My useless fourth finger!!

[muskrat]

I have only been playing guitar about a month now, and of course im having the usual problems, switching chords, hitting the right strings etc....Now the one big one that is frustrating the living hell out of me is my pinky yes the fourth finger. To sum it up its useless, I may as well not even have it!! My brain wants it to do one thing but it tends to do the opposite, hitting a proper G is damn near impossible, I have to bend it use the knuckle for gods sake!!! Just wondering is this a common problem?, does the finger actually achieve some coordiantion after time?? The only other major problem is barring two strings ie: hitting an F, Im not hercules or anything but i think my strength should allow me to do this....or maybe Im just a big time newbie. I have lots of patience and nothing but time to learn...just want to make sure its not just me!!!

[Sandman_96707]

I've been playing for 2 1/2 years and my pinky is still uncoordinated once a while. Just do some warm ups when you pick up the guitar, go slower (then gradually faster) when doing something with the pinky. Pinkies tend to be weak for a while, do some stuff to make it stronger (i.e. barring with it).

[The Tongue]

Dude itll come to you.... it takes about one month and a half...

[Sandman_96707]

People learn at different things faster than others. It could take more or less for him than it took for you.

[Coffee]

A simple exercise to strengthen that finger is to run up the frets on each string. String 6 fret 5,6,7,8 and 8 is pinky then string 5 fret 5,6,7,8 etc. Boring but adds dexterity and strength to the little runt you're fighting with. Don't give up. Dividends are huge. Make sure your guitar isn't slung to low putting your hand at an awkward angle or you'll always struggle with your fourth finger.

[avanormer]

You said that hitting a proper G was next to impossible...that will come to you very shortly. Before long your hand will fall to that position without a second (or even a first) thought.

Playing solos and such...well that's another story. I don't have trouble anymore using my pinky when forming chords (ie E, A, Bm, G- by the way, I know some people don't use their pinky when forming the A and E chords but it is best to teach yourself to use your middle, ring, and pinky fingers to form these two chords because then your index finger is free. You'll want your index finger free when you need to bar those chords (A and E) up the neck of the guitar. It's also best to use those same 3 fingers when forming the G chord, because it makes transition to other chords, especially C, much simpler) - where was I???? Oh - I was saying that using my pinky to make chords that I am comfortable with is easy now, but I have a difficult time using my pinky in any other way. I guess it will take time and practice.

[Jasper_e]

Just start very slow and then go gradually faster.
Exercise is all it takes.