crazy pinky syndrome

[linear]

You know how you watch some people play and their pinky on the fretting hand is all over the place when they are not using it? One moment locked straight and pointing perpendicular to the fretboard, the next it's all curled up almost under the neck - generally waggling around spasmodically in sympathy with whatever the other fingers are up to. I am that man.

To be clear, I have no real problems using it for fretting. If anything I go out of my way to use it as it's nice not having to stretch my hand. And it's not just using my third finger that causes this - alternating between first and second will have it merrily waving away too.

So my question is: should I make a bit of an effort to tame my errant little finger or will it take care of itself with time and practice? I can stop it happening if I play slowly and concentrate really hard, but I get that weird feeling in my stomach like when you just can't thread a needle or a nut onto a bolt no matter how many times you try.

Please advise. My girlfriend bursts into hysterical laughter every time she watches me play

[bassman0221]

I have been doing this for years but I have been taking lessons and my teacher is stressing that I learn how to control it by keeping my hand in a more "efficient" manner. I have always just used three fingers and let the pinky go w/e it wanted to but since I have been practicing at this more I have noticed that its becoming tamer. He has told me that if I can get all four fingers to stay closer to the string and not move around so much it will make me a faster, better player. He calls it "economy in motion" which makes perfect sense. I have been playing since middle school (now 23) so its hard trying to get rid of bad habits, the longer you put it off the harder it will be to fix it.

[Spinal Tapper]

I actually have a wiggly pinky syndrome on my plucking hand (right hand).

Instead of curling it under next to my ring finger, it sticks out and does what it wants. I consciously try to bring it in, but when I'm just rocking out, it just sticks straight out - I'm kinda self concious of it.

[Fetusyolk]

Originally Posted by Spinal Tapper

I actually have a wiggly pinky syndrome on my plucking hand (right hand).

Instead of curling it under next to my ring finger, it sticks out and does what it wants. I consciously try to bring it in, but when I'm just rocking out, it just sticks straight out - I'm kinda self concious of it.

hahaha i know exactly what you're talking about. don't be embarrassed no one cares/notices. sometimes that happens to me but now that i try and keep my hand playing smooth it generally doesn't happen.

[DerHoggz]

I wouldn't worry about it, it could possibly cause damage if you try to force it to behave.

[somedumbguy]

Thank goodness I'm not the only person that does this...

[Joe Gress]

Right hand: My pinky does this weird ass up and down thing in conjunction with my other fingers. I only use the first three pluck, but I guess he wants to join.

Left hand: I use my pinky as much as my first finger in fretting stuff. Prolly comes from playing my upright.

[Michael Campbel]

Originally Posted by DerHoggz

I wouldn't worry about it, it could possibly cause damage if you try to force it to behave.

I don't quite see how; it's just nerve/muscle control like any other.

That said, there is the "economy of motion" argument, and if you truly want to control it, you can. Like anything, it takes a lot of practice. I'm still new and right now I'm throwing my pinky at a string/fret and every now and then it lands where I want. My instructor is sympathetic and tells me to keep at it. It is getting better.

[pacojas]

do chromatic scales every day. using it to fret more often will make it strong and obedient. using the un-orthodox fretting method takes full advantage of the pinky, also. gl.

[The_Low_Dude]

I had the "pinky-trying-to-hide-under-the-fretboard-syndrome" for years, until my teacher wanted to get rid of it.

In the end it's all about control and smoother playing. When you're pinky moves around all the time, it also means that you use a lot of energy. As suggested above: practice chromatic scales. Play them slowly, pay attention that you relax your hand and don't apply too much pressure with your fretting hand, ...

[Tylerrr51]

Originally Posted by Fetusyolk

hahaha i know exactly what you're talking about. don't be embarrassed no one cares/notices. sometimes that happens to me but now that i try and keep my hand playing smooth it generally doesn't happen.

I heard it doesn't allow you to get full speed out of you plucking fingers, I am trying to tame this and i have it kind of down and i haven't noticed any difference in speed.

[dream-thief]

As a guitarist, i've had this ever sicne I started playing harder material, it sort of just happened naturally. For that reason I never worried about it, as everything else in my playing that's 'happened naturally' has turned out to be the best way to do things.

I was concerned for a while when I noticed during faster riffs that only use my little finger once every few notes (16ths 150bpm+) that my little finger had to make quite a large movement very quickly, and i figured i could be doing it more economically.

That being said, I never did anything about it. After watching enough of John Petrucci's playing, I noticed he did it quite often as well. I know it's probably a bad technique, but realistically it's never made any noticeable difference to my playing, so until it does, I have more important things to work on, which I figure should be the ethos for anyone trying to get round this problem - If you want to do it, fine, but maybe think first if you could be using your practice time for something that will in the end be much more useful to you.

~ L

[Fergie Fulton]

Even though its not a problem, but if you want to control it or tame it here's an exercise to try.
It serves two purposes,

1/ it lets you hold back the ring finger so stretching gently stretching the tendon that it shares with the little finger.

2/ it works the little finger in two planes of movement past the normal extension and flexion you would associate with with playing the bass. This gives the little finger a full use of movement it can do rather than the limited movement it gets when fretting. It works on the plucking hand as well.

Hold a cup, glass, or can in your hand not using the little finger.
This means the ring finger is around the bottom of the can, near the base, leaving the little finger free
Gently curl the little finger under the base and touch the pad of the thumb then return it back and stretch it out back as far as it will go in comfort. Repeat about 30 times and rest the repeat again and rest.

What you need to try and do is not just move it under and back from the main knuckle joint, but curl it under and back using all the joints of the fingers to get the benefit.

Whatever you are holding will give the resistance, so if you find it hard to start with use something with a narrower base and work back to a wider one. a standard drinks can is as big as you want to go.

You will feel the tensions not in the finger but in the forearm that is how it should be, any finger pain should not be present so stop if it occurs. The other thing you will find is a tendency to grip the object tighter as you do this, resist this temptation.
This is just the shared functions of the ring finger getting involved.
You may not be able to touch the pad on your thumb, so go as far as you can then back, it will get easier and it will happen.
It is that shared function that causes the little finger to move, and this quick easy exercise will lessen and in most cases stop that happening in a healthy hand.

Remember gently curl the finger under, do not swing it, it is harder than it sounds, but easy once you get it.