Left Pinky Finger

[bassman2020]

What practice exercises can anyone recommend to keep my left pinky finger over the fretboard? It's the only finger I can't keep over the fretboard. I'm close to cutting it off but I need it to fret notes. HELP!!! Thank you.

 

[pedroims]

this exercise publised on bass magazzine on Oct 11 may help , starting on G string do each pattern twice on every string, whichever finger you are pressing down at the moment, all the fingers behind should be down two, pattern refers to fingers not frets, you can start in any fret position:

14343434
14242424
13434342
12424243
12323434
12323434
14243424
14342434
12434232
14314314
14211413
14133141
14122141
13122131
13122134
24233242
24233243
24233243
23344332
13423432
12431324

 

[fearceol]

There is a similar thread here that you may find useful.

http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f21/flying-pinky-864971/



Here is another :


http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f22/beginner-struggling-pinky-finger-871489/

 

[thtbassloser]

Im of the believer that using your pinky is ALL about the position of the left thumb, make sure your left thumb is about the center of the back of the fretboard and your fingers are perpendicular to the fretboard, if your thumb is doing like the jimi hendrix things, you cant reach with your pink as well nor will it be as strong. keeping your wrist relaxed and in a comfortable position is a must. The reason why your pinky is weak is because how you approach holding the neck and how the angle of your wrist affects the abilities of the tendons of your hand and forearm


Also, in upright bass technique we use a 1-2-4 fingering system which i find is the best way to approach an electric bass for the most part, using the ring finger is usefull but for the most part, your pinky is the better choice other then like full on chromatic runs or whichever scale patterns. For example tho, il use my pointer to pinky for most fretting until i get to the 12th fret mark, and although this may not be the best, i do this on guitar to :S