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That Annoying Pinky

H

heyitsamike

Aug 9, 2011
37
0
#1
Hey guys, havent posted here in a LONG time. And i just watned to ask a question. When i play my pink pops out straight and its kinda hard to get it to bend in line with the rest of my fingers. its an annoying habit that ive over looked. but now that im getting to become a much better player (actually playing a few gigs now) i can tell its holding me back. so any idea how to over come this habit
 
#3
heyitsamike said:
Hey guys, havent posted here in a LONG time. And i just watned to ask a question. When i play my pink pops out straight and its kinda hard to get it to bend in line with the rest of my fingers. its an annoying habit that ive over looked. but now that im getting to become a much better player (actually playing a few gigs now) i can tell its holding me back. so any idea how to over come this habit
Click to expand...

Plucking or fretting hand? If we're talking about the fretting hand the solution is to use it. If the music you play on a regular basis does not require the pinky you'll need to work on stuff that does. For the sake of an exercise try playing a song you already know only using the ring and pinky fingers, you'll have to shift a lot if there is any significant movement in the tune but that's something worth working on as well. The fingers of the fretting hand when not fretting a note should always be floating just above their area of responsibility so that as little movement as possible is needed when it's time for them to go to work. The whole technique is about muscle memory and efficiency, not strength. When executed correctly very little strength/effort is needed.

Here is a strictly technique exercise I learned from Anthony Wellington to work on your fretting hand. Zoning one finger per fret in a comfortable location on the neck i.e. 1st finger on the 5th fret, play the following finger patterns on all four/five/six/whatever strings as even 8th notes. So for the first pattern (1index,2middle,3ring,4pinky) you would start on the A of the E string and play 1:A 2:Bb 3:B 4:C and then move up to the 5th fret D of the A string and repeat. Complete the pattern all the way to the highest string and then continue back to the lowest string. Here's the whole sequence.

1234
1243
1324
1342
1423
1432

2134
2143
2314
2341
2413
2431

3124
3142
3214
3241
3412
3421

4123
4132
4213
4231
4312
4321


The goal should be to have the facility to run down this list without stopping. My thoughts on technique exercises are that they are used most effectively as a way to eliminate the physical challenges of playing music on an instrument, never as an end to themselves. Once you can do it start working on actual music instead and just come back to it once in a while if needed.

Mike
 
#8
Robert Spencer said:
This video addresses the pinky issue. Seems that thumb position is the key:



Take care. Bob
Click to expand...


Take with when using Bunny's techniques, they have very strict parameters due to the fact they are based on up-right bass, rather than bass guitar. I personally would not teach a bass guitarist to play using the techniques he describes.....but I would for an up-right bass.

As said in previous posts, use the little finger and it will come under control on the fretting hand.
In the plucking hand just give it something to do, such as hold a coin or a pick when playing and it will again come under control.:)
 
#9
You could always try using 124 or upright technique which uses your third and fourth (fourth being pinky) fingers in a group as opposed to not using your pinky at all. I find it helps with mobility and is a little more practical in terms of hand strength, dexterity etc... Having said that, it mightn't be very practical for you to completely change your fingering system! So, that said, just try and relax your hand, you don't need to play too hard. Try and keep your thumb behind your second finger at all times. Good luck :)
 
#10
I've got the same issue, my pinky is double jointed so it seems like it's impossible for it to stay close to the fingerboard, but i've learned to work with it.

I still do exercises and REALLY focus on keeping my pinky close. It'll happen one day!
 

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