Fretting hand issue with pinky

[blackshift]

Hi... I have a fairly simple question.



When practicing fretting ( one finger per fret stuff), when I come to a note fretted by the pinky, the sound of that note usually has lots of buzz or sounds extremely low. Is this one of those things that gets better with lots of practice or is it the technique?

[Fergie Fulton]

Its a bit of both, finger strength will develop and technique will improve in time. Protect the pinky by using the ring finger to support it as you fret before you move to one finger one fret. That i would always say is not a point to learn ( one finger one fret) or develop it in the first year of bass playing. I would defintely not be attempting it below the 7th fret.

Find a good teacher or look on the web for lots of good instruction that is out there.
Remember if the pros don't do it, question why, and look for what all go players have in common and develop it in to your own playing.
Remember these players may have spent 20 years developing something so don't think you will get it in a couple of weeks.

[Minotauros]

Probably pinky strength and reach. Happens to me too, and I know my fingers have yet to stretch properly. It's much better when I slow down. I've only had my hands on a bass 1 month yesterday.

[pasta4lnch]

+1 to strength.

my old guitar teacher taught me an excersize. pinky, 3rd, pinky - then reverse (3rd, pky, 3rd) up and down the neck on each string.

I did this for like an hour a day while watching sitcoms and within a month those two fingers were as strong, if not more than my 1st and 2nd.

I gotta say though as I get older my pinky isn't what it used to be. freezes up occasionally... :O

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

I gotta say though as I get older my pinky isn't what it used to be. freezes up occasionally... :O

This is sometimes a consequence of overdoing or trying to do something to soon. In young/new players it is important to take it easy, not get to far ahead of you physical capabilities. You develop playing skills, so that needs time and small steps so you grow physicaly with your learning.

[pasta4lnch]

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

This is sometimes a consequence of overdoing or trying to do something to soon. In young/new players it is important to take it easy, not get to far ahead of you physical capabilities. You develop playing skills, so that needs time and small steps so you grow physicaly with your learning.

I think this is more of just getting older, at least in my case... It's developed after 10+ years of playing ...

[blackshift]

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

Its a bit of both, finger strength will develop and technique will improve in time. Protect the pinky by using the ring finger to support it as you fret before you move to one finger one fret. That i would always say is not a point to learn ( one finger one fret) or develop it in the first year of bass playing. I would defintely not be attempting it below the 7th fret.

Find a good teacher or look on the web for lots of good instruction that is out there.
Remember if the pros don't do it, question why, and look for what all go players have in common and develop it in to your own playing.
Remember these players may have spent 20 years developing something so don't think you will get it in a couple of weeks.

Really? I don't believe I've seen alternative techniques in the books or sites I've come across.

[relbling]

Originally Posted by blackshift

Really? I don't believe I've seen alternative techniques in the books or sites I've come across.

It's a double bass technique. If you think it's hard supporting your pinkie on an electric, try it on an upright. Very rarely do upright players use their pinkie unsupported. It works for electric too, though.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by pasta4lnch

I think this is more of just getting older, at least in my case... It's developed after 10+ years of playing ...

Sorry to say but such things take time to show. Wear and tear takes time especially in the hands. I have neen playing 35years+ no problems.

Bass playing physical injuires come from mis-use and over-use and may take time to show depending on the hand use in daily life.

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

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by blackshift

Really? I don't believe I've seen alternative techniques in the books or sites I've come across.

The ring finger little finger is based on the teachings of Franz Simandl, and work great for electric bass if they are used correctly. See link for the original ideas and adapt as you see fit.
It is good to use Simandl below the 7th (or 5th fret if you have the strength and large fingers) and use one finger per fret for the rest of the fretboard...mix the two.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Simandl

[wetzelman1]

pinky strength all the way. always been decent but just recently have I overcome the pinky strength hurdle. Feels almost stronger than my other fingers now. I like to do excercises that always accentuate the "pinky" note and will do some excercise with 5 or 6 fret stretches. BTW now my pinky sticks out all the time.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by wetzelman1

pinky strength all the way. always been decent but just recently have I overcome the pinky strength hurdle. Feels almost stronger than my other fingers now. I like to do excercises that always accentuate the "pinky" note and will do some excercise with 5 or 6 fret stretches. BTW now my pinky sticks out all the time.

Now what we have to watch is fit for purpose. In playing we have certain physical constraints and limitations that no amount of training, exercise, or practise will ever over come. The danger is that many do not have the understanding of how the body works untill it breaks down. Big stretches are not part of our hand design, and to think that they can be trained for effective use can lead to joint problems ( mis-alignment with tendon and ligaments) or in severe cases saggital band problems.

Now i don't want to scare or predict problems that may not be there, but i feel players have to be aware that they are fit to play what they need to. If for example you do not need 5-6 fret stretches then don't do them. If you do, keep them to a minimum and if possible find a nother way to do them (tunings for example, extra string instruments) rather than let your hands carry the brunt of it.