Fretting with pinky - what if I can't?

[ViperTim]

Hi everybody.
Back story is that my pinky on my fretting hand has broken nerves after an accident when I was little. For many years I had zero feeling in the tip of my pinky but nowadays I would rate that I have maybe 90% of feeling (it's a dull feeling) but that isn't the issue.
The issue is that with this I have very little abilities to do fine motor skills with my pinky. It's like an on/off switch - either extended or curled like a cinannon roll. I can absolutely control it inbetween but it requires a bit of effort - effort that I don't have time for while playing.

I've been playing guitar for 3 years and have been using my pinky a bit without any improvement in the fine motor skills thus making me believe that it's not going to get better.
On guitar I can get away with it, there's no longer stretches thus I can make use of my ring finger for all of the quick stuff and slower stuff like forming a chord or similar the pinky actually works (it cannot do hammer-ons for example, I use the ring finger for this).
But on bass there's longer stretches where everybody says the pinky is required.
I can make due, but it's tiresome and sloppy. I can make hand adjustments and use the ring finger faster and more precise than what I can use my pinky. But usually that sets me in a bad position for the next note...

So question is:
Everybody says pinky is required.
But is it really?
There's people without hands playing guitar/bass so my issue is microscopic in comparison.

 

[bbao]

I don't think it will be a problem. Granted you will be disadvantaged while starting out but practice makes perfect. you'll be fine once you adjust

 

[ViperTim]

I don't think it will be a problem. Granted you will be disadvantaged while starting out but practice makes perfect. you'll be fine once you adjust

My thought as well.
But everywhere there's the "requirement" of using the pinky.

I'm thinking of that old guitar player who's name I cannot remember that only played with two fingers.

 

[Les Fret]

If you can’t use it and there is no improvement you can’t use it. So you have to forget the pinky and find other solutions.

The pinky is next to the index finger the most important left hand finger for bass playing, but just use your ring finger instead of your pinky. You will use upright bass finger patterns but replacing the pinky with your ring finger. It’s not ideal but it will work if you stick with it. In this case I would suggest you buy a short scale bass. Good luck!

 

[ViperTim]

If you can’t use it and there is no improvement you can’t use it. So you have to forget the pinky and find other solutions.

The pinky is next to the index finger the most important left hand finger for bass playing, but just use your ring finger instead of your pinky. You will use upright bass finger patterns but replacing the pinky with your ring finger. It’s not ideal but it will work if you stick with it. In this case I would suggest you buy a short scale bass. Good luck!

Yeah... Regarding short scale bass, I'm playing a Thunderbird
I never make it easy for myself.

 

[Les Fret]

Yeah... Regarding short scale bass, I'm playing a Thunderbird
I never make it easy for myself.

ditch the bird!

 

[ViperTim]

ditch the bird!

I can't, I love it...
I will just have to make due with the ring finger.

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

Hi everybody.
Back story is that my pinky on my fretting hand has broken nerves after an accident when I was little. For many years I had zero feeling in the tip of my pinky but nowadays I would rate that I have maybe 90% of feeling (it's a dull feeling) but that isn't the issue.
The issue is that with this I have very little abilities to do fine motor skills with my pinky. It's like an on/off switch - either extended or curled like a cinannon roll. I can absolutely control it inbetween but it requires a bit of effort - effort that I don't have time for while playing.

I've been playing guitar for 3 years and have been using my pinky a bit without any improvement in the fine motor skills thus making me believe that it's not going to get better.
On guitar I can get away with it, there's no longer stretches thus I can make use of my ring finger for all of the quick stuff and slower stuff like forming a chord or similar the pinky actually works (it cannot do hammer-ons for example, I use the ring finger for this).
But on bass there's longer stretches where everybody says the pinky is required.
I can make due, but it's tiresome and sloppy. I can make hand adjustments and use the ring finger faster and more precise than what I can use my pinky. But usually that sets me in a bad position for the next note...

So question is:
Everybody says pinky is required.
But is it really?
There's people without hands playing guitar/bass so my issue is microscopic in comparison.

I've spent most of my playing time not being able to get enough of an "attack angle" with my pinky. Since I didn't have time to "Practice. Practice! PRACTICE!", I developed a way of just shifting my hand/wrist very slightly so I could reach the required note with my third finger.

Maybe it's brought on some arthritis, but with everything else that's wrong with me, I don't think that matters much, now.

I'm thinking of that old guitar player who's name I cannot remember that only played with two fingers.

Django Rienhart

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

I can't remember names at the moment, but there were a couple of famous bass players that didn't use their pinkies.

 

[johnh89]

My thought as well.
But everywhere there's the "requirement" of using the pinky.

I'm thinking of that old guitar player who's name I cannot remember that only played with two fingers.

Tony Iommi (Black sabbath) or Django Reinhardt .

 

[fjbolebruch]

When I started playing bass, I was already playing guitar and knew the basics of fretting, I didn’t think the pinkie thing was a big deal. A good friend of mine was giving me some lessons and told me I “need” to use my pinkie, it was challenging at first, but now I don’t even think about it. Practice until it’s not even a thought.

 

[Les Fret]

I can't remember names at the moment, but there were a couple of famous bass players that didn't use their pinkies.

I would like to know this. I can't think of any famous bass players who don't use the pinky at all. But I am sure there are some out there....

 

[Lance Bunyon]

Sometimes I play 4 entire sets with just two fingers when I'm particularly arthritic.
It's only rock and roll.

 

[JRA]

But everywhere there's the "requirement" of using the pinky.

i think it's suggested as an appropriate technique when physical limitations don't preclude it.

if you can't do it = you can't do it! you'll learn to do things differently, obviously. like every other player: you'd benefit from some lessons! good luck with your playing!

 

[Michael Stanley 2112]

i think it's suggested as an appropriate technique when physical limitations don't preclude it.

if you can't do it = you can't do it! you'll learn to do things differently, obviously. like every other player: you'd benefit from some lessons! good luck with your playing!

Pretty much what I tell my students. I also point out that if they watch me play, I rarely use my pinky until I get up around the eighth fret or so. I've had people tell me they have an easier time using their pinky lower down (basic lines). I can't do that. I only use it up high for little runs.

 

[JayDomK]

I've spent most of my playing time not being able to get enough of an "attack angle" with my pinky. Since I didn't have time to "Practice. Practice! PRACTICE!", I developed a way of just shifting my hand/wrist very slightly so I could reach the required note with my third finger.

Maybe it's brought on some arthritis, but with everything else that's wrong with me, I don't think that matters much, now.



Django Rienhart

Arthritis? Oh, wow. Because of a simple finger movement? I don't think it's related.

 

[Microbass]

TBH I don't think it's a big deal. While I can use my pinky finger just fine, I do find myself using index-middle-ring fingers most unless doing fast octaves.

I do feel a different bass would aid you greatly as well.

 

[jimmydean]

Any thought of playing a short scale bass ?

 

[HardNHeavy]

you will find your style, based on this...and it will be fine.

 

[Peterson]

If there's a will ..there's a way



Keep jamming ..