Fret Hand Pinky Curling Under Neck

[Would'e?]

Lately I've noticed my fret hand pinky curling under my neck when I'm not using it (and I do use it, I just have to get it out from under there before I do). Anyone else have this tendency? I feel like it's something I should strive to correct, but it also seems to be the natural postion for my hand when holding the neck and not actually playing with the pinky. If I concentrate on it, I can not do it, but as soon as I get caught up in the music and not concentrating on my hands, there it goes again. Suggestions? Or should I not worry about it if it isn't preventing me from playing the music? I know it must look odd to other bassists.

[iamlowsound]

I used to do this all the time as well. Play some exercises such as the spider exercise or run some chromatics while concentrating on keeping your fingers as close to the strings as possible without touching the strings when not using those fingers. Do this 15-20 minutes a day and you will be broken of the habit in no time.

lowsound

[SirFunk]

Although it may not be hindering your playing now, it may become a problem in the future. As the above poster said exercises would be good. I wouldn't worry about it in a performance setting, but i would definintely concentrate on it while practicing. (then it'll get better in performance.) One thing to think about is the relationship of the palm of your hand (at the base of the fingers) to the side of the neck, it should be basically parallel. The reason your pinky may be way off is because your hand is angled away from the neck on the pinky end..

hope that makes sense.

-jeff

[Matt Dean]

Start by positioning your thumb under the center of the bottom of and perpendicular to the neck. This should naturally place your pinky on top of the neck, parallel to the frets.

[Would'e?]

Thanks for the suggestions. I don't think it's my hand position. THe thumb and palm are right where they should be. Might just be my personal physiology. I notice that even when I'm not holding something and with the other fingers relaxed my little finger tends to curl toward the center of my palm.

I'll try the chromatics and other exercises while concentrating on keeping my fingers closer to the strings in general. I do have a tendency to lift my fingers rather high off the fretboard when I'm not fretting a string which I know is a hindrance to building speed.

It's likely comes from my years as a rhythm guitarist trying to fit my big paws on those little necks.

Or maybe I'm getting arthritic in my old age.

[Lokire]

I do that all the time, but it doesn't seem to hinder my playing any so I don't try to change it.

You can see it in this vid, a lot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVk2PeNeo6Y

[Nagan60]

I have this nasty habit too....I been doing excercises to try to break myself of having that pinky dangling off of the neck. I normally do it though when I'm on the D/G strings. I have a great book called "Bass Fitness" that is suppose to help with finger dexterity and finger strength.....so far so good. I would highly recommend this book.

[elpelotero]

it is a natural thing for almost all "shredder" guitarists I ever see videos of online. They have a great ability to bring it back out though, as well as keep close to the strings if needed. Their pinky usually hides when they do some fast runs with the index and ring finger.

[TheBassBetween]

So after reading your thread, I decided to pick up my bass and see what my pinky does, and what I found out, is that it never really has time to go anywhere because it's my second most used finger. I mean, things that are two frets apart, I'll use my index and then pinky to play it, thus leaving my entire hand near frets and ready to play them. So I guess what I'm trying to say is that keeping your pinky involved should help a bit.

But then again, I just woke up.

[twisty4678]

I've noticed this too, but only lately. :-/ Any more opinions?

[Ramstien]

Play with your pinky and ring finger as one.

[xxDavidxx]

try this exercise without moving your hand up and down the neck


G--7--8---5-----6
D5--6---7----8--
A----------------
E--------------

helps for me, i used to have the same problem. now with doing this exercise a lot, i use my pinky more often

[Fergie Fulton]

I would like to clear up one point and make another. Does this position of the pinky give any problems in playing or pain?

If the answer is yes see a medical profesional, if the answer is no then leave it alone.

Peripheral fingers and their joints (little fingers, and thumbs) can vastly vary from person to person so just learn to relax your hands using gentle stretches and massage the forearms with gentle rubbing for about 5 mins before and after playing.

It was mentioned using "spider exercises" great movements to do, and the book "bass fitness" if the one by Josquin Des Pres there are great exercises in it to help with the fitness of the hands, not as an answer to your question.

If its just because it looks different from others that is not a problem, that's vainity because you are willing to put the health of your hands at risk for looks rather than purpose.

[OrangeSun]

Go to your local outdoor gear store and buy the high strength finger grip exercise gadget for climbers.

http://www.amazon.com/Gripmaster-Exe...289973-8969700

Start carrying it around with you and using it all the time. I think some guitar centers sell them as well.

Try some of the following hand stretching exercises:

Hold your hand vertical palm facing away with your fingers flat. Do the "V" shape (star trek), then switch to three fingers to one side and one to the other side. Go back and forth.

Hold your hand vertical palm facing away with your fingers flat. Starting with your index finger, bend it down from the knuckle, just your index finger. Once you can do this without moving your other fingers, move to your middle finger. Once you can do that one without moving your other fingers, move to your ring finger. Finally, when you can do that, do it with pinkie. You will likely feel a tightness in your pinky at first when your doing this, right around when it is at a 90 degree angle to your hand. But trust me, it will pay dividends once your stretch it out. Obviously stop if you feel any pain and take your time with it.

These two exercises will help to further seperate and strengthen your fingers, but you will be able to tell the most difference with the pinky. The knuckle bend exercise will stretch out the ligaments in your hand as well as the ones that provide all your fingers power which reside in your forearm. The V exercise will help to strengthen the side to side muscles in your hand between your fingers as well as stretching them. Do these exercises or like 3-5 minutes each and rock one of those gripmasters, and you will notice a difference pretty quick. Another easy exercise is to ball up an entire newspaper one sheet and a time with one hand.

Other than that, just devise exercises for your self that take place in a 4 fret span and make sure to not move your hand and take one fret per finger. Heres a simple one I came up with to go down the neck which is good for your pinky and string skipping.

G-----------------10---9---------------9----8
D-----12---13-------------11---12-----------
A-----------------------------------------------
E--10---11----13---12--9---10-----12--11--

and so on all the way down the neck and then back up.

You do the first three octave in one hand position then shift down on fret to do the 4th octave with your pinky and index finger. Then you repeat the same pattern from there, shift down a fret after three octaves, and repeat. Focus on keeping your hand open and your fingers arch. Don't worry about it when your pinky inevitably curls up or acts funky, just correct it and stay focused and comfortable. Believe it or not I have the opposite problem where my pinky pulls back away from the fret board and straightens out too much when I am playing quickly or in certain positions. I do the same exercises now to work on keeping it arched above the fret, though at one time I had the same problem you describe.

hope this helps in some way

good luck