Pinky Problems!

[patRICK4003]

Hey everyone, I'm long time forum reader, first time poster.

I've been bass guitar playing for a little under a year now, and when I started out, I neglected fretting using my pinky, like many novice players do, simply because it was so much weaker than my other fingers. I have gradually weened myself off of non-pinky play, but it is still nowhere near the dexterity of my other fingers. In fact, I've developed what I like to call:

"Cobra Pinky" - A phenomenon in which the first three fingers move quickly and precisely, hovering just above the strings, but the pinky is often sticking straight up, and upon fretting, comes down in a lightning strike, much like a cobra striking its prey. This results in sloppy and inaccurate fretting.

I've tried using grip trainers to strengthen my pinky, which helps slightly, and have tried numerous finger exercises with no luck.
I'm left handed, but play bass right-handed, which may or may not be the reason behind my awkward finger coordination.

So - Does anybody know any finger exercises that focus on whipping the pinky into shape? Has anyone experienced "cobra pinky" and conquered it?

Thanks!

[chadhargis]

When you figure this one out, let me know.

My cobra could take a mongoose!

[DownWithTheDown]

I do the spider excercises diagonally down and up the strings. I have only been playing 6 mos and it has helped me tremendously.

Also, the drill at the bottom of this page is good.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/conten...eat-sheet.html

[MHT75]

Well when you look at all the time put into getting the index, middle & ring finger to the state of playing they are at now . Wouldn't you think it would take at least as long to get the pinky to that same level of play ?
I did the same thing when i started out, favoring my index and middle , then adding the ring and finally the pinky. Can't say i took the most efficient route .

Time , practice and tenacity

[MHT75]

Originally Posted by DownWithTheDown

I do the spider excercises diagonally down and up the strings. I have only been playing 6 mos and it has helped me tremendously.

Also, the drill at the bottom of this page is good.
http://www.dummies.com/how-to/conten...eat-sheet.html

I bought this book several years ago and love the left hand permutations on the cheat sheet.

[Fergie Fulton]

What you have is normal to the hand. Grip trainers will not remedy this problem. When the little finger is straighter than the other fingers the ring finger is also part of it. The little and ring fingers are for power and grip not dexterity, that function is in the middle, index and thumb.
What is happening is that the muscle groups, tendons and soft tissues of the hand are tight, especially those that extend the fingers, not those that flex them, that is why the grip trainer will not work. It is not exercising the correct movement. Then there is correct use of the joints, the little finger is pulled back from the fretboard by the knuckle, then lifted, not just lifted away.
When it is pulled back by the knuckle it has to curl, this curl involves both sets of movement in the hand. The groups that extend and flex the hand have to work together to make and hold the curl as the knuckle moves it a way.

All fingers when curled can be moved by the knuckles. It is learning to blend in this movement and to realise that the fingers can be moved off and on of the strings by this action.
Since the fingers should have a natural curl to them, then that curl should be present is a majority of all the finger movement we use to play.

One of the simplest ways to exercise this movement is to hold a glass, can, cup, mug etc so the little finger can move under it.
Then all you do is hold the glass in the finger tips and let the little finger curl under the glass and touch the palm, ( or as close as it can get) hold, and move back out and extend, hold and curl under again. If done correctly the pressure across all fingers will remain the same, the need to tighten up the hold on the glass is not needed so resist it. You can then move on to dropping off little and ring finger and repeat. This exercise can be done any where anytime you hold a glass, cup, can..etc.
Also the diameter of the glass can be changed, the smaller it is the easier it is. So if you want to make an exercise program then get various diameter cups, glasses, cans etc., and start from the smallest and work to the largest diameter. I have used an egg cup, a narrow glass, a broad based glass, and a wide based glass to get the different diameters required. If you look around the house you will find the same.

[patRICK4003]

Thanks for the help, everyone! I guess its time to hit the woodshed.

