I am double jointed, can I play without the pinky?

[Yazzman]

I know there are double jointed threads, but my main question is, do I need my pinky, please read.

I am double jointed and this causes problems when I play with my pinky. My pinky tip bends at odd angles and gets locked. It seems weak and it causes fret buzz and the middle of my pinky hurts because it always scrapes against other strings.

Do I NEED to play with my pinky? I play just with my other fingers and I have somewhat large hands that help me with reach in places. I haven't had a problem so far making basslines, but maybe when I learn Jaco tabs there will be a problem.

THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

[JLW]

You won't be able to play semi-difficult lines without your pinky. If you want to be anything more than a mediocre bassist you will probably want to try your best to use your pinky finger. You are robbing yourself of 25% extra mobility on the fretboard.

You CAN play bass without your pinky but you'll be a lot worse.

basically, if you're happy with just playing and having fun with simple lines, play without your pinky.

if you want to be a relatively good bassist I recommend learning with your pinky.

[Yazzman]

thanks for the input. I also want to mention I get fret buzz with pinky because I can't get power with it to hold down the string because you lose power when the pinky bends, its a matter of physics/mechanics. It sucks. Any double jointed people here been able to bypass this?

[rduckwor]

Support your pinkie with your ring finger. Not ideal technique, but at least you will be able to make that stretch.

[bassman312]

I had the same problem when i started playing the bass, but I just forced myself to play with my pinky and now it works fine. i also got fret buzz and it went in odd angles. Just push yourself.
Just my 2 cents
Bassman

[dbcandle]

I seem to recall that double-bass players use their first and second fingers separately, and combine their 3rd and forth fingers, for a total of "3 fingers".

The ideal for fretted bass is 4 fingers, but maybe you could turn your weakness to an advantage, and learn more of a SIMANDL (spelling?) style.

Or, you could just play country or blue-grass!
...but seriously, I do like country.

[Yazzman]

I have an important question. Is there a certain area on the neck where you use your pinky mainly. For example, it seems to me the pinky is used the most near the tuners because thats where the fret gaps are the largest.

Coincidently, its harder for me to use pinky near the bridge where the gaps are small. I mean, do I really need to use the pinky in this area, or is the pink mainly for the upper half of the fretboard?

[Happynoj]

Originally Posted by dbcandle

I seem to recall that double-bass players use their first and second fingers separately, and combine their 3rd and forth fingers, for a total of "3 fingers".

+1 to this.

I am not double jointed or anything - I learnt Double Bass first, and then took up BG later on. I have never had any lessons, but I just transferred my DB skills to BG. I was told by some other bass players that my technique might be better if I used a 'one finger, one fret' approach. I tried it, but I have fairly small hands, and making the stretch was just too uncomfortable for me - hence I stuck with the DB style up to about the 10th fret. Above the 10th fret I pretty much discard my pinky, except for making stretches, and I don't think I'm too shabby at bass playing...

[Slax]

Originally Posted by dbcandle

I seem to recall that double-bass players use their first and second fingers separately, and combine their 3rd and forth fingers, for a total of "3 fingers".

The ideal for fretted bass is 4 fingers, but maybe you could turn your weakness to an advantage, and learn more of a SIMANDL (spelling?) style.

Or, you could just play country or blue-grass!
...but seriously, I do like country.

+1. I play BG and DB. There are some pretty insane bass solos on DB using only 3 fingers and a lot more cumbersome instrument. To say you'll only achieve mediocre using this style isn't true...

[Yazzman]

so im ok past the 10th fret or so without a pinky? this would be great news, using the pinky hurts and is very cumbersome

[mutedeity]

I think you just need to work more on strengthening your pinky. My pinky used to bend back too but if you keep working on it over time it will become stronger.

[nsmar4211]

I was looking at my calluses the other night and realized that I play with the *side* of my pinky instead of the pad. Tried playing with the pad of my finger and just couldn't get the angle, the joint wasn't happy about it. So, maybe try letting your pinky lie over and see if that helps, would be putting the pressure sideways on the joint and shouldn't cause it to bend back. When looking at my hand (palm facing me), the pressure is right where the finger rounds and starts to get smaller. Keep your nails short though....
+1 on the laying the third finger over the pinky to help it hold down, it's how I was shown to hold chords for long time periods without totally wearing out the pinky.
My thumbs are double jointed, makes it easier to keep left thumb on back of neck and makes resting on the pickup a piece of cake with right hand . No probs from it so far !

