How can I strengthen my left hand little finger when Grip-Master/Vari-grip dont work

[bcolins]

The little finger on my left hand is noticeably weaker than my other fingers. I think the weakness is as a result of accidently driving and ice pick through the portion of the finger closest to the palm,...when I was working on a project as a kid.

I have a Grip-Master (light tension) and although I can easily squeeze it if I squeeze all the fingers at the same time,...when I flex/squeeze the fingers separately or one at a time.........my little finger can't compress it.

I just tried a Vari-Grip at GC with the little finger adjustment at the weakest mode and it felt about the same as my Grip-Master.

I am looking for suggestions for alternative exercises that I can do away from my bass and on the bass to focus on my left hand little finger and strengthening it......OR....if someone can tell me how to modify my Grip Master or a Vari-Grip,....that would work also.

Brian in Austin

[ronniequeue]

I would say try to learn music that interests you where you can make use of the finger in question. Don't try to over-train it, and relax. It doesn't take much force to use. It'll get there. Good luck!

[fearceol]

There are lots of threads on this subject if you do a search. Here is one link :

Finger Strength Exercise


Generally, gripping devices wont do much to help your bass playing IMO. It is in the lifting of the fingers off the FB, where weakness occurs, which has nothing to do with gripping. An exercise I found helpful was to put your four fingers on frets 9,10,11, and 12, of the E string. Now, keeping the index middle, and ring fingers down on frets 9, 10 and 11, try lifting the pinkie. Playing chromatic scales above the 5th fret using "one finger per fret" is another good exercise.

[Danny Fox]

I agree that the chromatic scale is perfect for the job, also try running up and down the natural minor, that should get the pinky working too.

http://www.myspace.com/bassmandannyfox

[dnarock]

curls ! I started lifting on a regular basis and it comes easier now for me to frett

[lowendfriend]

Practice the major pentatonic scale a lot.

[fdeck]

Would 1-2-4 fingering make it better, simply by reducing the spread of your fingers?

[Implosion]

I've received the best results for grip strength improvement at the gym. Deadlifts build your grip like no other.

[Jazz Ad]

Grip-Master, Vari-Grip and their friends are going to kill your playing.
Burn these pieces of crap before it's too late. What they do (bulking muscles) is exactly the opposite of what you need to play an instrument (flexible, long muscles). The more you use them, the worse your playing will be.
You really don't need much physical strength to properly play an instrument.
Start by giving your instruments a good setup.
Practise scales slowly, one finger per fret, with as little force as possible.

[kb9wyz]

My little finger was a little weak. Then I started playing a fretless. Little finger not weak anymore. Before that, I would try to take time playing through modes without using my ring finger. That helped too. Now I have no problem using my pinky. And I use it a lot.

[ric stave]

I used my pinky, but it wasn't til the day I broke my Ring finger on my LH 1/2 hour before a gig that I really put it to work. And since that day, I used it exclusively inplace of my RF for about a month, and now it's like nothing to switch off back and forth.

Try just playing the 1-2-4 technique for a while, and it will strengthen itself.

Try other exercises where you use you Ring finger and pinky to do trills. It's all just a matter of using it.

[kph24]

get to a piano if you can and play some C major Arpeggios

[bcolins]

What is the 1-2-4 technique?

[Fergie Fulton]

Hi follow the link, it will help you understand a bit more about the body mechanics involved. The reason grip-developing devices will not work is that you ARE NOT DEVELOPING A GRIP. You are developing dexterity and the strength to support that dexterity. Don't confuse what strength is, understand which form of strength you need to develop.

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...ogId=507420416

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by bcolins

What is the 1-2-4 technique?

Basically it means using the pinkie instead of the 3rd finger. For example, playing low F, then C, you would play the C with the pinkie. A lot of people use the 1-2-4 on the lower frets (1 to 5) to avoid over reaching.

[Soverntear]

Originally Posted by dnarock

curls ! I started lifting on a regular basis and it comes easier now for me to frett

+1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

if you want something easy to strength the hands a good upper body workout will do that. most people lift less because of weak hands

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by Soverntear

+1000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000

if you want something easy to strength the hands a good upper body workout will do that. most people lift less because of weak hands

Surely it does not take that much strength to fret a string

I cant see how an upper body work out can help the fingers in fretting ?????

[Soverntear]

Originally Posted by fearceol

Surely it does not take that much strength to fret a string

I cant see how an upper body work out can help the fingers in fretting ?????

it actually does, figure the basics of lifting. the first point of contact is the hands and fingers

by exposing them to lets say a 20lbs curl, will strengthen the fingers. a proper curl uses your hand allot more then you would think

[fearceol]

Originally Posted by Soverntear

it actually does, figure the basics of lifting. the first point of contact is the hands and fingers

by exposing them to lets say a 20lbs curl, will strengthen the fingers. a proper curl uses your hand allot more then you would think

I'm still a bit confused If you are doing curls with a dumb bell, you use the fingers to grip it ( which does not help when fretting). The actual lift is done using the bicepts, is it not ??

[Soverntear]

Originally Posted by fearceol

I'm still a bit confused If you are doing curls with a dumb bell, you use the fingers to grip it ( which does not help when fretting). The actual lift is done using the bicepts, is it not ??

indeed your correct, but your hand is also doing a load of work by stabilizing the wrist. as for grip with higher weight comes higher grip needed. there for all of your fingers gain strength