[Boyakasha]

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

What you have is normal to the hand. Grip trainers will not remedy this problem. When the little finger is straighter than the other fingers the ring finger is also part of it. The little and ring fingers are for power and grip not dexterity, that function is in the middle, index and thumb.
What is happening is that the muscle groups, tendons and soft tissues of the hand are tight, especially those that extend the fingers, not those that flex them, that is why the grip trainer will not work. It is not exercising the correct movement. Then there is correct use of the joints, the little finger is pulled back from the fretboard by the knuckle, then lifted, not just lifted away.
When it is pulled back by the knuckle it has to curl, this curl involves both sets of movement in the hand. The groups that extend and flex the hand have to work together to make and hold the curl as the knuckle moves it a way.

All fingers when curled can be moved by the knuckles. It is learning to blend in this movement and to realise that the fingers can be moved off and on of the strings by this action.
Since the fingers should have a natural curl to them, then that curl should be present is a majority of all the finger movement we use to play.

One of the simplest ways to exercise this movement is to hold a glass, can, cup, mug etc so the little finger can move under it.
Then all you do is hold the glass in the finger tips and let the little finger curl under the glass and touch the palm, ( or as close as it can get) hold, and move back out and extend, hold and curl under again. If done correctly the pressure across all fingers will remain the same, the need to tighten up the hold on the glass is not needed so resist it. You can then move on to dropping off little and ring finger and repeat. This exercise can be done any where anytime you hold a glass, cup, can..etc.
Also the diameter of the glass can be changed, the smaller it is the easier it is. So if you want to make an exercise program then get various diameter cups, glasses, cans etc., and start from the smallest and work to the largest diameter. I have used an egg cup, a narrow glass, a broad based glass, and a wide based glass to get the different diameters required. If you look around the house you will find the same.

That's a really useful exercise for everyday life, thanks.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by Boyakasha

That's a really useful exercise for everyday life, thanks.

No problems it is an exercise for the ulnar side of the hand(little and ring fingers). It reverses the hands natural tendency to grip and hold with the ulnar side and be dexterous in the radial side (thumb, fore and middle fingers). It is just a good hand exercise that works good for anyone that has problems controlling the ulnar side of their hand.
So long as the fingers keep the natural curl ( don't allow the joints to collapse) as the finger curls under to the palm, it will gently stretch the finger and that one next to it, to give more control and freedom of movement. As time goes on you will be able to curl the fingers under and further with ease, while keeping a relaxed curl in the fingers doing the holding.

[anonymous122511]

In addition to the excellent advice already given I'd add that you need to think past the pinky and hand into the arm and shoulder. The tendons that control the pinky are directly effected by the position of the forearm, elbow and shoulder. Playing with just your ring and pinky while paying close attention to this will show you exactly what you need to do. Slow and steady, this isn't something solved over night.

[Skitch it!]

It's kind of like a little brain training exercise, when I pick up the bass the brain relates to the fingers 'keep in close', it's now an automatic response. I think slow concerted and concentrated practise on 'teaching your pinky' to stay in close will become part of muscle memory so you don't have to 'think' about it after a while, get your synapses to train and control your fingers, it will come together after a while.

[Howlin' Hanson]

Do not, repeat do not look at my avatar photo.


Actually, I like to believe it's just staying out of the way until needed...but it looks like you could hang your coat on it.

[Ric5]

Guys with big hands tend to use the little finger less. Guys with smaller hands use the little finger more and use the ring finger less.

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by Ric5

Guys with big hands tend to use the little finger less. Guys with smaller hands use the little finger more and use the ring finger less.

I know what your saying, but my span is pretty big, fully extended on a table around 8 inches from centre of thumb nail to centre of pinky nail, I use that pinky a lot of the time, a great deal of the time for some stuff, especially chords.

Here's a recent thread where I indicated some chord shapes, some involve the pinky, might be useful in practising keeping it down?

Bassline Help for a Jazz/Blues Progression

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by Skitch it!

