When should I use my left hand pinkie?

[Cycleops]

I would class myself as a beginner having come from a six string guitar which I played when younger I have now in my advanced years have decided to take up the bass, something I’ve always been fascinated by and wanted to do.
The only tuition I can get is by looking at YouTube videos but many don’t cover the basics.
So, do I use it as a matter of course, all the time or only when I need to? I know I need to develop strength in it so are there any exercises I can do or is it even necessary?
I know the experts on here will have the answer.

 

[SteveCS]

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So, do I use it as a matter of course, all the time or only when I need to?
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That will depend on the position you are playing in and the notes you need to play relative to that position. Even something as trivial as this - the first two bars of the verse of (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - will probably involve pinky;

If there are notes that can be played in position with the pinky but you decide you don't want to use the pinky then you will need to either shift to a new position, use extended fingering or use a pivot, all of which will make life more difficult than it needs to be.

But in general terms, the pinky is an equal member of the team in most established bass methods, so I would say it is essential to get it working as quickly as possible.

 

[SteveCS]

...
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I know I need to develop strength in it so are there any exercises I can do or is it even necessary?
...

The strength you need does not come from having a strong or powerful grip, but from having 'long levers'. The muscles that operate the fingers are actually in the forearm, not the hand. Holding down the string needs maximum pressure at the fingertip, and the idea of 'long levers' is about giving the forearm muscles as much mechanical advantage as possible. That means developing a hand 'posture' that involves long sweeping curves from your shoulder all the way to the fingertip:

But NOT this. See how all of the fingers bunched up has shortened the levers. Here you are relying on grip strength alone, which cripples any dexterity in the hand;

 

[fretno]

When flicking someone off in the Middle East. Oh wait that may be throwing a shoe.

 

[squarepeg]

 

[chris_b]

You should plan to use all the fingers on your fretting hand. Then you can automatically make the best choice for the bass line.

I use 1, 2 and 4 predominantly. I find the ring finger is probably the least helpful of the lot and only gets used if the line can't be played any other way or for passing notes.

 

[songwriter21]

I would class myself as a beginner having come from a six string guitar which I played when younger I have now in my advanced years have decided to take up the bass, something I’ve always been fascinated by and wanted to do.
The only tuition I can get is by looking at YouTube videos but many don’t cover the basics.
So, do I use it as a matter of course, all the time or only when I need to? I know I need to develop strength in it so are there any exercises I can do or is it even necessary?
I know the experts on here will have the answer.

I literally forced myself at one point, early on, to make my playing faster and more efficient (by utilizing my pinkie). It felt like a weak toothpick at first, especially as I literally would run it up and down the strings over and over, day after day, to get calluses faster (blisters weren't fun, but they hardened faster than expected). Now, I can't imagine not using my fretting pinkie.

I slashed it at my day job once, and had to go at least a show or so without it. Well, during the second show, I put a thicker bandage on so I could at least use my pinkie a little. Making my third finger do double duty actually caused strain all the way from the fingertip all the way to my head. When my whole arm and head started aching, I said, "Okay, this sucks, it's worse than the injury pain."

 

[Lobster11]

Here's a good YouTube video that discusses two different fingering methods, one of which ("one-finger-per-fret," or OFPF) uses the pinky as much as any other finger:



Don't be fooled by the title: The take-home message is really that both are useful in different contexts.

Also, if you search TB for "OFPF" you'll find lots of threads discussing this.

 

[Bassclef46]

The Spider


This one is great for strength and independence

 

[Yonni]

+1 for The Spider. I still do it a couple of times a week. Up to 5th position (index on 5th fret) I use 1,2,4 and thereafter one finger per fret so the pinkie is in play more than my ring finger.

 

[Acidic Pool]

When I was younger I played octaves with my index and ring fingers but over time I've switched to using my index and pinky instead. It just feels stronger and nimbler. I even do power chords on the guitar that way sometimes, too.

 

[Killing Floor]

When you play bass or guitar.

 

[Hot Rats]

Sometimes you just have boogs that need to be addressed.

 

[Lobster11]

When I was younger I played octaves with my index and ring fingers but over time I've switched to using my index and pinky instead. It just feels stronger and nimbler. I even do power chords on the guitar that way sometimes, too.

Octaves are (one) good example of a situation in which the pinky is useful: It frees up the ring finger to play the 5th between the root and octave if necessary.

The simplest example I can think of where the pinky is necessary/useful is for playing a major scale -- or just a major pentatonic scale -- in one position.

 

[rtslinger]

As often as you can, proper technique is important.

 

[mrcbass]

It's something you should develop to have when you need it. There are many ways to get things done. I might use a pinky when you may not, but it's good to have as many options as possible.

Scotts bass lessons has a ton of free instruction videos on YouTube. He's a little folksy sometimes, but provides good info. HE has a ton of quality instructional videos on his site, but that would require membership, which may be of value to you for a couple years.

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

I would class myself as a beginner having come from a six string guitar which I played when younger I have now in my advanced years have decided to take up the bass, something I’ve always been fascinated by and wanted to do.
The only tuition I can get is by looking at YouTube videos but many don’t cover the basics.
So, do I use it as a matter of course, all the time or only when I need to? I know I need to develop strength in it so are there any exercises I can do or is it even necessary?
I know the experts on here will have the answer.

Just start using it. It's weird at first, but it becomes natural over time.

 

[dalkowski]

Daily.

 

[juancaminos]

All the time

 

[dkelley]

I generally try to use one finger per fret. Not always, because that's quite a strain down in lower frets, but I do use my fingers that way when it's the best way to play certain lines.

When I don't need to stretch to one finger per fret, I use my pinky as my octave finger (2 frets + 2 strings higher, pitch-wise).

So I guess I use my pinky all the time, now that I think about it.
For scale forms etc though I do one finger per fret, mostly.

Be ready to adjust to whatever you need at any given time.

Like every instrument when you're highly trained, it's about not straining, being flexible (in your choices, not only physiologically), and do whatever is easiest YET sounds the way you want. If stretching reduces shifting noise in a place where you don't want shifting noise (or don't want to have to shift back again after), then stretch your fingers/hands briefly to play the part instead.