pinky strength. mine is incredibly weak and I need help / advice.

[mikeboyx5225]

I pick my bass up almost everyday. And I've been playing for at least a year and it doesn't seem like using my pinky is any easier. Which is slightly discouraging. I'll gladly listen to anything anyone has to say.

[Russell L]

Have you tried playing 124 with your ring finger going along with your pinky? I don't know if it will build any strength, but it sure feels more comfortable to me that way. Sometimes I also use my pinky by itself, though.

[jmattbassplaya]

My advice? Give up on the pinky and focus on the thumb, index, middle, ring technique instead. It's more efficient and fluid anyways if you're looking at a possible four finger technique to pick up.

[dmusic148]

Don't worry about it- it'll come. It's not about strength, it's about coordination/good form. It's already as strong as it's ever going to be, so forget exercises or devices that are meant to build strength- they only lead to injury.
Just keep practicing. A year really isn't much time. Do you have a teacher? If not, you might consider getting one, at least for awhile, so he/she can evaluate and/or correct your technique.

[dmusic148]

Originally Posted by jmattbassplaya

My advice? Give up on the pinky and focus on the thumb, index, middle, ring technique instead. It's more efficient and fluid anyways if you're looking at a possible four finger technique to pick up.

I think, but am not sure, that the OP is talking about his fretting hand.

[iammr2]

Do a search on the forum and you'll find lots of info. Also look into Simandyl(sp) technique and Carol Kaye's playing technique. With time and the proper execise, it'll get stronger and more accurate. Be patient.

[jmattbassplaya]

You could very well be right! My mistake.

In that case, do chromatic scale exercises. Start with your index on the 7th fret of your E string, then your middle on the 8th, ring on the 9th, and pinky on the 10th. Work this from E string, to A string, to D, and then your G. Start moving your hand position up and down the neck as you begin to get more comfortable with it, and remember to practice it with a metronome. Once you're able to do that fluidly, you should then change your fretting pattern around to something like index, pinky, middle, ring, or pinky, middle, ring, index, and begin working that around the neck.

[Fergie Fulton]

If you little finger is incredibily weak then there has to be a reason for it.
First off you do not exercise a weak muscle as of such. First off you tone it slowly and gently to get it in condition to so it can take the increase of use. To just increase the amount of use by trying to over play will make it worse.
If there is a physical reason for the weakness it may be from illness, disease, past injury, or genetic problems.

My advice would be to play simple rock n roll bass lines as they will increase the need for all the fingers to be used.
Rather than just a focus on the little finger, you can use the ring finger to support it as in the Simandl method.

Franz Simandl - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[mikeboyx5225]

Can I play without my pinky all together and just reach with my ring finger?

[dmusic148]

I wouldn't. Your ring finger SHOULD be your weakest finger, believe it or not. Which is one reason upright players are taught to not use the ring finger, at least in the first positions.
Maybe you should see a doc, just to be sure there isn't something wrong.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by dmusic148

I wouldn't. Your ring finger SHOULD be your weakest finger, believe it or not. Which is one reason upright players are taught to not use the ring finger, at least in the first positions.
Maybe you should see a doc, just to be sure there isn't something wrong.

The ring finger is not the weakest, it just has limited range motion. It is assumed to be the weakest because of this, and of course the use of "weakest" in this context may be confusing the point. It is a similar misunderstanding to the use of the word "strength" when taking about the fingers and hands.

If finger use is balanced across the palm of the hand, the hand will be healther for this balanced use. Because some of hands muscles and tendons share and interact with each other ( such as the little and ring finger, which is why the work well together if need be) then it is better for some to enhance this rather than fight it.

Please understand that although everyones hands look the same it is not uncommon for there to be slight anatomical differences within the structure that will affect the way a hand can work.
These differences can be in joints with extra or restricted movement, extra or less bones, or in some cases concerning the little finger a muscle called digiti minimi brevis, which is a flexor that helps bend the little finger.
Without going into an anatomy lesson here, if you have an interest in such a matter as a player, then do a search on the term Hypothenar Eminence which will explain how and why the little finger works.

