Finger curling problem

[ZombieBassist]

Hey guys

so I've always had the problem where, with both hands (although its only only really matters on the left), that when ever I curl my pinky, my ring finger curls too. This also happens vice versa, if I'm not thinking about it.

I've been trying to break this habit by moving around the neck using only my pinky and ring finger, but its damn near impossible becuase evrytime my pinky curls to hit a note my rings does the same motion, so it just sounds choppy instead of fluent.

I doubt its finger strength, both these fingers are strong individually.

Does anyone know any exercises or tips that can help me break this habit?

[John Wentzien]

Try moving your thumb towards the headstock a little bit.
Keep it on the back of the neck...but a little bit to the left side of your first finger.
This will give you some more leverage on the weaker fingers.

[Mareen]

sorry for posting my question there, just dont want to be spamming. so could anyone say me if this fingers exerciser rly works?? http://almires.com/info9771722/

[Time Consumer]

You'll probly laugh at my solution but I had this problem as well with no mobilty outta my pinky and I actually found that playing guitar hero helped a lot. It sound silly but before I played gh, I couldnt separate my ring and pinky fingers either, I wasn't looking for gh to solve this problem, just dumb luck I guess, still hafta practice on your bass since obviously gh wont help you with vertical movements.

[standupright]

check this guy out

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...&oq=Greg+Irwin

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by ZombieBassist

Hey guys

so I've always had the problem where, with both hands (although its only only really matters on the left), that when ever I curl my pinky, my ring finger curls too. This also happens vice versa, if I'm not thinking about it.

I've been trying to break this habit by moving around the neck using only my pinky and ring finger, but its damn near impossible becuase evrytime my pinky curls to hit a note my rings does the same motion, so it just sounds choppy instead of fluent.

I doubt its finger strength, both these fingers are strong individually.

Does anyone know any exercises or tips that can help me break this habit?

What you have is natural and unless you have a good reason to train your fingers to stop this then use it to your advantage. Your ring and little finger like to work together because it is on the powerside of your hand and they share tendons and a muscle group because they are for power not dexterity.
see the link for info.

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...ogId=507420416

Safest and simplest way to train it out is to reverse the motion.
So simpley curl all you fingers in to gentley touch the palm of your hand with the finger tips. Then lift the fingers you want to work on out and away from the palm and back in with out the other fingers getting involved. It will be small gains at first then you will see a difference, you have to think the fingers out so to speak. By that i mean look at the hand and concentrate on the fingers you want to work on, give the brain a visual record of what's happening.
This will take practice and time but it will increase your independant mobility in each of the fingers you work on.
It is safe because it is not like closing the hand and trying to stop fingers following, it is learning a new movement which will give you the overlapping function of better independant finger control. 5-10 mins a day will do, remember to gentley stretch the hand before and after the sessions. Don't over do it thinking the more i do the better it will be, like asprins it does not work like that.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by Mareen

sorry for posting my question there, just dont want to be spamming. so could anyone say me if this fingers exerciser rly works?? http://almires.com/info9771722/

In certain cases, but in general avoid this type of gysmo and others like them.
Now this one works the hand better if you have to use one as it works a full range of natural motion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMsxG...eature=related

These devices and exercises are about use so over use or miss-use will cause damage. So the problem for most is when do i stop and that is a personal thing based on many factors. Always gentley start and build in to exercise, with any hand exercise for playing 10- 15 mins is the max.

[mambo4]

As mentioned , it's natural. something about the tendons crossing as they go from muscle to finger.

I've always had this "problem" but these days I don't even think about it.
The reason is because I generally use 1-2-4 fingering and use 3 and 4 together or really close by.
If I'm fingering with the pinkie then usually finger 3 and often all 4 fingers are down on the string behind it
The furthest I have ever really had to stretch between the two is one string up or down, and even that happens rarely.
In over a decade of gigging, the need for independence between 3 and 4 is pretty much nil for me.

Maybe I have just learned to work with the limitations, but to me crazy cross-string finger independence holds little value in practical situations.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by mambo4

As mentioned , it's natural. something about the tendons crossing as they go from muscle to finger.

I've always had this "problem" but these days I don't even think about it.
The reason is because I generally use 1-2-4 fingering and use 3 and 4 together or really close by.
If I'm fingering with the pinkie then usually finger 3 and often all 4 fingers are down on the string behind it
The furthest I have ever really had to stretch between the two is one string up or down, and even that happens rarely.
In over a decade of gigging, the need for independence between 3 and 4 is pretty much nil for me.

Maybe I have just learned to work with the limitations, but to me crazy cross-string finger independence holds little value in practical situations.

I agree with you on that, if it works for you then its right for you.This idea that the fingers need order or strict left right alternate i find is a waste of time if you are playing is good and it holds no limitations on what you want to play. Change for the sake of it looking better is vanity, change for having a better balanced technique or hand health is a much better application for it if you need a reason. If it works don't mess with it unless you have to

[Kevinmach]

In certain cases, but in general avoid this type of gysmo and others like them.

Meh, I really don't see how these devices are any more dangerous than playing 3 hours a day in terms of giving you tendinitis, as long as you don't over do it.

Where I do really like them is when I am driving or I am in the car on the way to practice, where I can loosen up my fingers and get blood flowing, so I don't show up totally cold.

Just a heads up if you DO get one- rather than buying one with set resistance levels, Planet Waves makes and inexpensive one (under $20) that has adjustable tension in it, and even supposed has little ridges where the pads of your fingers go, to help build callouses (not sure it that part actually works). But I keep it in my car and it's actually not bad.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by Kevinmach

Meh, I really don't see how these devices are any more dangerous than playing 3 hours a day in terms of giving you tendinitis, as long as you don't over do it.

Where I do really like them is when I am driving or I am in the car on the way to practice, where I can loosen up my fingers and get blood flowing, so I don't show up totally cold.

Just a heads up if you DO get one- rather than buying one with set resistance levels, Planet Waves makes and inexpensive one (under $20) that has adjustable tension in it, and even supposed has little ridges where the pads of your fingers go, to help build callouses (not sure it that part actually works). But I keep it in my car and it's actually not bad.

Again i agree, but playing bass has the desired effect of building the hand, it is if someone needs extra help to bring them up to speed that they work. But once up to speed they need to be cut back in there use. Sadly someone saying i have used these gysmos for 10 years and it has not done me no harm is the same as a smoker saying i have smoked for ten years and they have done me no harm. Remember the occasional cigarette every now and then is not going to kill you, it is the continued regular use that does the damage...alcohol is the same