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Pinky out of control


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  • Members
Posted

So, while playing today, I noticed how out of control my pinky is whenever I play anything melodic. If I am playing around on the major scale for example, my pinky really seems to lift way too high away from the fret board, like its having a spasm at times.

 

I'm wondering how many folks have this problem. Does anyone practice so that independent finger motion is controlled to the point where the fingers can just hover over the strings (ie 1 cm max) at all times?

 

Cheers,

Tommy

  • Members
Posted

Take your pinky and use it to play the major scale for hours and hours. Just that one finger.

 

Your pinky is weak and the muscles, because they are weak have no control.

  • Members
Posted

Try these exercises:

 

 

1)

|---------------------5-6------------------------|

|-----------------5-6-----5-6--------------------|

|-------------5-6-------------5-6----------------|

|---------5-6---------------------5-6------------|

|-----5-6-----------------------------5-6--------|

|-5-6-------------------------------------5-6----|


2)

|---------------------5-7------------------------|

|-----------------5-7-----5-7--------------------|

|-------------5-7-------------5-7----------------|

|---------5-7---------------------5-7------------|

|-----5-7-----------------------------5-7--------|

|-5-7-------------------------------------5-7----|


3)

|---------------------5-8------------------------|

|-----------------5-8-----5-8--------------------|

|-------------5-8-------------5-8----------------|

|---------5-8---------------------5-8------------|

|-----5-8-----------------------------5-8--------|

|-5-8-------------------------------------5-8----|


4)

|---------------------6-5------------------------|

|-----------------6-5-----6-5--------------------|

|-------------6-5-------------6-5----------------|

|---------6-5---------------------6-5------------|

|-----6-5-----------------------------6-5--------|

|-6-5-------------------------------------6-5----|


5)

|---------------------6-7------------------------|

|-----------------6-7-----6-7--------------------|

|-------------6-7-------------6-7----------------|

|---------6-7---------------------6-7------------|

|-----6-7-----------------------------6-7--------|

|-6-7-------------------------------------6-7----|


6)

|---------------------6-8------------------------|

|-----------------6-8-----6-8--------------------|

|-------------6-8-------------6-8----------------|

|---------6-8---------------------6-8------------|

|-----6-8-----------------------------6-8--------|

|-6-8-------------------------------------6-8----|


7)

|---------------------7-5------------------------|

|-----------------7-5-----7-5--------------------|

|-------------7-5-------------7-5----------------|

|---------7-5---------------------7-5------------|

|-----7-5-----------------------------7-5--------|

|-7-5-------------------------------------7-5----|




8)

|---------------------7-6------------------------|

|-----------------7-6-----7-6--------------------|

|-------------7-6-------------7-6----------------|

|---------7-6---------------------7-6------------|

|-----7-6-----------------------------7-6--------|

|-7-6-------------------------------------7-6----|


9)

|---------------------7-8------------------------|

|-----------------7-8-----7-8--------------------|

|-------------7-8-------------7-8----------------|

|---------7-8---------------------7-8------------|

|-----7-8-----------------------------7-8--------|

|-7-8-------------------------------------7-8----|



10)

|---------------------8-5------------------------|

|-----------------8-5-----8-5--------------------|

|-------------8-5-------------8-5----------------|

|---------8-5---------------------8-5------------|

|-----8-5-----------------------------8-5--------|

|-8-5-------------------------------------8-5----|


11)

|---------------------8-6------------------------|

|-----------------8-6-----8-6--------------------|

|-------------8-6-------------8-6----------------|

|---------8-6---------------------8-6------------|

|-----8-6-----------------------------8-6--------|

|-8-6-------------------------------------8-6----|


12)

|---------------------8-7------------------------|

|-----------------8-7-----8-7--------------------|

|-------------8-7-------------8-7----------------|

|---------8-7---------------------8-7------------|

|-----8-7-----------------------------8-7--------|

|-8-7-------------------------------------8-7----|

 

  • Members
Posted

 

I'm wondering how many folks have this problem. Does anyone practice so that independent finger motion is controlled to the point where the fingers can just hover over the strings (ie 1 cm max) at all times?

 

 

Yes, but it doesn't take more than 1 evening to sort out properly how you can do that. Afterwards, it's all about playing things slow first, before moving to challenging speeds.

 

 

BTW it doesn't really need to be close ALL times, it needs to be close when you need to use it. But of course, if it's close all the times, then you also make sure that it's ready-to-use anytime...

  • Members
Posted

Use it more, it'll get stronger and more controlled... the pinky will always fly out a bit when not in use. It isn't under independant control (try keeping your other fingers straight and curling the pinky)... go look at pretty much any player when they're playing a fast solo. You'll see the pinky does that to some extent for everyone.

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