Pinky, weakest thing!

[stratocarlos]

i'm working hard on 3NPS scale, expecially A harmomic minor at 12fret...and i've noticed that mi pinky is really weak and i got HUGE problems with fingers indipendence between 3rd and 4th finger.
so i've started practice pattern with only 2 string really sloooooooow(triplets at 90bpm, don't smile :)) but i can't control it accurately after few minutes!
anyone can give me some advices for help my pinky? :D
thanks! ;)

[Unhorizon]

Play scales with only your pinky. Making this sound smooth will be very hard since you are only using one finger, but it will not only build pinky strength but it will also get your hand used to quick position changes.

Also, do trills using the pinky and the pointer finger, then pinky and the middle finger, and pinky with the ring finger. Do each trill with a metronome for as long as possible (don't set the metronome to high, or you won't last long, I suggest 80-100 bpm for someone with a weak pinky). 1 minute each is a good goal to shoot for.

These two things will hopefully strengthen your pinky in no time if you practice them every day. (by "no time" I mean a week or two before you see results) So good luck and don't get discouraged.

[J4mmy]

this is something i 'invented' under the infulence, so dont laugh if its dumb :P:P

i take a coke can almost everywhere i walk(way t0 school ect)
and i just my left hand(fretting) hold it like a guitar neck, and do different finger patterns, or push one finger against it as hard as possible for say.. 20 seconds, then the next, use 2 finger the legato, its crazy i know but i find it limbers me up and has given my strength.

also just like squeezing things... if i am watching tv. i might just start gripping the sofa and putting tenson on one finger, alternating and stuff just like little finger workouts :D
i might be mental but youll never know till u try it!

[Dommy]

Since I've started using my Van Eps book, its has me bar across 3 frets with my pinky, which is THE hardest thing I've ever done chordwise probably... practice that until you can bar an open A chord with your pinky, and you will see your pinky strength improve.

[stratocarlos]

Unhorizon, u say to play scales with string changes or on a single strings?
thank for your help! ;)

[forgottenking2]

Try playing your 1234 sequence but just go 34 34 34 34 etc across the fretboard down to the first string and back to the 6th the repeat up a fret until you're on the 24th (or 22nd or 21st depending on how many frets you have) then go back to the 1st fret. That right there is a GOOD pinky work out. JUst be careful and don't go on if it starts cramping up or hurting.

[rrhea]

Jorge just gave some great advice. When I first started over 15 years ago, my tendency (like many others) was to only use my first 3 fingers to fret. I was really into Van Halen and read somewhere that Alex told Eddie one day to use his pinky more... that it would help him create cooler licks and stand out as a guitarist.

After reading that, I began to add in my pinky when playing the only scale I knew at the time- the first mode of the minor pentatonic. Later, when developing my picking and speed I practiced with (and still do) the "puesdo" chromatic scale 1-2-3-4 from low E to high E. This, of course, always utilizes the pinky if done properly.

So, choose exercises (or make them up) that use the pinky and just work with it everyday (Jorge's example of 3-4, 3-4 is a good one). There is no shortcut, just practice and time. Your pinky will strengthen to the point where you can easily do bends with it, and even add vibrato to those bends! (Although this is typically done with the help of some of your other fingers). I know it might sound impossible now, but with time you'll be able to pull it off. But you have incorporate it into your daily practice routine first, and use it every day to develop it.

Simple finger tapping is another great exercise for the pinky, as well. (a la Eruption).

Good luck!

Ryan

-Patience, time and consistency, that all it takes!

[stratocarlos]

thank u all! ;)

[AyKay]

here's a good left hand finger indepence exercise :

plant your fingers on the G string on the 5,6,7, and 8th frets. then with three planted, do this with each finger on the corresponding fret.

-----------5
----5
-
-
-5
--------5

and then do combinations like

-----------------6-5-----------------8-7-
------6-5------------------8-7-----------
-----------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------
-6-5------------------8-7----------------
------------6-5-----------------8-7------

you can use your imagination to figure out all the combos :) (thats from the Book "pumping nylon" by scott tennant btw)

also, try just practicing slides and stuff with your pinky. Playing scales with one finger is a great exercise.

[Relaxation]

Buy a Grip Master. That'll strengthen the little man. Also, do trills with it and your 3rd finger. Clock it! (use a metronome and a stopwatch)

[six_degrees]

My guitar tutor taught me this exercise to increase finger strenght and agility. Its really easy, you can do it anywhere and is great for improvig coordination of your fingers. If you do it for a few minutes every day it really works.

I have prepared a diagram via photoshop to illustrate it since I think it'd be rather hard to describe. Ahem. So, here it is. Please don't mock my artistic capability, I threw it together in two minutes lol :p

also just realise I spelt 'controlled' wrong. Oh well, you see what I'm getting at.

http://www.dhsf.net/spilly/strenghtexercise.jpg