Different fingerings for diff. positions?

[Rented]

Just curious. I always attempt to use the same fingering regarless of where on the fretboard I'm playing. But, honestly, it sometimes gets a little difficult.

I have been practicing some of these "shred-licks" (although I think sheer speed is overrated, I realize I have too little of it:D ), and it seems most of them revolve around the 15-17th or so fret. Now, I just can't fit four fingers next to each other in that little space. I litteraly have to lift the fingers way off the board in order to fit the fretting finger. Either that, or use the same finger for the next fret as well, neither of which seem like good technique.

So, for example, say we are playing the simple and common "1-3-4" series of notes. At the, say, 7th fret (7-9-10) it is natural for me to play it with the index-ring-pinky (even though it feels like somebody else's pinky at times). No problem. At the 17th fret (17-19-20), in order to do that, I have to lift the middle finger way off in order to fit the index and ring finger into that little space. OR, I can play index-middle-ring which works up to about fret 21-22 :p

Am I making any sense?

End of question/rant!

/Kris

[Bizarro]

I make a change somewhere around the 12th fret and start using my pinky less and less, reserving it for things which cover a larger fret distance (12-17th frets, for example). It depends on the situation which fingers make the most sense to use.

I don't think this is poor technique. The goal is to sound good, no one really cares if the notes are fretted by one finger or the next, or swept, picked, tapped, etc, as long as it sounds good! :)

[GtrvVampyre]

Recently when i got into shred i realized how valuable my pinky is and started putting it to use to play those speed licks but when i get high up the fretboard when like you said, it gets kinda cramped i just use my index middle and ring and for-go the pinky in itself. Depending on if im gonna hafta go down some notes or up some notes. If im going to have to go down the fretboard i'd use my middle ring and pinky and get that index finger ready to go down. If im going up i do just the opposite. I remember having troubles with my fingers getting cramped towards the top of the fretboard but just now realizing it i havnt had that trouble. I guess i got use to it and adapted playing.

I understand your problem cause i use to have it too but i dont really have any good answers, LoL...

[metalprep6969]

It's fine to lessen the use of your pinky when you're in cramped quarters. I mean, there's no handbook for playing the perfect theoretical fingering for every piece of music ever, so play what feels right to an extent (as in don't let that statement lead u to htink that you acn play with just three fingers in all positions). Even Steve Vai uses his pinky less at high positions unless he's stretching, and he raises his fingers pretty high off the fretboard at times as well.

\m/

[Guitarperson88]

Well I usually use all 4 of my fingers up to the 17th fret (on a 22 fret neck), then i start using three. On a 24 inch neck i might go up to 19th, but that's pushing it because you have a little more space. Brantley is right, There is no book that tells you how to finger what and what, it's what feels best, and the exception he made is right also.

[Rented]

Thanks for the response guys.

I realize, and agree, that there are not rules set in stone, and so forth. My motto has always been to play it the way it feels natural and sounds good, but this has turned out to come back and bite me in the a** later. I'm in a position right now where I have to unlearn techniques because they interfere with another technique. So, while it may feel and sound good now, it may not be so in the future.

Apart from the above, another "problem" is that I have learn a lick/scale with two fingerings, essentially doubling the effort required. For a lazy guy like me, that is not trivial :D

/Kris

[GtrvVampyre]

Thanks for the response guys.

I realize, and agree, that there are not rules set in stone, and so forth. My motto has always been to play it the way it feels natural and sounds good, but this has turned out to come back and bite me in the a** later. I'm in a position right now where I have to unlearn techniques because they interfere with another technique. So, while it may feel and sound good now, it may not be so in the future.

Apart from the above, another "problem" is that I have learn a lick/scale with two fingerings, essentially doubling the effort required. For a lazy guy like me, that is not trivial :D

/Kris
I had the exact same problem. Learning eaverything on my own with no help really screwed me up. I could be were i am today about 4 months ago if i had been showed. When i started off playing i never alternate picked and never used my pinky unless i HAD to. That was before i started watching malmsteen and then stumbled upon this forum ^.^..