How many fingers on your fretting hand?

[snow_storm]

I was just wondering, because it occured to me that on my left hand (i'm right handed), when I play, I only use my pointer, middle, and ring finger to hold down the strings-Is it abnormal to not use your pinky?

[The BurgerMeister]

i used to use all four fingers as much as possible. now i've found that i use index, middle, and a ring/pinky combination. it's just more comfortable for me. i do stretch out and use all four fingers regularly so that they're all limber and ready and strong, but in playing situations, i end up using three fingers alot. this definitely has to do with all my upright instruction in high school/university.

[Fathand]

All four on the fretting hand. I would also use four on the plucking hand, but my right pinky is too short.

[SOA_bassist]

i use all four, and i make sure i have a reason to use it at least once or twice per song so i dont get lazy and stop strengthining it when warming up and doing exercises.

also, both of my pinkies are extra small ( i have huge hands and pinkies smaller than those on smaller hands ) so i cant use it for plucking.

[RobertUI]

"Use of the Pinky" for fretting has been covered a lot, and I'd recommending searching on it, there's been some good advice given on it. As for me, I think that you're making a mistake if you don't TRY to use your pinky every time you play. My bass instructor from 15 years ago told me that you can spot inexperience IMMEDIATELY if you're watching a player who doesn't use his pinky at all. Just food for thought.

keep rocking tho!

[DumbChild]

I have 5 fingers on my fretting hand. Oh but i use them all, my weakest being my third.

[Mike Flynn]

basically if you don't use all four fingers on your fretting hand you are going to restrict yourself eventually - the better you get the more challenging the music you will want to play - and even at a fairly basic level you'll find that not using all four fingers on your fretting hand will mean playing all sorts of scales will be a problem. It's not about being selective per se with your fretting fingers it's pure and simple neccessity that without using all 4 fingers you won't be able to stretch to certainly intervals.

All I can say from experience is that it's the hardest finger to get working like all the others but with consistant effort it will come together - as with everything else you learn - it's just down to practice - don't single it out a a big deal - it's just part of the process of getting good - and that takes work - so work on it

Good luck

Mike

[deadlycow2000]

Originally Posted by Mike Flynn

basically if you don't use all four fingers on your fretting hand you are going to restrict yourself eventually

I definitly agree with this. This is what my teacher told me a few years ago when I started and now I am able to use my pinky just as well as my other fingers. Using all four fingers really does help.

[jimmy_entwistle]

I tend to use all four fingers on my fretting hand. I suppose it all just comes down to what you're comfortable with. At the end of the day, it doesn't really matter, as long as you sound good