I know what your saying, but my span is pretty big, fully extended on a table around 8 inches from centre of thumb nail to centre of pinky nail, I use that pinky a lot of the time, a great deal of the time for some stuff, especially chords.

Here's a recent thread where I indicated some chord shapes, some involve the pinky, might be useful in practising keeping it down?

Bassline Help for a Jazz/Blues Progression

+1 to chords, they train you fingers to stay in position as others lift off and change to new positions to form new chords. This also is a great way to gently stretch the fingers, even better if done on a guitar rather than a bass if possible.

[Skitch it!]

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

+1 to chords, they train you fingers to stay in position as others lift off and change to new positions to form new chords. This also is a great way to gently stretch the fingers, even better if done on a guitar rather than a bass if possible.

+1 Just a way to keep placement for longer than a your average? (not the correct word I know) note duration, may help? Worth a go

[Fergie Fulton]

Its a different application of the hand playing chords. It uses a different muscle fibre structure within the muscle itself. Muscles have two functions that we use, one is for reaction and speed, the other is for power and stamina. These two functions are called the muscles "twitch response". Fast movements such as playing finger style lines is a fast twitch response and holding a chord is a slow twitch response.

Think what holds your body posture?
Muscles do but they are using a different structure to the ones that give you movement in your legs and arms.
You may think you are not using muscles, but they are what hold your posture and give you shape.
These are in the simplest terms, slow twitch...your posture is held by a slow twitch response.
The muscles in your legs need to support you when you stand still, this is a slow twitch response, it gives them the stamina and strength to hold you up.
When you want to move or run then that is a fast twitch response to give the movement.
When you stop then the slow twitch response will support and hold you in the position you stop in.

So it is on the guitar, chords are holding and support, playing lines and solos are movement, you require both types to be developed and blended to fully make the most of playing a bass.

[smeet]

I have very good dexterity and strength in my pinky, but I still have this cobra strike problem. It is mostly due to too much tension in your hand. I've been correcting it lately, it's very simple (but not necessarily easy):

Play VERY slowly using 1 finger per fret and go through a few different finger combinations until you can tell which movements cause your pinky to shoot up. For me, it's when I reach back an extra fret with my index finger (to make a 5-fret stretch).

Then, just do the offending movement very slowly and deliberately, while suspending your pinky just above the string. All fingers should remain slightly curled and relaxed, as close to the string as possible.

Just do this for a few minutes a day and it will get better. It won't happen immediately, but you will become aware of when the problem happens, as you will become familiar with the feeling.

Hope that helps, so far it's working well for me.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by smeet

I have very good dexterity and strength in my pinky, but I still have this cobra strike problem. It is mostly due to too much tension in your hand. I've been correcting it lately, it's very simple (but not necessarily easy):

Play VERY slowly using 1 finger per fret and go through a few different finger combinations until you can tell which movements cause your pinky to shoot up. For me, it's when I reach back an extra fret with my index finger (to make a 5-fret stretch).

Then, just do the offending movement very slowly and deliberately, while suspending your pinky just above the string. All fingers should remain slightly curled and relaxed, as close to the string as possible.

Just do this for a few minutes a day and it will get better. It won't happen immediately, but you will become aware of when the problem happens, as you will become familiar with the feeling.

Hope that helps, so far it's working well for me.

Great to see you have the understanding and patience to work on this. One of the many things (and there are to many to list) to do is exactly what you are doing, find out where the rise happens and work it out. It is those that do not use the little finger or use it properly as a rule that have little finger problems like this. It is not really a problem if playing is not inhibited, it become more of a cosmetic thing in its looks rather than function. As you have found out, it is about slow exercise to learn to control the little and ring finger, not about trying to stop or inhibit them, you must use them to control them.

[Plays_For_Dog]

I just forced myself to use my pinky. Over time it got easier. Partly because I also used a hand exerciser/strengthener. Stress balls that you squeeze work well. I used those and the big spring that you simply squeezed with your whole hand.