# In 1979, Dave Grohl heard a song that almost broke his hand. Now, he still can’t understand who can play it

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/in-1979-dave-grohl-heard-a-song-that-almost-broke-his-hand-now-he-still-cant-understand-who-can-play-it/
- Published: 2026-11-06T23:15:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-07T00:40:41+00:00
- Original publisher: Far Out
- Original article: https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/in-1979-dave-grohl-heard-a-song-that-almost-broke-his-hand-now-he-still-cant-understand-who-can-play-it/
- Topics: Entertainment, Music

## Key points

- Grohl says “Message in a Bottle” strained his hand.
- The riff relies on demanding major ninth chords.
- Andy Summers’ unusual technique made the part distinctive.

## Summary

Dave Grohl has said that trying to play The Police’s “Message in a Bottle” once strained his hand, leaving him wondering how guitarist Andy Summers could perform it without injury. The story highlights the unusual technique behind a familiar riff and why Summers’ playing stood out.

Grohl recalled the experience while discussing songs that challenged him, despite his reputation as a versatile musician. The riff uses major ninth chords and requires nimble hand stretches to make the notes ring clearly; Summers took an unconventional approach to the guitar part.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.