When to use ur pinky

[hot_for_teacher]

Im having trouble figuring out when i should use my pinky when im up high on the neck, past the 12th fret. This is somthing im learning right now

--------------------------------------17--15--13---------------------
-----13--17--13-------15--17--15--13--------------17--15--13---------
-14---------------16-------------------------------------------16----
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------

so when should i use my pinky in this particular lick?? thanks in advance :cool:

[The Fury]

I don't know what song this is or how fast it's played but personally I wouldn't use my pinky.

Here's how I'd do it (simply my first impression, it might not be the easiest way, I'd really have to know the song)

--------------------------------------17--15--13---------------------
-----13--17--13-------15--17--15--13--------------17--15--13---------
-14---------------16-------------------------------------------16----
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Fingering in order: 2.... 1 3 1.... 2... 1 3 1 1.... *3 3 1.... 3 3 1.... 3

*When I reach this piont, I would keep my first finger on the 13th fret for both the B and E strings and play the other notes with my 3rd.

[Black Star]

i'd use my pinky when playing the notes on the 17th fret

it's just like anywhere on the neck. lets say you start at the first fret, and go

--1--2--3--4-- the finger order would be 1234 as well, and you should try to achieve this anywhere on the fret board

[smfulla]

fury, man, if you would really use that fingering, you'd be making fairly big stretches (ok maybe not that big, but still...) with your ring finger, that you could make easier if you used your pinky.

Are you comfortable using your pinky, fury?

[The Fury]

Yeah, there's no problem with the ol' pinky :) It depends on what hand position you use, personally I have my thumb over the top nearly all the time and this way it's not even a stretch, but if I tried to play with the thumb behind the neck it is a big stretch, so yeah I'd use my pinky if I had that hand position. I guess it's really an indiviudual thing, everyone will play it differently.

[smfulla]

true true =]

[eminor]

Paganini rocks.