I need some finger exercises please!

[gck]

I've started learning to play about two months ago. I'm practicing at least 1-2 hours every day and have consequently done so in the last 2 months.

The problem I don't know how to solve is my left hand's pinky finger: I simply can't move it without tensing up or moving my ring finger together with it. It seems like those two are somewhat "locked" together. I have no problem moving the ring finger without tensing up the pinky but the opposite case simply doesn't work and I don't know what to do. It's very frustating, especially as I have the feeling to make good progress in general...

I would be very interested in some exercises to help me move each of my left hand fingers individually, without moving one causes tensing up or even moving another unintentionally. The best thing would be something that doesn't involve using the guitar so that I can train my fingers during a long lesson in school for example but basically I'm happy with EVERYTHING that you could provide to me...

Thanks in advance!

[Levinson Blade]

Try spreading your four fingers over four frets then lift up two at at time but not fingers that are next to each other so you would lift up your pinky and middle finger at the same time and your index finger and ring finger it's great for building up strength and it's not as easy as it sounds start out about the fifth fret and work your way up to the first fret

[gck]

Thanks, I'll practice this from now on...

Another question about the fingers:
When I hold up all my left hand fingers and then use my right hand to hold my ring finger and pull my pinky towards the palm (like I was using my fingers to show "three" to some child, I hope you understand what I mean), I get this special feeling of pain you usually have when doing some stretching after a body workout.

My question is wether its good to "stretch" my fingers that way after playing or if I'm risking damaging them by doing so.

[Levinson Blade]

Not 100% sure what you are saying but strech exercise is good for your fingers but if its an intence pain stop. You should only feel a little discomfort that fades after a few strech exercises It's hard to say what pain is and discomfort is but I remember in my days of Tae kwon Do leg streching was uncomfortable but not painfull and it got better the more I streched you should find some finger exercises on most guitar tutor sites I shall have a look at my book marks and find some, I can not remember if this site has any maybee Shawn can point you to some

[bobcat]

Let's see what we can do here.

In regards to your first post...
You stated: "I'm practicing at least 1-2 hours every day..." Are you practicing, or playing? Are you working on scales as well as playing songs? If you are not working on scales and technique exercises, add those into your practice session. The muscles of the hand need time to adapt and this will give them a structured movement to achieve. Also, be sure that you are practicing these nice and slow! Allow each finger and it's muscles time to develop.

As for "It seems like those two are somewhat "locked" together". Well, they are! I forget if it is a ligament or tendon... something in the hand connects the "ring" finger to the middle and pinky fingers. Try to lay your hand flat on the table (palm side down). Now, lift each finger separately. When you get to the ring finger, you can lift it alone. But you can lift it higher if you allow the middle or pinky finger to come along for the ride.

You said that you have no problem moving the ring finger and not having tension in the pinkie. Is the pinkie finger pressing a string on the guitar at the time, or relaxed? If it is relaxed, that would sound logical. But if it is on the guitar and pushing a string, you have one funky hand!

As for exercises...
I like the one Levinson Blade gave you! That is tough! Try that one at school holding your pencil in your fingertips to practice. (just in case algebra class gets boring) Also try working on scales and technique exercises. Be sure to practice them slowly! Work on gently lifting each finger independently. Like I had above with laying your hand on the table. This can also be done with grasping your pencil in your fingertips (fingers curved) and lifting each finger independently.

Other things to look for...
Look at what your wrist is doing when you practice. Is there an extreme bend in it, or are you keeping it relaxed? Also look at the wrist "side to side" positioning. Look at the back of your hand, now from the wrist joint move your hand side to side...not up and down. (If that doesn't make any sense, it is called wrist abduction/adduction. Ask your science teacher to show you) Now, when you play, look at how the wrist is rotated to one side or the other. Practice moving the wrist into different positions as you practice and see if a different wrist position helps the tension.

As for your second post in this question:
I understand what you mean about showing a number three. My question back is, are you taking the pinky finger straight down, or are you allowing it to curve toward the thumb? If you are taking it straight down, you will feel a "stretching pain". If you are allowing it to curve toward the thumb, (and the thumb to curve inward) you should not feel a stretching pain. The bone/muscle/tendon structure of the hand makes that pinky finger naturally move inward (toward the thumb) when moved alone. Also, what is your wrist doing when you do this movement. If your arm is straight from elbow to fingertips, this motion will be easier than if your wrist is bent backward (hyperextension) and try to do the same movement. You will have a difficult time getting the pinky finger and thumb to touch with the wrist bent backward...especially if you are holding the middle three fingers upward!

As for stretching, YES!! Always stretch the muscles and give them a break when they need one. I gave a bloop on stretching in this same forum section (beginners) with the heading "Ohhhh, the pain of it". Give that one a look for stretching/strengthening exercises.

As with the closing paragraph in all my posts, I am not a doctor. See your doctor for persistent pain as needed. Rest, Ice, Relax as needed! Blah, blah, blah...

Good luck! :p

[gck]

First, thanks a lot to you (bobcat and Levinson Blade) for your help!

You asked wether I'm playing or practicing 1-2 hours a day. Well, I would call it practicing: I'm playing some melodies that each should train some special aspect of playing guitar, one for example involves stretching the left hand fingers across the fingerboard, another one should improve my fingerpicking and so on. I've tried to arrange them in a way that a left hand exercise is always followed by a right hand exercise. I'm not so sure what you mean with "working on scales". I've had music education in school for 4 years (i'm from Europe) and therefore do know a lot about them. However, when practicing, I only play scales to improve the reach of my left hand fingers, I simply try to move only one finger at a time whereas the others should remain where they are so that I have to stretch my hand pretty much (since a full step represents two frets on the guitar). Is that what you mean by "working on scales"?

You also asked wether I can move my ring finger without tensing up my pinky when it's relaxed or pressing a string: the answer is, I actually can do it even if the pinky is relaxed. I can move it approximately 2-3 cm ( 1 to 1.5 inches) away from the fingerboard before I feel tension in the pinky. If I'm concentrating very very strongly, I can add another 1 cm.

The thing about my wrist: it's hard to tell wether I bend it too much or not. Both of my wrists are well develloped from playing basketball: for example, if I hold my arm straight forward and then bending the wrist joing outward (like showing someone the "stop!!" gesture) I can reach an angle of about 80 degrees between the outer side of my hand and the arm (that's probably because throwing a basketball comes mostly from the wrist). But yes, it's still a lot harder to move the fingers then because of the hyperextension. I'll try to keep a closer look on my wrists.