about the pinky...

[bullshark]

Hi,

I'm stuck with this really short pinky finger (compared to my other fingers and some other bass player I've watched on Youtube), and it give me problem reaching the G and even A string when I get to the tenth fret or thereabout.

It's bad enough that sometime I miss the string entirely when reaching for a note; my pinky is agile and mobile and well separated from the other fingers, it's just short.

So, question: should I keep practicing using it even past the twelfth fret and hopefully it will get better in time, or should I just start practising droping it and using only the first three when I get past the twelfth (which is not natural for me)?

[tbone409]

personaly i always keep my pinky and ring fingers melded together
i find this kills any buzz i might have above the 12 fret
also my hand movement has improved for quick movements up and down the neck
the only exception is chords, where my pinky is a free as a bird (pardon the LS reference)

[anesthetist]

i have really small hands and don't really use my pinky all that much, but i am working on it.

it's just a matter of technique, when i started playing bass it felt quite hopeless that i was ever going to be able to play any longscale bass comfortably, but now i've found a longscale bass that really feels comfortable for my hands (BB414). My technique involves moving my hand more up and down the neck, so you just have to find a way to make it work and don't give up!

i also wear my bass quite high which helps.

[Ravens]

have you considered investing in a longer pinky, or perhaps a sixth finger?

[new_west]

I feel your pain. I have really really small hands.. but for the pinky, I try to incorporate it in all the lines i play and I've noticed doing a lot of permutations, and playing some classical guitar (the streching) helps loads

[AxtoOx]

Man I can't play well without my pinky, I'd rather use it than my ring finger.
I'd see if I could strech using exercise, other than that you have to adapt however you can.

Jimmy Page on the 75 tour slammed his hand in a car door and had to finish the tour using 3 fingers so it can be done. ( Forgive the guitar ref. but I'm a dual player).

[bullshark]

Originally Posted by Ravens

have you considered investing in a longer pinky, or perhaps a sixth finger?

Why, are you selling? How much to ship here?

[bullshark]

Originally Posted by tbone409

personaly i always keep my pinky and ring fingers melded together
i find this kills any buzz i might have above the 12 fret
also my hand movement has improved for quick movements up and down the neck
the only exception is chords, where my pinky is a free as a bird (pardon the LS reference)

Strangely enough, my ring finger seem to be stuck to my middle finger, it is neither agile, flexible or very strong, the total opposite of my pinky which only problem is being too short. To use it more than occasionaly would require major training from my part.

Think I'll keep using the pinky, and try and learn a new thumb position to give it enough reach.

[251]

I suggest you continue to practice using your pinky. Your accuracy when reaching will improve, you will learn new ways to use your pinky & you will know exactly where the limit is, so you can avoid doing too much when it really counts.

[BetterBottomEnd]

Originally Posted by AxtoOx

Man I can't play well without my pinky, I'd rather use it than my ring finger.
I'd see if I could stretch using exercise, other than that you have to adapt however you can.

I'm with you on that. A good exercise I've found is:
G-----------------------1--4--2--4--1-----------------------
D--------------1--4--2-----------------2--4--1--------------
A-----1--4--2------------------------------------2--4--1----
E--2-------------------------------------------------------2-

Index Finger 1st fret
Middle Finger 2nd fret
Pinky 4th fret
It's a nice stretch if you can't do it starting from two move down the neck till you can.
Its also playing root-3-5 then moving the root which is definitely useful.