Is it alright to give up on your pinky finger at some point?

[NavyCherub]

Once I reach the ~11th fret, my pinky simply cannot reach the E string unless I essentially bring the bass to an almost vertical level with me. On the really high frets, I start to use it less simply because it tends to get in the way. Is this a bad habit? Should I be working on stretching my pinky farther?

[Rune Bivrin]

OK, I'll be the first to say it:

There's no money beyond the first five frets. So stop worrying.

On a more serious note: You're not likely to grow a longer pinky, no matter how much you exercise. Just make sure your left wrist is straight and your thumb isn't reaching above the fret board.

[JimmyM]

honestly, i think it's a pretty detrimental thing not to be able to use your pinky. yes, i know clapton doesn't use his, but look, we're not clapton. there are lots of exercises you can do to strengthen it and get it up to speed. i suggest seeking them out.

[JtheJazzMan]

Sounds like youre holding your bass too low.

[GianGian]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

honestly, i think it's a pretty detrimental thing not to be able to use your pinky. yes, i know clapton doesn't use his, but look, we're not clapton. there are lots of exercises you can do to strengthen it and get it up to speed. i suggest seeking them out.

He uses his pinky for the chords, but I imagine your are talking about "single string play".
I think it would be alright, mainly because those high notes on the E string are easily found on the A string. It really depends on the style of music you play. If you want to play like Dream Theater or the likes, complicated music, virtosistic, etc, you are going to need your pinky, but if all you play are the blues, chances are that you'll very rarely need it to play something.

[HeadyVan Halen]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

honestly, i think it's a pretty detrimental thing not to be able to use your pinky. yes, i know clapton doesn't use his, but look, we're not clapton. there are lots of exercises you can do to strengthen it and get it up to speed. i suggest seeking them out.

This.

Don't limit what you can do by what you don't wanna do..I ain't no motivational speaker, but take the 1st five minutes and the last five minutes of practice just working on this.

Here's how it will go:
1 week no progress
1 month no progress
you'll forget about evaluating your performance but continue to practice it

6 months later, you'll do it without even trying/noticing

[Colors-Of-Music]

I think you should do what's comfortable for you. But hey, I'm just a beginner.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Colors-Of-Music

I think you should do what's comfortable for you. But hey, I'm just a beginner.

right. and that's why we don't take lessons from beginners

[John Wentzien]

Only lose the "pinky" if you lose a BIG bet in Las Vegas!

[guroove]

Hey know-it-alls, did you guys even read the OP? I don't think he's talking about giving up on the pinky altogether. Did you miss the part about the 11th fret?

[Fergie Fulton]

Using the little finger is a functional thing, if you cope without it then fair enough. Many players do not use in on its own but backed up with the ring finger, again not a problem. I know nothing of you and how you use your hands so this is general info.

I will say this, don't give up on it just use it. I feel you are measuring or gauging its progress against something that is miraculously going to happen to change your playing. Sorry but it does not work like that.
In playing and in practice it is the function of the fingers you use, so if you want them to function better then find better ways to use them.
First stop better fingerings and scales.
This alone will give your little finger a use, constant use will make it a work out.
If after months/years you still have problems then targeted exercise can be used to support the playing.

Good luck and don't really worry about it, just use it.

[One Bad Monkey]

Originally Posted by JimmyM

right. and that's why we don't take lessons from beginners

Or why we shouldn't. How many "I've been playing for one year and I want to start giving lessons" threads have we read.

Don't give up; get that pinky in use and you'll be more than glad that you did.

[Dellers]

If your pinky is as short as mine I completely understand you. While I can use it on the E string (or B string on my 5'er, though with some angle on my wrist) on the first frets, it's impossible further up the neck. When I keep my hand straight it's more than 4 cm (or 1.6 inches) from the top of my pinky to the top of my middle finger. Very impractical for sure.

[Brad Johnson]

You guys who are having pinky dilemmas, how are you holding your basses and how are you positioning your fretting hand thumb? IME that's likely your problem.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by Brad Johnson

You guys who are having pinky dilemmas, how are you holding your basses and how are you positioning your fretting hand thumb? IME that's likely your problem.

Pinky problems are usually in the mind, or in the joint used, its not a problem to use it, but it seems it is a problem to use it as others do.

We all have different hand sizes and finger lengths so it is about you and the function you have. So you first use your little finger ( all fingers really) where it naturally comes in contact with the fret board, then after a while refine it and continue till you stop playing in life.

The fact you can't do one finger one fret, or have a big stretch, long reach, speed, etc are all ideas and may or may not be a reality you will ever get on the bass in your playing, but that never stops anyone from using or developing the hands and what the do have to the best of its ability.

here's some links to using your hands,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRkSsapYYsA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeodP4P0ivM

[m_bisson]

I have this problem too. My pinky works great all over except above a certain point on the e string.

[Ric5]

Bass players with big hands tend to use the picky fingers less.

Bass players with small hands tend to use the ring finger less.

[melkinsbass]

I take it that you're not sitting; if you were that would be a contributing issue. IME, thumb placement and wrist angle are the most important things to be looking at. I've had a few students whose pinkies were just abnormally short, but generally if the student made sure the thumb was in the middle of the neck (or a little lower), the problem would correct with a little bit of time. Most students come in and think their pinky is too short; but if you have a death-grip on the neck or the neck is parallel to the floor, that is the issue. I would really like to know where your thumb is at.

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by melkinsbass

I take it that you're not sitting; if you were that would be a contributing issue. IME, thumb placement and wrist angle are the most important things to be looking at. I've had a few students whose pinkies were just abnormally short, but generally if the student made sure the thumb was in the middle of the neck (or a little lower), the problem would correct with a little bit of time. Most students come in and think their pinky is too short; but if you have a death-grip on the neck or the neck is parallel to the floor, that is the issue. I would really like to know where your thumb is at.

That's what I was getting at. That and having the bass slung low can make things difficult.

Though I've never had problems while sitting.

[Brad Johnson]

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

Pinky problems are usually in the mind, or in the joint used, its not a problem to use it, but it seems it is a problem to use it as others do.

We all have different hand sizes and finger lengths so it is about you and the function you have. So you first use your little finger ( all fingers really) where it naturally comes in contact with the fret board, then after a while refine it and continue till you stop playing in life.

The fact you can't do one finger one fret, or have a big stretch, long reach, speed, etc are all ideas and may or may not be a reality you will ever get on the bass in your playing, but that never stops anyone from using or developing the hands and what the do have to the best of its ability.

here's some links to using your hands,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRkSsapYYsA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EeodP4P0ivM

May be but ergonomics are not necessarily in the mind. If I played like some people I've seen play, I'd have pinky problems too.