Weak pinky, suggestions?

Infern0 · #1 11-10-2007, 10:08 AM

I have developed a decent playing style suited to my music, but now I am trying to expand. I realized how big of a deal it is to use your fretting pinky to play, but I just cant do it, especially hammers and pulls. It just doesnt want to stretch that far. Any suggestions on how to speed up the strengthening process? I did a search on it to no avail. Thanks.

Tslicebass · #2 11-10-2007, 11:02 AM

Work on trills between your ring finger and pinky finger. Also i found when i learned to play melodies...especially eigth note fast melodies...it forced me to get away from the usual shapes i was playing in bass lines and therefore made me end up using my pinky a lot more. Also just play some of your usual patterns but instead of using 123 use 234. Be patient and persistent.

Mr. Black · #3 11-10-2007, 11:52 AM

My pinky on my fret hand is a PITA.... I shattered 2 out of 3 of the bones in it when I was younger playing baseball... There's no fluid motion in it. It is basically completely extended straight or curled tight. I can get it to move fluidly if I do it slow & focus on it. My guitarist basically showed me a couple of easy exercises w/ chromatic scales & other fretting exercises & it's getting better, but it's a slow process. There is one he showed me where basically all you do is strum 8th notes & change fingerings on the same fret each time you pick the string. In the end is sounds like the same fretted note. Helps with speed, & the chromatic scales help with stretching it to reach. Especially if done on the first four frets.

Shadyskull24 · #4 11-11-2007, 05:23 PM

If your pinky is really weak like mine used to be when i started try practicing a C Blue's scale (major third flatted fifth) and practice that walk alot.

jollygiantchris · #5 11-11-2007, 06:59 PM

do lots of chromatic walking lines

wish i still had the damn exercise here that my bass teacher gave me >

it was a paul chambers bassline from one of the songs he did with coltrane or davis....it was ridiculously fast i think it was locomotion from coltrane's blue train album =x if i find the line ill post it but i just used to sit down and crank that riff and gradually speed it up faster and faster and it got all my fingers pretty strong

but otherwise id write a couple walking lines that incorporate your pinky and throw a couple trills/hammers in it and just keep at it

JimmyM · #6 11-11-2007, 08:56 PM

Force yourself to use it. That's it. Play exercises that involve it, use it when you're playing licks you already know, just use it. It needs development, that's all. You just have to force yourself to use it. You've got yourself tricked into thinking you can't use it because you don't use it.

Bassist4Life · #7 11-11-2007, 09:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infern0

I realized how big of a deal it is to use your fretting pinky to play, but I just cant do it, especially hammers and pulls. It just doesnt want to stretch that far.

If your pinky can't "streatch that far", then you probably need to adjust your playing position. I'm a public school orchestra director and I see a lot of violin players with this problem. It usually has to do with the position of their left arm.

I usually post this picture of Adam Nitti as an example of good playing position:

Check out Adam's lesson:
Fretting Hand Technique

Keep us posted on your progress.

Joe

Nappa · #8 11-12-2007, 02:09 AM

I got my somewhat strong pinky from playing Money by Pink Floyd. Holding the the notes on the 4th frets with just my pinky. (the main riff part)

warnergt · #9 11-12-2007, 12:58 PM

Speaking of pinkies, mine gets really sore up the side. And sometimes it kind of gets "stuck" in the closed position. When I go to open my hand, the pinky stays closed then sort of snaps open. I'm a novice player so I'm thinking maybe it's just sore because it's getting so much exercise now. Has anyone else experienced this?

Bassist4Life · #10 11-12-2007, 01:39 PM

IMO, the pinky doesn't need to be "strong". There may be issues with arm position and/or coordination. Practice slow. The pinky gets assistance from the other fingers. It shouldn't be that hard to press the strings against the fret or fingerboard. If it is too hard, then maybe the action is too high or the truss rod needs some adjustment.

The best solution would be to get a teacher or someone with experience to demonstrate good technique for you.

Joe

Koki · #11 11-12-2007, 01:49 PM

play, play and play some more

mambo4 · #12 11-12-2007, 02:34 PM

I use "upright" fingering on electric bass. my ring and pinky finger basically function as a single finger. usually if my pinky is fretting, all 4 of my fingers are on the string, backing it up. Never fret with just my pinky, never needed to.

txbasschik · #13 11-13-2007, 10:15 AM

I have been having the same problem. I recently took a lesson, and my teacher is having me do the following:

1) Get a jackball or some other small rubber ball, and squeeze it between your thumb and pinkie.

2) Practice scales slowly, making each and every note clear and strong. This will develop strength in all of your fingers.

3) Hold your bass vertically, butt-end on the floor, and fret your scales without picking. This is a great strengthener for all fingers.

4) Wear your bass higher on your body. This puts the neck in a better position, and you can reach your notes more easily.

In all of these exercises, here and in other posts, never shirk from using your pinkie. Make yourself do it.

Cherie

Infern0 · #14 11-14-2007, 04:33 PM

Thanks for the tips everyone. I find it difficulat to stretch, let me rephrase that, tedious to stretch from the beginning frets from my pointer to my pinky. a 1 to 4 jump is alot easier for me to start with my pointer on first and jump over to the fourth with my middle finger. Is this technique going to mess me up in the long run? Ive been at it for a decent amount of time, I am just trying to work out the quarks of my playing style.

txbasschik · #15 11-16-2007, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Infern0

Thanks for the tips everyone. I find it difficulat to stretch, let me rephrase that, tedious to stretch from the beginning frets from my pointer to my pinky. a 1 to 4 jump is alot easier for me to start with my pointer on first and jump over to the fourth with my middle finger. Is this technique going to mess me up in the long run? Ive been at it for a decent amount of time, I am just trying to work out the quarks of my playing style.

I find it makes things rough at times, when I want to play a stretch like that smoothly. Yeah, I can make it, but its never smooth. That bugs me, so I'm working really hard on strengthening my pinkie, to eliminate that problem.

Cherie

Supertanker · #16 11-16-2007, 12:39 PM

Get this book --->

Do the exerices daily, soon no more pinky problems...