rebellious pinky

[jimmypageisgod]

Hi,
I was wondering if anybody knows any techniques or ideas or anything that will help me to gain a better control over my pinky finger so i can teach it to stay relatively close to the strings when i use my other fingers....
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thankyou:)

[AnUprightMan]

repitition. Since i started playing I have always tried to use the damn pinky as much as I can. I have gaind a lot more control of the thing. I noticed the other day that I can move it all the way down with out moving my ring finger.

[mjamer]

jimmypageisgod (aint he?),

I used to have the same problem. I was almost convinced that it was just some wild birth defect with my fingers, that it was just something I'd have to get used to.

I didn't have a real problem playing with my pinky finger per say, but a problem keeping it from flopping around like a stuck pig. The rest of my fingers would hover nicely above the strings, but not lil pinky. it wanted to just jerk around all over the place. I tried half a dozen techniques.

I'm not sure which of these techniques helped my fingers probably a little of both, just the same I continue to pratice both of these methods daily. Now it is very rare for my pinky to move any more than the rest of my fingers when playing, except on the 6th string, reaching up to that on scales or something it still has the desire to jump, though I am able to control it IF that's what I'm concentrating on.

These are the 2 techniques/methods:
Lightness of Touch (http://www.cyberfret.com/power-practicing/secret-of-speed.htm), by Jamey Andreas, and actually one of the old classics (http://http://www.cyberfret.com/classic/right_left_hand_tech_3.htm) exercises from the Misc Wisdom page of cyberfret (scroll down to section E), for the bit on pinky control and a lil exercercise, probably one you do now only modifyed to work out pinky control.

It just takes a whole lot of concentration. Slow down your scales, riffs, whatever it is you're working on till it's so slow that you can give you undivided attention to finger control. Start speeding back up when you feel as if your pinky finger is finally acting like your other fingers on it's own.

hope this helps you as much as it did me,

mjamer

[BluesPulp]

UpRightMan knows.


Another way it to limber your hands and lower arms up before you begin to play. This is something akin to an athlete warming up.
One way it to put your hands together, finger tips to finger tips.
Push with our right hand so the finger on your left hand is pushed back, but only until resistence is felt. Hold it for a few seconds. Do the other hand the the same way.

One and close your hands. Make fists then open as wide as you can. Massage the muscles and tendons in your lower arm, wrist, hand and fingers.

If your fairly new to a guitar, your asking your fingers to do things they aren't use to doing. Loosen up your hands and fingers, first.

Then play some scales and force the pinkie to stretch across two frets, then hammer and pull off a few time, stretch hammer and pull off.

Make a chord where your pinkie is involved. Example: your pinkie is on the third fret, second sting.
Practice moving the pinkie only, back and forth between the second string third fret, to the third sting third fret. Begin slow, as your finger becomes more accustom to the movement, pick up the speed.

Practice these exercises for a few days before you practice. Once your hand becomes use to the new movements, you can discontinue them.

But, if your an old geezer like me, it helps to do them once in a while. :D