How to fix a weak left pinky?

Shroom · #1 05-12-2007, 03:12 PM

Don't get the wrong idea. I use my pinky all the time and for most part I don't have problems. In the last few days, though, I taught myself a pretty involved bass line (Keasbey Nights, by Streetlight Manifesto, for those of you who have heard it) which I have mostly down except for a lick in which I have to move quickly from fretting the 7th fret on the A string (with my pinky) to fretting the 6th on the G string (w/ my ring finger), then hammering-on to the 7th (guess what finger I use here), and pulling off back down to the 6th, and THEN continuing on with the riff. I only manage to get a strong, clear sound out of it maybe 20% of the time.

So my question is, does anyone have any advice on how to strengthen my ring finger/pinky or improve my technique so that I can get this lick easier?

PrimusNut · #2 05-12-2007, 07:41 PM

When I find myself getting stuck on a really hard part in a song, I just play it over and over until I get it right, and then it just comes naturally to play it. Even if it seems like you will never nail it, just keep at it. Eventually, you will either nail it the way you are playing it, or you will find an easier way to play it.

Rumblestiltzkin · #3 05-14-2007, 01:33 AM

Isolate the problem and work on it a little bit each day. Don't be satisfied until you can get it perfect. Don't worry about being in time at first. Just get right sound out of it. Once you can do it perfectly every time, getting it in rythmn is a peice of cake.

ThorBassManiac · #4 05-14-2007, 02:22 PM

It may also help to play the section beginning slowly and gradually increasing your speed. It's an old, boring practicing technique but it has worked for me every time. Holding down the strings with the pinky for longer periods of time will also aid in strengthening the finger.

middy · #5 05-14-2007, 03:29 PM

Watch how much you're moving your pinky. Is it flying around, or is it hovering over the strings ready to pounce? Guess which one has to work harder.

The flying pinky tires himself out not only by moving around so much, but also by having to compensate for the inconsistent fretting positions he keeps finding himself in.

Poor little pinky.

Shroom · #6 05-14-2007, 07:40 PM

All very good advice! Thank you guys!

mikebass188 · #7 05-15-2007, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThorBassManiac

IHolding down the strings with the pinky for longer periods of time will also aid in strengthening the finger.

Practicing your scales with vibrato on each note for 5 - 10 seconds will make your pinky a lot stronger. Well it worked for me anyways.

tww001 · #8 05-15-2007, 11:16 PM

play trills as part of your daily warm-up. try all combinations using the pinky, since that's the finger you're focusing on (index to pinky, middle to pinky, and ring to pinky), start off slow and gradually increase the tempo. There's a great book out there that I've been using for years called "Bass Workout" by Josquin des Pres...check it out.

JimmyM · #9 05-16-2007, 12:07 AM

Do two-fret exercises using only your third and fourth fingers. For example, start on the third fret on your lowest string using your third finger, play the next highest note with your little finger, then move up a string and do it there until you run out of strings, then move up a fret and come back down the strings, then move up a fret and go back up, rinse, repeat. Make sure to have a good curve in your fingers and use only the meaty part of the tips.

meev991 · #10 05-16-2007, 12:33 AM

buy a "gripmaster"

you can strengthen, while reading the morning paper

I advise against getting the red one XD, it will frustrate you forever.

JimmyM · #11 05-16-2007, 12:49 AM

Sorry, but Gripmasters are meaningless when it comes to playing a stringed instrument. It's not about strength but dexterity.

meev991 · #12 05-16-2007, 12:52 AM

having a strong pinky makes me more confident to play

Asa Samuel · #13 07-02-2007, 10:17 AM

gripmasters are totally useless, and expensive.

accuracy and dexterity are more important than strength, unless you totally suck.

gripmasters have the added effect of wonderful RSI, also known as repetitive strain injury, wich will mess up your playing even more for weeks.

If you use something like a squashball that you can squeze in different ways you can still train up strength but avoid RSI.

RSI is very common amongst guitar players, bassists and even keyboardists.

it can mess up your playing really badly if you get some of the symptoms like carpel tunnel syndrome, wich can weaken your wrist for long periods of time if not treated very quickly.

so basically, if your strengthening your finger make sure if something that isnt repetitive like a gripmaster, the easiest thing to do is use some of the excercises that have already been posted up there on your bass.

Have fun!

alex027 · #14 07-02-2007, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by middy

Watch how much you're moving your pinky. Is it flying around, or is it hovering over the strings ready to pounce? Guess which one has to work harder.

The flying pinky tires himself out not only by moving around so much, but also by having to compensate for the inconsistent fretting positions he keeps finding himself in.

Poor little pinky.

I don't mean to steal anyones thread with my own question, but i have the hovering pinky and have no idea how to get rid of it. Is there any good way of getting rid of this horrible bad habit.

fcleff · #15 07-02-2007, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shroom

Don't get the wrong idea. I use my pinky all the time and for most part I don't have problems. In the last few days, though, I taught myself a pretty involved bass line (Keasbey Nights, by Streetlight Manifesto, for those of you who have heard it) which I have mostly down except for a lick in which I have to move quickly from fretting the 7th fret on the A string (with my pinky) to fretting the 6th on the G string (w/ my ring finger), then hammering-on to the 7th (guess what finger I use here), and pulling off back down to the 6th, and THEN continuing on with the riff. I only manage to get a strong, clear sound out of it maybe 20% of the time.

So my question is, does anyone have any advice on how to strengthen my ring finger/pinky or improve my technique so that I can get this lick easier?

Play trills. Especially play trills involving the 3rd and 4th fingers of the left hand. Play the trill until you can constantly and consistently get a strong even sound. Pluck with the right hand only when you need to bring the sound up but be sure and pluck on a beat.

PilbaraBass · #16 07-02-2007, 09:30 PM

Jimmy's point about curve in the finger is very important...you want to put your fingers at their best mechanical advantage...to do this, you need to keep your fingers curved...flat fingers will be weak and require too much wrist strength...

learn to play relaxed and with the least amount of pressure required to make good clean lines...

trills between the 3rd and 4th fingers is difficult for anyone...

start slow and deliberate, and as you slowly build speed, try to be even more relaxed...the tendency is to tighten up as you speed up....concentrate and relax...

bassbrock · #17 07-02-2007, 09:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fcleff

Play trills. Especially play trills involving the 3rd and 4th fingers of the left hand. Play the trill until you can constantly and consistently get a strong even sound. Pluck with the right hand only when you need to bring the sound up but be sure and pluck on a beat.

Quick duh moment... but what are "trills"... I feel stupid.

JimmyM · #18 07-03-2007, 12:47 AM

When you hear two notes flutter back and forth really quick, that's a trill. Think of flutes playing happy springtime music.

bassbrock · #19 07-03-2007, 08:48 AM

Any audio examples of a trill out there?

fcleff · #20 07-03-2007, 09:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassbrock

Any audio examples of a trill out there?

I don't have any audio examples but I'm sure that someone can put one up.

In the meantime, a trill is like a hammer-on/pull-off that repeats over and over on the same two notes for a specified amount of time. For instance, put your first finger on the note E on the G string (7th fret). Pluck that note and, without plucking again, hammer your second finger on the note F (8th fret) and then immediately pull-off back to E. You now have a very basic three-note trill.

Now do the aforementioned very quickly, over and over but still only plucking one time. This makes the trill go on longer. See how long you can make it sound clearly without plucking more than one time.

The term 'trill' is very common in classical music. I hope that the above explanation was clear.