fretting with pinky

[sublimestylee]

what are some good practices excerises that can build up my pinky strength, and just get more comfortable using it? I just started using it here and there this last week, but feels a little awkward for me.

[fing3rs]

I work my pinky by setting up on a Major Scale and playing;
where 1 = root
Doesn't need to be played fast to help

p-----p------p
2-4-6-8-1-3-5-7

p---p-p-------p
5-6-5-8-b7-6-5-1 -- I think that was it.

I would love to see other's suggestions.

[Village Idiot]

If you're just building up strength and accuracy and not working on speed, it can be just as easy as picking any spot on the E string and playing the four consecutive frets with each finger.

I = index
M = middle
R = ring
P = pinky

1 2 3 4
I M R P

Then move up the the next string doing the same until you get to the top string. From there, work at doing it in reverse P, R, M, I from the top string to the bottom.

[jbassplayer]

Practice chromatic scales using your pinkie. Other than that just use it frequently. Good luck

[DudeistMonk]

might as well kill two birds with one stone and learn some scales/chord (arpeggio) shapes.

look up fingerings for:

The Major Scale
The Minor Scale
The Blues Scale (you only use the pinky once here though)

You can also look up fingerings for the modes:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musical_mode

Learn to play the arpeggios for Major, Major6, Major7, Minor ext...

Active Bass has a real good scale and arpeggio finding tool that will show you how to play all of the things I mentioned.

[Arizona Jones]

I would say major & minor pentatonic slides up and down the neck using just your first finger and pinky would help.

And doing some funky little Root, Five, Octave, Flat Seven runs, again just using your first finger and pinky, would probably help you out.

[fretlessman71]

Try picking up your bass case with just your pinky.

I'm SERIOUS.

When you do that, take note of the muscles you have to use in your hand to get your pinky "strong enough" to pick up your bass case, and when you play your bass, engage those muscles. You'll find that they're the muscles in the palm of your hand that are aligned with your pinky. But picking up your case is a great way to FEEL those muscles engage.