Little Finger Strengthening Exercises?

[Binnie]

Basically my little figner is lettign me down quite a bit being weaker than the other 3 fingers, whats the best way to make it stronger.

I read somewhere a squeezing a tennis ball helps?
Figner weight?
or just keep playing with it?

[RCCollins]

Originally Posted by Binnie

Basically my little figner is lettign me down quite a bit being weaker than the other 3 fingers, whats the best way to make it stronger.

I read somewhere a squeezing a tennis ball helps?
Figner weight?
or just keep playing with it?

Just keep playing with it. Alternate fingers when you practice scales with emphasis on stretching your pinky. It will come along faster than you might think.

[aikakone]

One of the things my teacher is having me do to build finger strength is to play this movable exercise. It's a basic permutation exercise, but it's effective.

Position your fingers, one per fret and do the exercise vertically down and up (ex. e string, a , d, g; g, d, a, e). For sake of ease, I'll write numbers to correspond with fingers (1=index, 2=middle, 3=ring, 4=pinkie)/

1-2
1-3
1-4
2-3
2-4
3-4

Mirror the exercise and start on the outside finger. Since I'm so new at it, my pinkie starts to burn at this point.

4-3
4-2
4-1
3-2
3-1
2-1

Then you can move chromatically in whichever direction you choose.

[Jake of Bass]

Try the one on this page:

http://www.activebass.com/default.asp?src=l&l=12692&p=1

My little finger is pretty good but it's certainly a workout for me!

[jschwalls]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulljTV7X2jc

try these... my students like them...

[azureblue]

Try this (mixolydian) scale. the numbers are fingers- play it scale then take it up in half steps up to the 12th fret, then go back down the fretboard. Play it ascending and descending:

E String- 4
A- 1-3-4
D- 1-3-4
G -1



Then a minor arpeggio:
1-4
3
1-2
1

[LyonsBass]

If you dont use it,you will loose it. (not literally but it will be weaker than the other fingers...)

So play with it Anywhere you can!
You dont need any exercises to tell you what to do, just play with your pinky!

Play unplugged, tap the riff with your left hand, try to get the sound as loud as possible, you have to use your fingertips.
This will improve your accuracy and dexterity.

[ga_edwards]

Tape your middle and ring finger together whilst practising a few scales and lines for a while, then tape another 2 together the next day. Basically the idea is to force finger independence by making the weaker fingers play what the 'normal' finger can't becuase it's attached to another.

I think I read a full exercise regime of this on harmony central somewhere years ago.

Also, do you wrap your thumb over the edge of the fingerboard when you play? This can drastically reduce the flexibility and span of your fingers. Keep your thumb on the back of the neck, 'classical' style, and you should get a bit more reach and independence.

[greenboy]

Originally Posted by Binnie

Basically my little figner is lettign me down quite a bit being weaker than the other 3 fingers, whats the best way to make it stronger.

Playing bass: it's the best hand exercise for bass playing there is!

Make sure that you use #4 instead of #3 most of the time when learning to get it happening. After awhile you have good strength there and can choose to use #3 when it makes better sense - but always keep #4 use as a major part of the picture. That's better for long-term hand/wrist/tendons health as well.