Please do a few searches to get the full picture because as usual some information may conflict depending on the source or date it was first published.

[Russell L]

In fact, I can press harder with my pinky than with my ring finger, just tried it, using my arm as a fingerboard. Never knew that. Hm.

[iammr2]

Originally Posted by mikeboyx5225

Can I play without my pinky all together and just reach with my ring finger?

You'll have much better reach using your pinky and not using your ring finger.

[conqr]

Just tossing this in. You have not said anything about the setup of your bass - has everything to do with playing comfort. It's possible it may not be ideal for you. Too high action and/or too high string tension can drastically affect playability.

[staindbass]

play simple songs with just your pinkie until it gets too tired to use. do that once a day. after awhile you will notice you can go longer until it gets tired.

[JohnnyGuest]

I've had plenty of students who thought their pinkies were useless!

Generally, it's a hand placement issue. The muscle that bends your pinky is not the muscle that will apply pressure on a fret. If you spread your fingers as wide as you can, and feel along the 'karate chop' edge of your hand, you should be it tense up. That's where you get your strength for the pinky.

If you're bending the pinky at the 1st knuckle, it WILL be useless. Drop your wrist, and stretch it out, and see how it goes.

Good luck!

[Russell L]

Originally Posted by JohnnyGuest

I've had plenty of students who thought their pinkies were useless!

Generally, it's a hand placement issue. The muscle that bends your pinky is not the muscle that will apply pressure on a fret. If you spread your fingers as wide as you can, and feel along the 'karate chop' edge of your hand, you should be it tense up. That's where you get your strength for the pinky.

If you're bending the pinky at the 1st knuckle, it WILL be useless. Drop your wrist, and stretch it out, and see how it goes.

Good luck!

One thing to watch out for if you stretch your pinky out is that it might want to go straight all of a sudden in the middle joint. I've had that happen, and it hurts for a long time.

But, I agree that the pressure comes from other muscles. I've also noticed that pinky pressure is a direct result of rotating your hand. You will notice pressure on your thumb behind the neck, further back from your pinky, and pressure on your pinky at the other end on the fretboard, your lower arm being kinda in the middle as the center of rotation. Check it out.

[maxgrant]

Just to pile on: if you are only 1 year into playing, you aren't even finished learning the basics yet. Nor are your muscles. I agree with most of the other comments here -- take it slow and steady, don't hurt yourself, and work your way up to it. There are dozens of ways to improve the strength of that finger.

I used to use a tennis ball to increase hand strength. Or start with a softer ball until you feel comfortable. Just keep squishing it. If you work at a desk, set it on your desk and squish it whenever you can. Grip the ball evenly with your fingertips, and don't let that knuckle collapse.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by maxgrant

.

I used to use a tennis ball to increase hand strength. Or start with a softer ball until you feel comfortable. Just keep squishing it. If you work at a desk, set it on your desk and squish it whenever you can. Grip the ball evenly with your fingertips, and don't let that knuckle collapse.

This is a short term use to bring a hand up to a stable strength and dexterity. Much better way is Plastercine, Play Doe/Putty.


You an also make shapes, squeeze them, re-mold shapes like the tennis ball idea, but the resistance is much gentler, so protects the joints against potential damage. Make sure the thumb does not get over used in any squeezing exercises. The thumb has a more powerful set of muscles that can damage smaller finger muscles as it passes the forces it creates as the resistance those smaller muscle try to oppose. It can be used in so many other and better ways than any sqeezing gadget, it also can be use for resistance.

In all the soft putty create enough extra resistance to be very very effective without risking damage.

Theraputty Exercises - YouTube

[Russell L]

All I have ever done to be in shape is just play. I think you will get there in time.