Guitar Strummer

Playing guitar and performing in a band was a major part of Charles’s life until a stroke in 2003 led to the paralysis of his right arm and put an end to his playing.

In 2016, Charles’s wife, Judy, approached CanAssist to ask whether a device could be created to help her husband return to playing the guitar. With funding in place, the CanAssist Technology Development Team began developing the Guitar Strummer, a technology designed to bring music back into Charles’s life.

With the device, Charles can now play again. Strumming is controlled by pressing a floor pedal with his foot, while rotating the pedal lifts the pick above the strings for different strumming patterns. Repeatedly pressing the pedal mimics, a bass drum motion, which is transmitted through a flexible cable attached to the pick mechanism. The Guitar Strummer is designed to be compatible with many guitar styles and shapes while minimizing fatigue, allowing Charles to play comfortably.

After 13 years away from the instrument, Charles is starting gradually to rebuild finger strength and callouses. He recently had his first performance at a family dinner, playing tunes while everyone sang along.

Since developing Charles’s Guitar Strummer, CanAssist has continued to design, refine, and deliver Guitar Strummers to clients across the community, helping many more people regain the ability to play.