more power with ring and little finger, how?

[Colino]

Hi, someone can tell me some exercise to get more power with ring and little finger??
help!!!

[Pacman]

Which hand?

What do you need more power for?

[deddeh]

The exercise I use to get more strength on my pinky finger is this:

G|-4p1-4p1-4p2-4p2-4p3-4p3-4p3-4p3-4p2-4p2-4p1-4p1
D|-----------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------

Then move the exercise to the D string, then A, then E then A again, then D and last G.
It's important that you play long notes and get the pulloff right.
Don't just lift your pinky finger off the string, pull it off so that you get the pull-off right.
This is a very wearing exercise, but try to push yourself to the limit.
When I first began using this I could not get to the A string before I was spent, but now I can run the whole exercise on my 5-string.
Use this exercise everytime you warm-up and you should really start to notice a stronger pinky after a week or so.

It's also important that you play your basslines using the one-finger-per-fret rule.
For example, if you've got a bassline that goes like this(this is the bass intro in For Whom The Bell Tolls by Metallica btw):

The bracketed part under the tab is how you should finger it.
1=Index, 2=Middle, 3=Ring and 4=Pinky

G|-19-18-17-16-----------19--------
D|-----------------17-16------------
A|----------------------------17-16-
E|-----------------------------------
[---4--3--2--1------2--1--4---2--1--]

As you can see there's one finger per fret and you only move your fingers, not your hand.

If you just start applying this rule to your basslines and warm-up with the little pull-off exercise above, you'll start to build up some strength in your lefthand ring and pinky finger.
This worked for me, but of course, your milage may vary.

[Colino]

i mean the left hand ,

thanks for answers if you know other exercise let me know!

[Pacman]

The key to better playing is not stregnth, or power. It's dexterity. You already have all the power you need in your hands to play bass guitar. Playing your instrument with all your fingers, like in the excercises above, is all you need.

Just remember to practice slowly and accurately.

[Twistad]

Originally Posted by deddeh

The exercise I use to get more strength on my pinky finger is this:

G|-4p1-4p1-4p2-4p2-4p3-4p3-4p3-4p3-4p2-4p2-4p1-4p1
D|-----------------------------------------------------
A|-----------------------------------------------------
E|-----------------------------------------------------

Good exercise! This is very tough to me.

[snow_storm]

I've been trying to apply the one finger per fret rule so I can get more strength in my pinky, but I've started to automatically pair my ring finger with my pinky to hold down the strings because my pinky just slips off/can't hold the string down enough not to buzz. Does this happen to anyone else?

[PrimusNut]

:

Originally Posted by snow_storm

I've been trying to apply the one finger per fret rule so I can get more strength in my pinky, but I've started to automatically pair my ring finger with my pinky to hold down the strings because my pinky just slips off/can't hold the string down enough not to buzz. Does this happen to anyone else?

used to. just practice. i still get some buzz, but that might be because i recently raised my action and i have to push harder now.. just practice. i used to get buzz with all my fingers til i built up the strength in them. now im fine.


practice,practice,practice.

[MistaMarko]

G|-4p1-4p1-4p2-4p2-4p3-4p3-4p3-4p3-4p2-4p2-4p1-4p1

what is 4p1..i dont get it :/

[PrimusNut]

you play a note on the fourth fret with your pinky, while holding your index finger on the first fret also, then release from the fourth fret, changing the note to that of the first.... get it?


like a reverse hammer on :P

[jellisii]

Originally Posted by snow_storm

I've been trying to apply the one finger per fret rule so I can get more strength in my pinky, but I've started to automatically pair my ring finger with my pinky to hold down the strings because my pinky just slips off/can't hold the string down enough not to buzz. Does this happen to anyone else?

Having a somewhat different perspective, this "problem" isn't that bad, assuming that you also play Bass Viol. The Simandl methods actually recommend this, as most people don't have the finger length to accurately intonate with their ring finger on their left hand without having to switch positions on the fingerboard. That ~41" scale 3/4 Bass (what most DBists use these days) has some reaaaaaallllly long jumps between half steps near the nut.

[Clay_Bass]

Steve Baileys hazard excersises are amazing. www.stevebaileybass.com then click study with steve and go to hazard excercises. Theyve done alot for my fretting.

[jsbachonbass]

Like Pacman said, it is not about power. I find it is more about endurance. Here is a variation of common finger exercises, always starts on 4th finger:

4343, 4242, 4141, 4342, 4341, 4241, 4323, 4313, 4212, 4232, 4131, 4121, 4321, 4312, 4231, 4213, 4132, 4123

Start of playing each pattern 4x before moving to next pattern, staying on same sttring. Goal is to make it all the way thru before hand cramps up. Good luck.

[bonscottvocals]

Originally Posted by Pacman

The key to better playing is not stregnth, or power. It's dexterity. You already have all the power you need in your hands to play bass guitar. Playing your instrument with all your fingers, like in the excercises above, is all you need.

Just remember to practice slowly and accurately.

Dead on, Pacman. Any athelete will tell you the same thing, and it's no different with the strength and dexterity of your fingers. No one woke up able to throw a fastball down the center, toss a basketball with nothing but net, or play "Limelight" and sing at the same time. Slow and steady and you'll find out how quickly you improve.

Best o luck.