Does anyone else have troubles with their pinky?

[Rainmaker]

Grr! Everytime I try to do these exercises that use my pinky, after I play the note that I've fretted with my pinky, it raises itself too high! I try to keep it as low as possible so I can get to the next bit quicker but I just can't control it.

Anyone have the same problem?

[Number One]

Re: Does anyone else have troubles with their pinky?

I've never had a problem with it, but lots of other people i know do. They say it "pops" back up. It's hard to train from what I hear, but it's possible.

[Jaganath]

Re: Does anyone else have troubles with their pinky?

I have exactly that problem, my pinky is up in the air like I'm drinking tea or something and it takes a real mental effort to keep it low - but I'm spending so much time trying to keep it down that I forget what I'm supposed to be playing. I also have trouble sequencing my fingers when my 2nd finger is involved - I think it's because you don't often play a note with your first finger, then second - it's normally first then third or first then fourth (too much minor pentatonic practice)

[Jaganath]

Re: Does anyone else have troubles with their pinky?

Still, players like SRV, Henrdix and Clapton may just as well not have one as I've never seen them use it.
Lee

Hmm - I wonder if all these guys were self-taught? I only started using my pinky when I started taking lessons - it didn't feel natural to do it at first so I didn't.

[nuntius]

Re: Does anyone else have troubles with their pinky?

i think i used to

practise some chromatic runs slowly and that might help out

[Sly_D]

Re: Does anyone else have troubles with their pinky?

I personally had brief guitar lessons (a year or so) and I almost never use my pinky. I use it lower on the neck too reach some larger frets, only because I don't have very long hands and I'm forced to do so.

I'm doing scales regularily though, in which I use it all the time of course, but never outside execises. I would have to change my style completely to introduce the pinky into my playing. I don't think it would worth the effort honnestly. But I'm lousy

[Norman_T]

Re: Does anyone else have troubles with their pinky?

I saw Larry Carlton playing last night and had a very good view of his playing style. He comes frrom the old blues style of playing - that is thumb over the neck and using the first, second and third fingers of his left hand. Very occassionally he would use his pinky but that was more when he had to do some fairly tricky fingerings or going up high on the fretboard.

You should try and use you pinky because it does help you to get to certain places that much quicker, however if you're technique is already well established and you can do what you want to do, then if it ain't broke don't fix it!

[Panzer]

Re: Does anyone else have troubles with their pinky?

Hmm - I wonder if all these guys were self-taught? I only started using my pinky when I started taking lessons - it didn't feel natural to do it at first so I didn't.

I have been using my pinky in one way or another since day one. Im still having problems keeping it down though, I think its just because the tendon naturally doesnt want to move that way, just takes time to stretch it.

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Does anyone else have troubles with their pinky?

I use mine in legato stuff, long weird chords, for rhythm stops, even bends with the sucker from time to time, and I also keep my thumb around the neck, sometimes behind, what ever is needed to get what I want!
Some does not use it and still plays wonderful things...figure out what you can train it to do and don't worry much over it.

[Rainmaker]

Re: Does anyone else have troubles with their pinky?

Ahh ok, thanks for your advice guys!

my pinky is up in the air like I'm drinking tea or something

Lol!

Bee

[Cowboy Dan!?]

Re: Does anyone else have troubles with their pinky?

yeah my pinky is usually out there because i mostly use my first 3 fingers but when i play something where i use my pinky its usually closer and i have no problem with it.

[Biu]

Re: Does anyone else have troubles with their pinky?

I've always been taught to use and practice with my pinky, so it's pretty natural to me.

[\m/(00)\m/]

Re: Does anyone else have troubles with their pinky?

i dont have that problem

i practice everything i do with alternate fingerings to have my fingers know it all. so i'll do a simple run like this

E---------------------------------
B---------------------------------
G-------7-9-10-12-10-9-----------
D7-9-10----------------12-10-9---
A---------------------------------
E---------------------------------

Then do it in an alternate fingering like:

E-------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------
G-----------9-10-12-10-9-------------
D7-9-10-12---------------12-10-9----
A-------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------

and then something like this:

E-------------------------------------
B-------------------------------------
G-----------9-10-12-10-9-------------
D---9-10-12--------------12-10-9-----
A12-----------------------------------
E-------------------------------------