my pinky sucks...tips?

[VTDreaminwithDMB]

To build up pinky endurance...

"pinky endurance," eh?

Viagra for the pinky?

[i-am-me]

anyone have a copy of billies with nature intro? I have never heard it before.

Just download any of the versions with timmy. live at luther, even storytellers.

[littlefriend]

[/quote]monkey fingers rule! 8)[/quote]

You monkey fingered bastards piss me off!;) I am cursed with short stubby fingers, so learning any instrument is especially challenging for me. Dave-style Nature intro? fuggedaboutit! Dave-style #41 intro? fuggedaboutit! I'm working at it, but those stretches cramp my hand up with the quickness.

I did discover a nice A-chord based variation of the Nature intro that sounds dead-on:

Strum each the proper amount of times:
0-0-0-0-0
2-0-3/2-0
2-2-2-2-2
2-2-2-2-2
0-0-0-0-0
0-0-0-0-0

Works for me! Doesn't help me learn that stretch for the verse one timy bit, however.

[VTDreaminwithDMB]

Have you tried playing guitars with skinnier necks.That could help you out a bit.

monkey fingers rule! 8)[/quote]

You monkey fingered bastards piss me off!;) I am cursed with short stubby fingers, so learning any instrument is especially challenging for me. Dave-style Nature intro? fuggedaboutit! Dave-style #41 intro? fuggedaboutit! I'm working at it, but those stretches cramp my hand up with the quickness.

I did discover a nice A-chord based variation of the Nature intro that sounds dead-on:

Strum each the proper amount of times:
0-0-0-0-0
2-0-3/2-0
2-2-2-2-2
2-2-2-2-2
0-0-0-0-0
0-0-0-0-0

Works for me! Doesn't help me learn that stretch for the verse one timy bit, however.[/quote]

[saleen]

I gurantee my hands are smaller than almost everyone's here, I rarely meet people with smaller hands than me. But I have coped with it and I can play the intro the way dave plays it, it is just important to practice all the time, even when you don't have your guitar. I always do the spock thing (live long and prosper) and then switch to my middle and ring finger being together with the others seperated. I have been doing these exercises for a while now and I am confident that I can do any resobalbe stretch that is needed.

keep practicing!

[God_Fearing_Man]

Well, two things are good.

1) practice using your pinky on power chords....

so rather than playing

E- - -
B- - -
G- - -
D- 5 - (4)
A- 5 - (3)
E- 3 - (1)

(brackets = fingers used)

try

E- - -
B- - -
G- - -
D- 5 - (4)
A- 5 - (4)
E- 3 - (1)

you don't need to play that second G (5th fret, D string) when playing a power chord, as it just completes the octave.. BUT by using your pinky to play it you will help improve the strength in your pinky...

and then another exercise to improve strength in all your fingers (this might not make sense, but it's a good practice tool)

this is also used to increase speed and accuracy.. but most importantly it builds up wrist strength, endurance, AND helps to strengthen each finger (especially the most underused pinky finger)...

it is difficult, and it WILL hurt the first several times you attempt it, but it works really, really, really well.

Anyway..

start on the low E string.. you will be progressing from the low E to the high E (so playing each string)

And go fret by fret

So, if you're looking at the neck upside down, you're going.

E - 1 2 3 4 -
A - 1 2 3 4 -
D - 1 2 3 4 -
G - 1 2 3 4 -
B - 1 2 3 4 -
E - 1 2 3 4-

Now, each fret is also the finger you use..

so for the first fret on each string you use your index finger,

second fret on each string your middle finger

third fret your ring finger

fourth fret your pinky.

So far, it seems easy. (heh trying to make this like a lesson here )

BUT, there are two things you msut attempt to do.

1 - press down on each fret as hard as you possibly can.. literally until it almost hurts your hand from applying so much pressure, and makes your fingers sting a bit (from the strings digging so hard into your fingers).

so apply maximum pressure on each note you play....

2 - ONLY lift off your fingers when they are moving to play the next string..

so when your pinky strikes down, you are holding all four frets down with all four fingers..

and then, when you are ascending (or descneding) three fingers stay in place while you move hte next finger in the progression.

so if you're ascending.

E - 1 - 2 - 3 - 4 -
A - - - - - - - - - -

and then

E - - - 2 - 3 - 4 -
A - 1 - - - - - -

and then

E - - - - - 3 - 4 -
A - 1 - 2 - - - - -

(and so on)

do this ascneding, from low E to high E

and then try the same thing backwards (descending)...

it's harder than it sounds.....

(if this doesn't make sense, just reply an di'll try to make it clearer).

[God_Fearing_Man]

one more thing - DO NOT RUSH this exercise... make sure to hold each note for a good few seconds....

[Jay]

i used to do that exercise, but after i did the first 4 frets, i'd slide up one and do 2345,2345,2345,2345....and then 3456,3456,3456.....and keep going all the wak up the neck and then back down. it sends PAIN all the way through your hand and into your forearm...

[God_Fearing_Man]

that would be more of a speed exercise..
this one is more finger strength.

the prgoression is not important.

hell, the sound the strings make isn't even importnat.

what's important is you use as much strength in your hand as you possibly can.

if you start going up frets, it is more precision/speed.....

[Jay]

hmm...i will do both then.

[God_Fearing_Man]

the one I was showing raelly does build up strength...

try doing it really really slowly.. im' talking painfully slow (both literally and metaphorically)...

but this helps build up strength and endurance in each finger....

it works pretty damn well.

[crimsonPhantom]

im an asian so i do have small hands...so whats working for me was hand trainings...
push ups on fingers...pretty hard as u start but u get used to it
or try shaolin monks finger trainings:

put a lot of rocks in a bowl and dive your fingers in it at a good pace

mahahhwhwawaa naaa dont try that...its actually some kung-fu training i use to do
anyway good luck