Pinky locking

quatre03 · #1 02-22-2005, 11:59 PM

it seems everytime i start to play some minor pentatonics or use that 4-5-6-1 motion my pinky(fretting hand) locks straight out, and will pop(not sonicly, physicaly) when i pull it back it, its like i have a hitch in my finger. are there any exercises to get my pinky to loosen up?

ArabStrap · #2 02-23-2005, 09:03 AM

I had the exact same problem with my pinky. It disappeared after several long hours of trying to play the fingerpicking style on a guitar (Little Yellow Spiders by Devendra Banhart involves serious hammering with the pinky, I attribute my pinky getting better due to that if you're interested in trying). Now my pinky no longer has that spastic pop when I play the bass.

Perhaps varied pinky hammering techniques on the bass could help?

Warwick player · #3 02-26-2005, 05:20 AM

I have the same problem as well, but i think i know what causes my problem.

My bro shut my hand in a door once (bathroom) as a small kid, i he did it now, he would have hell to pay for.

It is a pain, as sometimes it locks up in the middle of songs, which can become frustrating.

Th9nker · #4 02-26-2005, 09:39 AM

Do finger permentations...

A LOT...

That might reel it in....

Muadip · #5 02-28-2005, 09:43 AM

My pinky does wierd moves but it doesn't pop

whiteXcorpse · #6 02-28-2005, 09:55 AM

I have circus freak pinkies, they both bend inwards tword my ring fingers about 45 degrees. So that makes things difficult, but then it locks up and takes a moment or so to regain its flexibility. Its really annoying but i figured out if I don't move my pinky at certin angles and what not it won't lock, so it became a trial and error.