The flying pinky!

[Synthax]

Hello again everyone, I'm back with another question. I truly appreciate all the help you all have given me and am trying my best to put it to good use. My current issue is ,y pinky. I have linked some videos of my pinky flying high, and this is me trying my hardest to keep it put. Could you all please critique the following vids and give me an idea of what im doing wrong? Two videos are me just running first position chromatically and the third is me practicing the major scale. Any help is appreciated as always and thank you for taking the time to help out.

Also today is just about 3 months on bass with no end in sight :-)



Neil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xLMx...gdata_player N
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciTG_...e_gdata_player
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8W1bN...e_gdata_player

[Synthax]

Sorry , i put this in the wrong forum. Computer is dead and trying to do this all from my tablet.
I worded the above post poorly, was hoping someone could see what was wrong and have some ideas on how to fix it. Just trying to keep it low doesn't seem to be working so far. Thanks again

Neil

[Wrilley]

Play very slow. This lets you concentrate on the technique while you retrain your muscle memory. You might also try doing pull-offs, just also do those really slowly and concentrate on only pulling off "just enough." Hope that helps =)

[Jay2U]

This isn't the wrong forum. This is all about playing technique. From what I see, you are stretching your fingers in quite a forced way. Take care you won't hurt yourself. I only use the pinky if I can't reach with another finger. My left hand is all over the neck, instead of being almost stationary. I would be a little easier on the fingers. Don't force anything, it'll come with time. You can do some finger stretching if you aren't playing, just to get them loose. Put your hand on the table and lift your fingers one at a time. Spread them one by one. Don't force anything, easy does it.

[klokker]

I actually think you're on the right track. I agree it looks a bit forced, but not really that bad. The most important thing I try to focus on during warm ups is a relaxed wrist and finger independance.

I also agree that the hammer on/pull off idea is a good one. Anchor your first finger and do hammer on/pull offs with the rest of your fingers (on all strings). Work at letting you fingers do the work, keeping a relaxed wrist as much as possible. It won't go well at first but keep at it and it will get better.

Sometimes if you start up higher on the fretboard it's easier.....then work your way down.

Come up with different patterns as well. Just remember that it takes a long time to become more relaxed and effortless.

[tyroneshoelaces]

i agree with the above post. i have to keep my pinky out just like you because my joint pops when i move my pinky up and down which causes me to hiccup and screw up. took me awhile to train my pinky to move freely and accurate without that dang popping in my joint. but you're on the right track, just keep hammering out them scales and always incorporate the pinky when playing songs and practicing. kept playing them faster and faster until my pinky "freed" up and stopped "flying" so much. its just a matter of practice, practice, practice. countless hours of playing scales and making up my own patterns helped me tremendously on bass and also for using my pinky for playing chords and scales on guitar. put that finger to work everytime you play and it'll just keep getting easier and easier to play. good luck!

[JaamE]

I find i dont have much control over my pinky on either hand. I cant really fret with it, even on guitar.

[deeptubes]

As you gain experience, excessive finger movement should diminish some. A proper set up with low action also helps, as it requires less effort to push the strings down to the frets. Try practicing with just your index and pinky. A busy pinky will help eliminate wasted movement, as there simply isn't the time. It does kind of look like you are trying too hard to keep it out of the way. As others have mentioned, practice just barely taking your fingers off the strings. And, try keeping your fingers bent. You seem to be completely straightening it out. Eventually, it will become second nature.

[FretlessMainly]

I've played guitar since 1977 and bass since 1980. I use a flying finger technique because I really rely on hammer-ons and pull-offs for a large percentage of my style. While keeping the fingers close to the board is generally a good idea, it isn't necessarily bad to use them in a flying style, just as long as it doesn't cause injury.

[Plays_For_Dog]

Me personally, I wouldn't worry about it. Mine used to do the same thing. The muscles for your pinky are connected to the ring finger (not literally, but by nerves). Hold your hand in front of your face. Now bend just your pinky. See?

Like I said, mine used to do the same thing. Over time, the pinky will learn it's role and relax into a more suitable position. It also has a lot to do with your hand position on the neck. You have to keep your arm and wrist angles natural. You don't want to fight the bass or yourself to bang a note out.

As long as you're hitting the correct notes in time and it's comfortable for you to do so, who cares!? Technique is important, but don't hold yourself back trying to have perfect form. Get close, and move on. As you continue to practice, your brain will train your hands to smooth out the little details.

This is my exerpience and what has worked for me. I'm sure someone will be happy to disagree with me and explain why with what worked for them. Bottom line is, do what works best for you and is comfortable. You have to enjoy playing and you're not going to do that if you beat yourself up over minute little details.

[Jay2U]

Originally Posted by Plays_For_Dog

Me personally, I wouldn't worry about it. Mine used to do the same thing. The muscles for your pinky are connected to the ring finger (not literally, but by nerves). Hold your hand in front of your face. Now bend just your pinky. See? ...

Then I'm the exception that proves the rule. I've got total control over the pinky with the other fingers dead straight. I can just move and bend it freely without interaction.

[jordak]

This is my first time on the technique board in a while.

I'm lucky enough to work in a music store -
Today, the store's guitar tech, a veteran gigging and studio musician/engineer in his day, caught me playing. He asked me to play a major scale and watched my left hand.

My fingers, especially my pinky, tend to fly up when they aren't fretting a note, as he pointed out to me.

I understand that my current technique is inefficient and will inevitably be sloppy (or at least tiring) when I play melodic licks at fast tempos, but even when I play slowly it's really difficult to undo over a year of muscle memory.

Beginner Bass Guitar Lesson: Left Hand Technique - YouTube This illustrates efficient motion.

Could my issues be related to using the inside of my thumb against the neck rather than the tip?

[apkbass]

Only after reading this thread did i realize that i have a case of the flying pinky, and i'm working to fix it. If I play a scale, my little finger is kinda tricked into thinking its gonna play where it doesn't. And when i'm not using it, it sort of tucks itself away. Any more advice? I'm a piano player, so i'm hoping that my finger exercises on the keys will be extra help in improving my fluency on the neck of my axe.

[apkbass]

After doing some research, keeping the pinky from flying up and away can be corrected, but the wiggling in the tip of the pinky is natural. If you hold out your hand with fingers curled in slightly and wiggle your ring finger, you will notice some movement in the pinky and middle finger. This is because they are all interconnected by ligaments further down in the hand. The motion can be exaggerated by holding your hand in the same position and repeatedly tapping your palm with the ring finger.

[kiripunk]

Can you name very famous basslines in non-standard tunings?

[apkbass]

Hmm. Depends on the genre, how you define "famous," and what you would consider a non-standard tuning.

[MostlyBass]

Easy fix!
Adapt this exercise:
Left Hand | MostlyBass.com

to the electric... go slow and give it a few weeks.

[apkbass]

So this will help on electric even though its an exercise made for double bass?

[MostlyBass]

Absolutely. Use one finger per fret at a comfortable spot on the fingerboard. Put all 4 fingers down. Move your first finger to the next string while the remaning 3 fingers stay one the fingerboard. Then move the 2nd finger over. So, 3 fingers are ALWAYS pressed down while one finger moves to the adjacent string.

This will train that pinky and it will always train you fingers to stay closer to the string resulting in economy of motion.

[MostlyBass]

The ring finger and pinky do share a tendon in most of the population. However, don't let this discourage you as a great degree of independence is still possible. Just ask any professional string player.... or Steve Vai