[kerryg]

Django Reinhardt developed formidable technique with two of the fingers of his left hand badly damaged by fire.

At the age of 18 Reinhardt was injured in a fire that ravaged the caravan he shared with Bella, his first wife... With painful rehabilitation and practice Django relearned his craft in a completely new way, even as his third and fourth fingers remained partially paralyzed. Hence, he used to play solos with only two fingers, and managed to use the two injured ones for some chords.

Wiki: "Django Reinhardt"

To this day, matching Django's virtuosity with two fingers lies outside the reach of most bassists and guitarists with four.

One of the very fine jazz guitarists I know and play with lost the first two joints of his left hand's ring finger in a motorcycle accident.

Never let anyone tell you you'll be a mediocre bassist without using the pinky. That's beyond ridiculous. A mediocre bassist is someone with sloppy time, inconsistent pocket and few original ideas to transmit, regardless of how many fingers he deploys on his left hand - twelve won't make a mediocre bassist great, and two won't make a great bassist mediocre. And Django shows what's possible with less.

[Disc]

Originally Posted by Yazzman

thanks for the input. I also want to mention I get fret buzz with pinky because I can't get power with it to hold down the string because you lose power when the pinky bends, its a matter of physics/mechanics. It sucks. Any double jointed people here been able to bypass this?

i have the same problem with my pinky and it just stopped locking in after awhile, no big deal just play through the pain it gets better.

[downneck]

Originally Posted by mutedeity

I think you just need to work more on strengthening your pinky. My pinky used to bend back too but if you keep working on it over time it will become stronger.

+1

this should be a major staple of your life anyhow, folks with hypermobility (the medical condition commonly referred to as double jointedness) need to maintain above-average physical fitness and muscle health since strong muscles stabilize weak joints and will prevent the injuries and problems commonly associated with hypermobility (like you're experiencing with your pinky). i would speak with a good bass teacher and an even better physical therapist and work out a practice/fitness regimen for yourself that includes grip work to improve your finger stability. depending on the degree/severity of your hypermobility you may also want to speak with your family doctor about recommending a rheumatologist.

if all else fails, as kerryg said, there's folks who've made it happen with less than the full complement of operational fingers. it's mostly a matter of dedication and practice.

good luck

(disclaimer: i'm not a doc so don't take any of this as gospel, this was mostly inspired by the speech about muscle health my physical therapist gave me while treating my de quervain's tendonitis...similar circumstance, i had to train certain muscles to help support my inflamed and weakened tendons)

[AndrewClaycomb]

There's a bassist on this site without arms, I think you can manage.

[fettbass]

Originally Posted by kerryg

Django Reinhardt developed formidable technique with two of the fingers of his left hand badly damaged by fire.



Wiki: "Django Reinhardt"

To this day, matching Django's virtuosity with two fingers lies outside the reach of most bassists and guitarists with four.

One of the very fine jazz guitarists I know and play with lost the first two joints of his left hand's ring finger in a motorcycle accident.

Never let anyone tell you you'll be a mediocre bassist without using the pinky. That's beyond ridiculous. A mediocre bassist is someone with sloppy time, inconsistent pocket and few original ideas to transmit, regardless of how many fingers he deploys on his left hand - twelve won't make a mediocre bassist great, and two won't make a great bassist mediocre. And Django shows what's possible with less.

Amen brother!

[Messiah25]

Originally Posted by kerryg

Django Reinhardt developed formidable technique with two of the fingers of his left hand badly damaged by fire.



Wiki: "Django Reinhardt"

To this day, matching Django's virtuosity with two fingers lies outside the reach of most bassists and guitarists with four.

One of the very fine jazz guitarists I know and play with lost the first two joints of his left hand's ring finger in a motorcycle accident.

Never let anyone tell you you'll be a mediocre bassist without using the pinky. That's beyond ridiculous. A mediocre bassist is someone with sloppy time, inconsistent pocket and few original ideas to transmit, regardless of how many fingers he deploys on his left hand - twelve won't make a mediocre bassist great, and two won't make a great bassist mediocre. And Django shows what's possible with less.

+100

[kerryg]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIeCBw6wbUs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ebaYm65RC5Q

As one of the comments to the second video says so succinctly -

johnsoncm65 (1 week ago) +7
If you don't love this stuff, there's something eternally broken in your soul.

Ahh, found an absolute gem:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek5kU...eature=related

[Yazzman]

thanks for introducing me to Django, he should be an inspiration to guitarists and bass players everywhere.