The little finger is evil and must be punished

[Gary]

I've reached a point in my playing where I've realised my bad playing habits are going to hinder my progression - namely a lack of control over the little finger on my left (fretting) hand. It has an awful habit of sticking out and gets worse the faster I play. Among other things I've been trying to improve my speed and accuracy and have been using a chromatic up/ down pattern on the first string to gauge my progress. I have reached the stage where I can play semiquavers at 100bpm comfortably (probably a snails pace for some of you but we all have to start somewhere). At a push I can reach 108 - 110 but I've noticed that the distance my little finger has to travel before hitting the strings is so great that I start losing fluidity and I'm concerned that this problem is effectively creating a barrier to any further progression.

I had about a year of lessons recently which didn't really address the issue. I mentioned it to my tutor but he didn't seem too concerned. I've read a lot on the internet and the problem appears to be 'isometric tension' in the left hand. The main advice seems to be around left hand position and relaxation so I've been doing the following:

1. Relaxing, particularly the left hand

2. Keeping the left wrist at a sensible angle

3. Left thumb in the middle of the neck and at right angles (pointing up)

4. Knuckles parallel to the fret board

5. 'Releasing' not 'lifting' the fingers

6. Playing very slowly.

I've read that the ideal is to keep the unused fingers around 1/2 an inch off the fret board. This sort of works but I have to slow down to about 50 bpm and even then it's only around 75% effective and I have to concentrate like mad (which doesn't help the relaxation).

So . . . .

Firstly, if you've read this far I'm grateful. Secondly, am I doing the right thing? Will it get any better? Is there anything else I can do? Any particular exercises that would help?

I'm quite happy with most other aspects of my playing so I'm not considering having more lessons at present although I might consider it if all else fails.

I've attached a picture of me playing to show I'm not exaggerating.

[Ratrod]

My pinky is short and skinny. That limits it somewhat. It's also hard to control precisely.

But there are other ways! Django Rheinhart (spelling?) could play the most insane chords and licks with just two finger and a thumb.

[Will]

No expert myself, but you could try something along the lines of


-3--1-----------3---1------------4---2---------------
---------3---1----------3----1--------------4---2----

etc... on any strings I guess. I worked my little finger strength up with that on the high strings

[kevincurtis]

Hi Gary

First off - where are you trying to get to? Is it the Yngwie, see my fingers hardly move and yet a bewildering prgression of notes have come out? Or just general fluidity?

Second - yes it will improve unless there is a physiological reason it can't (years ago a window and me had a falling out which now means my pinky is somewhat less under my control than should be), but it will take time.

I think guitarists who use their pinky a lot tend to set themselves up to play the specific bit...then the hand will go back to something like yours is.

However I'm with Ratrod (hopefully not misreading your intent!) - guitar playing isn't about mechanical technique, its about individuals finding their own way to do things they want. BB King has very small hands which he credits with defining his style. I'm looking at a picture of Hendrix who's hands are big enough to wrap round the guitar twice..but he hardly uses his pinky. Which leads me neatly back to Q1 - where are you trying to go with your guitar playing?

Apologies for the semi soap box moment then!  :roll:

[silentrage]

To quote Michael Angelo, not the painting noob but the guy who plays 4 guitars and stuff, you need to play fast how you play slow.
So in your case, you have to forget about the metronome and BPM, and just play a simple 3notes per string diatonic or chromatic lick or something along the lines, and concentrate on lifting all your fingers as little as possible,
especially the pinky.

At first you may need all your concentration to make them not fly away, going at 40 bpm, but do this exercise every day and you will be able to do it with less effort and more speed. It may be a long and somewhat painful process but it's worth it IMO.

And because you're going so slow it's a good idea to build up other good habits while you do the fly-away pinky routine. Try to pick the strings without your pick actually leaving the string, try to maintain a constant contact, this means you have the least possible pick travel, it'll help with speed later when you need to go 4 million notes a second.

[Gary]

Hi Gary

First off - where are you trying to get to? Is it the Yngwie, see my fingers hardly move and yet a bewildering prgression of notes have come out? Or just general fluidity?

Excellent question and one I should have covered - Definately not looking to be any kind of shredder, mainly improve my general technique with a bit of added speed. For example, I play in a covers band and would love to do something like Lenny Kravitz's Are You Gonna Go My Way but it's about 130 bpm and the solo is just beyond me at present. I set myself what I felt to be a sensible interim target of being able to play scales and basic chromatic exercises at 120bpm as I felt that would stand me in good stead to cover most of the music I like playing and give me a foundation to build on if I needed to learn anything more challenging.

