three finger- can you eliminate pinky movement?

[TOOL460002]

so- im very pleased at where my three finger technique is right now- been doing it for years to some degree- but in the last 6-7 months- ive dumped a ton of time into it (unemployed!). one thing ive noticed is that my pinky moves involuntarily with my ring finger. it doesnt get in the way or anything- but i was wondering if anyone whos better at this than i am had some advice.

my ring finger used to move a lot with my middle finger- but thats been eliminated with practice/exercises- just part of getting three fingers down. does the same apply to the pinky? does it even matter? its not a ton of movement- but it is a waste of energy to some degree- so maybe it could hold me back sometime in the future- not sure.

my only thought is that if i worked up to a four finger technique- the additional strength and independence might eliminate the movement- but i really dont have an interest in going down that road- especially if i just want to get decent with four to be more economical with three.

ok- thanks- all advice appreciated.

[adube810]

i dont think you can help that. im pretty sure theres a ligament or something that joins the ring and pinky fingers.

[Trapezius]

I wouldn't worry too much about stuff like that. It's just the natural movement of the hand. Focus your energy on the fingers that actually do the job instead.

[gratt]

I play with my pinky almost more than any other finger (definitely more than my ring) - is that weird?

[TOOL460002]

thanks- good confirmation- as least that means its not much wasted energy- some just dissipates via mr pinky. i will end my futile search for some exercise to get rid of that movement.

and yes- gratt- you are extremely weird- stop that pinky finger blasphemy post haste.

[Joe Gress]

Add the pinky into your technique.

[TOOL460002]

Originally Posted by joeinsprings

Add the pinky into your technique.

hehe- eventually- its just such a weak finger- and i know itll be a steep uphill battle for a month or two. i dont plan to stop playing until i die- so- ive got plenty of time. besides- i already feel like a beginner trying to tap with even one finger (for sweeps). for some reason i always thought that was a stupid technique (tapping that is)- and now i really need it. soooo- its back to basics once again.

i know this applies to pretty much everything- but figuring out exercises to master new techniques- and charting that progress- and those breakthrough days- is the most satisfying thing in my life- i love it. of course- there are other rays of sunshine that fill up my day- but bass is the constant- and a good marker for how im doing/feeling/etc from day to day. if i stop playing or am not inspired- somethings wrong.

ok- im not sure what that had to do with reducing pinky movement- but- ya- there ya go.

[Fergie Fulton]

Give your pinky something to do. It joins in because of the way we are designed. basicaly your hand is for two functions, dexterity, which is dealt with by thumb, index and middle, and power which is dealt with ring and little finger. To that end the little finger shares a nerve with the ring finger so the message is sort of picked up by both as the ligament that serves them is intertwined.

So give it something to do. hold a small coin against the palm of your hand with the pinky. Or hold a small coin the the joints of the pinky. You will find that the increase of power and movement to the other fingers will increase immediatly, but the ring finger will be slower to react as it wants to help the pinky in its new task. This is just a response and a bit of time will see the liaments get used to this arrangement and for the brain to let the hand know its wants only the little finger to hold the coin and the ring finger to carry on as before. Its a bit like a rub you head pat your tummy routine, it can be learned.

[Brick Top]

I shouldn't even be commenting on this due to my lack of talent and experience...but the previous poster jogged my memory.

The idea of holding something with your pinky against your palm was instructed to me awhile back....but he suggested to hold a pick in my hand...so it's there should you ever want to use it during a song.

Cheers,
BT

[nysbob]

It's not doing anything you care about, let it do what it wants. You're not wasting wasting any evergy that means anything....

[bearshimmy]

are you talking left or right hand?

if you are talking about left hand, I would go ahead and learn to use the pinky, it really opens up your technique and gives you more possibilities in your playing.

If its right hand, you really can't help the pinky from moving with the ring

[TOOL460002]

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

Give your pinky something to do. It joins in because of the way we are designed. basicaly your hand is for two functions, dexterity, which is dealt with by thumb, index and middle, and power which is dealt with ring and little finger. To that end the little finger shares a nerve with the ring finger so the message is sort of picked up by both as the ligament that serves them is intertwined.

hmm- never thought about holding something with the pinky. ive seen others recommend taping finger and like- but always thought that was a pretty stupid idea. the pick/coin thing i do like. im for sure going to give this a try- thanks.

Originally Posted by bearshimmy

are you talking left or right hand?

oh no- most definitely the right hand. id be pretty screwed if i never used my pinky. oddly enough- ive had to retrain my left ringfinger- because after a break in bass and the subsequent relearning- it turns out i pretty much never use it- but for really fast stuff i need it bad. i need to get one of those springy hand exercise deals- or shoot steroids into that sucker.

[blackconstant]

6-7 months! i have a loooooong way to go....

[TOOL460002]

Originally Posted by blackconstant

6-7 months! i have a loooooong way to go....

ya- ive been at it that long- putting in at least four hours a day- sometimes as much as eight. however- the three finger thing ive been really focused on is kind of like sweeping- at least in the way you move from note to note (ie- ring on the e- index on the a- middle on d- and so on)- and that has been incredibly difficult for me. ive also been at something that i think is fairly unique- kind of a combo of the flamenco style and three finger approach. so- dont be discouraged. at one point i couldnt even wrap my mind around the whole thing- then i understood how it was done but couldnt do it- and then i started being able to do it decently- and now im super happy with my progress. watch tv and play boring exercises until youve got it down.

[JustOpenYourMind]

The coin trick won't work, in fact you can't do anything, since the pinky shares a ligament with the ring.

If you notice, it's impossible to fold your pinky without the ring finger moving, as it is impossible to have any strength in your ring finger if you are holding somthing in your palm with your pinky.

[UnderTone]

Originally Posted by JustOpenYourMind

If you notice, it's impossible to fold your pinky without the ring finger moving, as it is impossible to have any strength in your ring finger if you are holding somthing in your palm with your pinky.

nearly impossible. i can fold my pinky easily on my left hand (fretting hand) without making my ring finger move but it's so far impossible on my right hand. the only other people i've seen been able to do this have had injuries to their pinky where they've since haven't been able to fully extend it.

[bass player 48]

Dude, you're ahead of me. I get a bad case of "tea finger" just strumming with two!

[insomniac2295]

Don't try to stop it from moving it all together. Let it join in on the gallop-y fun! I use all 4 of my fingers to play fast/complicated rhythmic patterns. It works great! I'm working on a "wave" technique where I pluck the string going Index-middle-ring-pinky-ring-middle-index-etc. You can do some pretty interesting stuff.

[blackconstant]

i dunno growing up i noticed some kids were able to hold up the three fingers thumb, index, and middle, with the other two gently folded while i had to squeeze my ring and pinky under my palm to keep them from moving. (anybody know what im talking about?) theyre just physiological differences, i suppose, but with the case of hands like mine, do you think it is possible to further develop independence between middle and ring (much like between ring and pinky) or are my hands not fit for it?
ive been trying out the coin thing, stretching my fingers out but im just worried that i will only injure myself

[tomas_almeida]

It's the natural movement of the hand. If you try to "correct" it you'll just do damage to your tendons. 3 fingers is more than enough for everything you may want to play.