3 or 4 fingers

[iommi]

Ok,So when i play in Pentatonic position,i am supposed to use the first 3 fingers.I know this ain't a rule but in most cases the 4th finger doesn't reach the 6th string.I read an interview in which Blackmore(deep Purple) said he uses 4 fingers.I saw
a concert and he indeed uses his 4th finger.I however find it difficult to do hammer ons ,etc eith my 4th finger.Will it come with more practice or is it that Blackmore is naturally gifted and i can't do it no matter how much i practice?

[jaytee]

ummmm...hmmmm.....not an expert here...but....

my hands are pretty small.....and really not very strong either...altho i think i am improving on hand strength....thing is..i never even THOUGHT about not using my 4th finger....i really think this sounds like a bad habit that might hold you back in the future...
ive just always kinda pushed for that extra little bit of reach...and...it CAN be done...with a little extra work...i figure...if *I* can do it...so can *YOU*
pull offs DO take more practice/work/exercise with your 4th finger than it does with others...so just keep at it....dont compromise your future playing abilities to achieve cheap success quickly...its worth the extra oomph....

--jt

[Ian]

I would advise that you try to use your 4th finger as sometimes you will need the extra reach it will give you, and it gives you more fingering options when playing, although I have read that Clapton doesn't use his 4th finger and he's done OK for himself.

[mjamer]

I know it's hard to imagine Ian, seeing how good Clapton already is, but imagine if he did use that lil pinky finger. Try playing your guitar with only 1 finger, once you're totally frustrated add another.. you should eventually see how invaluable the pinky finger can be.

I was like jaytee.. even worse really, I always thought I was cheating using my pinky finger since I seen most only play with their first 3 heheh.. just never dawned on me until people would mention my use of lil pinky.

iommi, if you're not using your pinky much.. and you'd really like to get it as functional as the rest, then you'll need to devote extra time to bringing it up to par. If you need ways on how to do that, just ask =)

mjamer

[iommi]

Thanks.I like using my pinky,and if practice is the only way i can be like Blackmore,i will do it

[Coffee]

Guitar without the 4th finger? Gasp!!! Here's the problem that you'll run into, never mind the reach. You will become a decent lead player, with strength speed and dexterity and suddenly, you'll get interested in altered chords, like stevie ray's favorite the 7 with #5 and you'll need to use all fingers or you simply won't make it happen. Then where are you. Charles Atlas time, all your trained he-man fingers kickin sand in the face of your pinky. Not a happy family.:D It's worth the effort, and you'll suddenly wonder what you ever did without it before. (Did I ever tell how I grew up in the DOS world and swore I'd never use a mouse? Sheesh!!!)