And because you're going so slow it's a good idea to build up other good habits while you do the fly-away pinky routine. Try to pick the strings without your pick actually leaving the string, try to maintain a constant contact, this means you have the least possible pick travel, it'll help with speed later when you need to go 4 million notes a second.

I was practicing in front of a mirror a while ago and noticed my right hand 'bouncing' away from the strings as I played so I've been concentrating on this too. Trouble is, after an hour of practicing like this I've been concentrating so hard my head hurts more than my hands  :lol:

[Jonny]

I don't know if this will help. But it's currently helping my little finger (which is small :()

But I play classical music. Most of the time you'll have 5-notes to play so you'll need to use your pinky to play before switching down/up the fretboard or after switching down/up the fretboard. If you don't understand I suppose I could elaborate a bit more if you want.

[WezV]

guitar hero is helping me use my little finger more.....ducking and running

[il˙ti]

Pinkie respect!

"Pinkie respect" courtesy of Lori Lindsruth, Play Like a Girl inc. of the mighty Swedish shred goddess

[plastercaster]

1. Relaxing, particularly the left hand

2. Keeping the left wrist at a sensible angle

3. Left thumb in the middle of the neck and at right angles (pointing up)

4. Knuckles parallel to the fret board

5. 'Releasing' not 'lifting' the fingers

6. Playing very slowly.

My guitar tutor goes on at me about this all the time.
Apparently the main problem is tension, and tips 2-6 are all intended to help that. Playing with thin gauge strings, fretting as close to the fret as possible, and using a "floating arm" help (hard to describe that, but your arm doesn't hang down, and this helps you get the finger angle over the strings right). Also, keep your fingertips perpendicular to the strings from the tip to the distil (closest to nail) joint.
I prefer to point at the truss rod rather than towards the ceiling, but don't forget to move it back on top of the neck for large bends.
Frankly, it's a a pain in the arse to sort out, and I have been trying for ages. I manage fairly quick solos even with dreadful technique, so I don't think I can be bothered.

[Scott674]

guitar hero is helping me use my little finger more.....ducking and running

I'd say that's a valid point.  It helped me out alot as well.  

I think part of it is just kinda like a nervous twitch, or a natural muscle reflex or something.  When I start to try to play faster and faster, I start to squeeze the pick more, picking hand starts to creep up towards the neck, and I would love to see a movie clip of my face as I do it, because I know my mouth starts to open, my tounge starts to stick out a little and my eyes get big.  I can feel that some of the muscles tense up in my body too.

I've been working on this triplet run.  I started out at around 100-110 BPM.  That  was about normal to me.  Trying to go up to around 125 or so was too fast, and those things would start to happen.  My hand creeps, I tighten up on the pick, etc...  As I practiced it (which I have done ALOT) it became easier to play.  Now, 125-130 is normal, or easy.  None of those things happen to me now while playing it at 125-130.  I feel completely comfortable doing it at that speed.  Now, 145 to 150 is fast for me, and those things happen in that range.  

I'm sure it feels normal/natural for Yngwie to be flying up and down the fignerboard.

My point here is that I think you need to slow up a bit and play it over and over and over.  I think you should feel comfortable playing it at the speed you want.  When your pinky starts to lift up and away you're reaching your breaking point.  You're playing as fast as you can.  Practice so that that same speed isn't your fastest any more.

Also, another view is to slow it up and concentrate on not lifting your pinky, like you said you do.  And you noted it's very hard to do?  You have to concentrate more on the pinky than playing?  That's good.  That's what you should be doing I think.  You have to find the hard parts of what you are trying to do, pick them out and practice them over and over.  Concentrate at first, but once you get so many repetitions in, it'll be natural and you won't even be thinking about it.

[kevincurtis]

I was practicing in front of a mirror a while ago and noticed my right hand 'bouncing' away from the strings as I played so I've been concentrating on this too. Trouble is, after an hour of practicing like this I've been concentrating so hard my head hurts more than my hands  :lol:

Now that doesn't sound like fun! :(  Since your aim isn't to be technically wizardly my advice would be - little and often on the pinky work/plectrum work, and even spend a little time visualising it can help. Other than that stick some records on, play along, relax and enjoy playing :)

[Muzzzz]

are you playing with alternate picking or all downstrokes?

[silentrage]

If it's any solice to you, it's possible to play as fast and accurate as you ever need even with the pinky flying all over the place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j8Jl4LAQjA

[noodleplugerine]

If it's any solice to you, it's possible to play as fast and accurate as you ever need even with the pinky flying all over the place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j8Jl4LAQjA

Brilliant vid!