry about my rings is when I'm working on the car. While the voltage is not enough to arc (unless you get zapped by the spark circuitry, which is low current and won't melt your ring) the 12VDC from the battery is high enough current that you can still melt down your ring and lose your finger. I try to remember to disconnect the battery or remove my rings when I'm working around the alternator, starter, or battery. I don't always remember, but I try.

pd

[Patrick Killeen]

If it got in the way when I was playing then I'd take it off, put it's never caused me any problems. I take my ring off at night, and I don't feel like I'm properly dressed in the morning until I've got it back on again.

I have tried using my wedding ring as a mini slide, but I haven't managed to get it working yet. It would be cool to slip in the odd slide notes with it. On the other hand, I have had some success using it with harmonicas to tap a beat on the coverplate.

Patrick

[seanonabutton]

when thile was married it was on his right hand http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[c3hammer]

Of course if you just play left handed it's not an issue http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Cheers,
Pete

[Bill Van Liere]

My wife plays in a band or two with me.

Did youall play music before you got married thus knowing what size ring to pick out? Or is it the other way that your spouse drove you to playing the mando?

[billkilpatrick]

When my wife and I exchanged rings a couple years ago I was hoping to leave the rings on at all times but a couple of fishing trips and one where i slipped and bruised my finger and removed the ring till the swelling went down but avoided putting it on when fishing...hate to explain that a fish now has it. My wife is a nurse and does not wear her rings at work...but we do put them on but I have not played with the ring on and maybe should try. But did spend 22 years in armed forces and wedding rings and machinery dont always mix.
the gold ring my wife gave to me on our wedding day was lost in the agean sea ... the look she gave me then has compelled me to keep the new one on forever ...

i must be positioning my left hand differently than those who say the ring on their ring-finger touches the neck. with me, the neck is placed between the 1st finger and thumb and only that part of the palm (and the finger tips, of course) makes contact with the neck and fingerboard.

there's an illustration of the "correct" left-hand position somewhere in the "classical" section - i looked but no luck.

low level library skills - bill

[Steve Ostrander]

I leave mine on. It reminds me of why I'm not playing a Gilchrist.

[TomTyrrell]

I don't wear my wedding ring and neither does my wife. Yes, we are still married - 25 years in June. There are so many injuries that can happen from having jewelry on your hands it just doesn't make sense for us to take the risk.

[John of Patcham]

I don't wear my wedding ring and neither does my wife. Yes, we are still married - 25 years in June. There are so many injuries that can happen from having jewelry on your hands it just doesn't make sense for us to take the risk.
Here's an example seen quite often in Accident and Emergency departments in the UK on Saturday and Sunday mornings. #The guys responsible for putting out the equipment for the local football (soccer) team tend to jump up to attach the nets to the goalposts. #Sometimes a ring catches on the hook and they land with one finger fewer than they took off with. #That could seriously hamper your chop chords.

[G. Fisher]

I leave mine on. It reminds me of why I'm not playing a Gilchrist.
I hope your wife isn't a Cafe regular with a statement like that. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

I bet that could start a lot of trouble in some blessed unions. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif