How much do you use your pinky?

charic · #1 08-29-2006, 06:16 PM

Im beggining to become concerned with my technique... I play through many songs but for sum reason tend to rarely use my pinky. Is this usual? I can move my pinky completely indipendant of my other fingers tho so i know i can use it fine. But have only really come across 2 songs which i use it in.

-Megadeth, angry again
-The theme tune to ghostbusters (if u dont know it look it up so fun to play!)

Just wondering if this is cause for concern

Poop-Loops · #2 08-30-2006, 01:01 AM

A lot. If I have a choice between playing an open string or shifting up and reaching with my pinky, I'll use my pinky. I hate playing open strings. Especially on my fretless. I'm more worried about my 2nd finger. It seems neglected.

BrandonBass · #3 08-30-2006, 01:36 AM

is there a reason you hate open string other than muting? i prefer to play open then stretch...

and i use my pinky alot

Poop-Loops · #4 08-30-2006, 01:43 AM

It's the muting. It just throws me off. Also, since I play a fretless, the tone is a lot different.

charic · #5 08-30-2006, 03:57 AM

Ur 2nd? i use my 1st 2nd AND 3rd in nearly every song... I cant see how you can neglect it. I love the song of an open string on my bass gives a gr8 tone... could just be a characteristic of this bass though

Poop-Loops · #6 08-30-2006, 04:14 AM

I don't know. I just don't think I use it as much as the others.

A lot of the stuff I'm practicing now jumps in whole steps. So 1, 3, stretch 4 to get to the next one. 2 is left out a lot. =/

charic · #7 08-30-2006, 04:16 AM

What kinda songs do you play? A good one for using all 3 would be smoke on the water i found or angry again by megadeth you have no choice but to use all 4 on that one. Tell you what if you add me on msn ill send ya the tabs

would be quicker 2 seeing as were talkin on 2 diff forums lol

charic · #8 08-30-2006, 04:23 AM

rickychauvin@hotmail.com

Burg · #9 08-30-2006, 04:34 AM

Try learning some scales using a one finger per fret technique, that'll get your pinky more involved.

matrok · #10 08-30-2006, 04:36 AM

A lot. More than my ring finger actually.

charic · #11 08-30-2006, 09:45 AM

I do play one finger per fret technique when i do scales

**Eric Perry** · #12 08-30-2006, 09:54 AM

My ring finger is the loser of the bunch. My pinky gets plenty of use. Actually (and this doesn't make sense), my pinky is the most calloussed of them all.

charic · #13 08-30-2006, 09:56 AM

1 2 and 3 are all "nicely" calloused for me... its just the pinky doesnt seem to get much use... Ah well

Warwick19 · #14 08-30-2006, 09:58 AM

If you're going to neglect something it HAS to be the third finger. The pinky is very important. Note that no double bass players use their third finger. I realise that we're talking electric bass but as far as i'm concerned that is proper technique. Ring finger is for guitarists, we have further to stretch and it takes less effort to use your pinky than it does your ring. Not to mention the fact that your ring finger is attached to your middle finger in a very awkward fashion.

charic · #15 08-30-2006, 10:01 AM

umm... yeah i have odd fingers caused by keyboard experience

i can seperate my middle and ring finger by 2 frets eg... middle on 3 ring on 5th fret can play like this... same with every finger really...

Warwick19 · #16 08-30-2006, 10:04 AM

Perhaps, but that doesnt detract from the fact that pinky > ring finger for bass players. Most university trained bass players have some degree of experience on piano but that doesnt mean that they use their third finger. Besides, i assure you piano did not change the structure of your hand. The pinky is still a much better option.

iplaybassguitar · #17 08-30-2006, 10:05 AM

this is about left hand pinky i assume? if so, i use it a lot a lot. its really the easiest way to play most things, rather than having to slide back and forth and stuff, which is rarely time or energy efficent.

charic · #18 08-30-2006, 10:08 AM

ive been playing since i was 5 on piano so im fairly sure it could have changed my hands. Also try this

. Hold all your fingers str8 up and try to bend ur pinky at your middle knuckle without any other fingers moving... i can do it. Thanks to keyboard

.

My problem is i need songs where the pinky has to be used but i cant really find them...

Warwick19 · #19 08-30-2006, 10:09 AM

@ Poop-Loops If you need to stretch a long distance use your 2nd finger to do the first wholestep. Try it, it can stretch that far. In fact, if you splay your fingers, your second finger ought to be directly in the middle of your pinky and index. The ring is in an awkward postion 5/8's of the way toward the pinky. (from index) Obviously everyone is different, but i believe this is a commonality amongst most ppl.

Warwick19 · #20 08-30-2006, 10:12 AM

I think the question is someone needs to find tabs where you NEED to use your third finger

. Do every wholestep useing first finger and pinky for a while. Even chromatic stuff. For instance, the 4, flat 5, 5 part of hte blues scale feels much more natural useing 1,2,4