Pinki Finger.

ibz_SA · #1 06-05-2008, 05:40 AM

Hey guys, My teacher and I were haveing some fun soloing with modes when he stops our lesson and says my pinki finger is wrong, what happens is when I use my A finger (your second last finger) my pinki pops up like a school boy watching marry popens! Is this bad? Wrong? It really doesnt seem to effect my playing but I dont conisder my self a pro in anway, will this effect my playing later on? If so how can I fix it? Please help guys!

Cheers.

IbanezFreak777 · #2 06-05-2008, 05:46 AM

Nah mate, that is normal, some peoples do and some dont.

As long as you can play the lick you need at the speed you want, who the hell cares what your finger does.

Mine pops up also been playin 20 years, and im happy with my skills... I wouldn't worry about it

drmosh · #3 06-05-2008, 05:57 AM

you can try and keep it closer to the fretboard, it won't harm.
But even Shawn Lane's pinky popped out like yours, so I wouldn't worry

mi2tom · #4 06-05-2008, 05:57 AM

Yeah man, what ibanezfreak says

axemanrio · #5 06-05-2008, 06:18 AM

I haven't noticed, and I guess I never will because I'm having a good time playing.

ibz_SA · #6 06-05-2008, 06:23 AM

I love you guys! You make me feel so much better when I feel ****, Im going to work on it but as you guys said not a major problem steve vai even does it some times, and when im playing at fast speeds it doesnt do it, just at the first 1-4 frets, weird!

Thanks again guys

Lordiesel · #7 06-05-2008, 06:39 AM

From what Ive seen this happens mostly with ppl with long fingers. Steve Vai's does it all the time and it doesnt seem to effect his playing. I would say theres something wrong with your teachers closed mind.

SeanB · #8 06-05-2008, 06:39 AM

John Petrucci does the same thing aswell!
You have no need to worry hehe.

ibz_SA · #9 06-05-2008, 07:53 AM

Yeah, he is a brilant teacher and I wouldnt be anywere as good as I am without him, he has good views and only has the best intentions, thought it was a little wierd when I was vai do it on G3 05 dvd that I got for my birthday (which is today! Getting a jem to by the way!)

ken_r152 · #10 06-05-2008, 08:38 AM

I wouldn't worry about it too much. There are some guitarists who are missing fingers (like Tony Iommi) and some who have injured hands (like Django), etc. And at least one guitarist who doens't have hands at all, and who plays with his feet. Learn as much as you can from your instructor. Habits take a while to break. But if your instructor fixates on this "problem" you might want to remind him that some successful guitarists don't even have fingers.

Many habits are based on some kind of small "fear," ...is the best way to put it. Being afraid to hit a bum note. Being afraid of having your hand completely free. Those sorts of things. That might be true of other sorts of habits, as well.

Meedlyx10 · #11 06-05-2008, 09:58 AM

There are various finger independence exericises you can do to reverse that habit. If your teacher was the one to point it out, I would hope that he would at least give you the proper advice to fix it.

Also, not to nit-pick, but the letter system for identifying your fingers (P-i-m-a-c) is only for your picking hand, not your fretting hand. You use numbers for the fretting hand. That misunderstanding could cause legitimate confusion down the road, so please don't think I'm pointing it out just to come off as a know-it-all or something.

kotornut · #12 06-05-2008, 10:07 AM

Yup I agree with most the posters, my finger does that too. It's just natural no one can have every single facet of technique 100% perfect. If you sound good you sound good if you dont you don't.

Drew · #13 06-05-2008, 11:48 AM

It's certainly more efficient to keep your fingers as close as possible to the fretboard - grab a copy of Speed Mechanics for Lead guitar if you don't have one, for a good discussion of this.

But, if you don't aspire for rusty cooley speeds and you have no problem integrating your pinkie in faster runs, then I wouldn't lose much sleep over this.

mike570 · #14 06-05-2008, 01:34 PM

This is a Jeet Kun Do argument IMO. Some folks will be obsessed with learning the right form while others, like myself, believe you go with what works for you. I don't think either approach is generally right or wrong.
I remember way back in high school I took a typing class. The teacher stressed the home row ASDF HJKL method. I was never good at this. Then the Internets blew up. I still type in the wrong "form" but I can type mad faster than my old teacher.
Late!

PS: My pinky sticks up too a lot when I play. Cheers!

dreamyreality · #15 06-05-2008, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mike570

This is a Jeet Kun Do argument IMO. Some folks will be obsessed with learning the right form while others, like myself, believe you go with what works for you. I don't think either approach is generally right or wrong.
I remember way back in high school I took a typing class. The teacher stressed the home row ASDF HJKL method. I was never good at this. Then the Internets blew up. I still type in the wrong "form" but I can type mad faster than my old teacher.
Late!

PS: My pinky sticks up too a lot when I play. Cheers!

No way!

You will type much faster using some adaptation of correct touch typing techniques. Use a typing test. Can you go to 60 words per minute? That's to be expected of one who is fluent with touch typing. I switched to DROVAK from QWERTY for a while now and my typing speed now is about 90wpm ( ~500 keystrokes per minute). I have heard the fastest go to even 200wpm, I can't imagine. Keyboard shredding?

Anyway,that's another topic. There are finger exercises to help you get your pinky closer to the fretboard and more independent, but since the pinky shares a tendon with your ring finger, complete independence is no go. Some great players don't even use their pinky (anybody got the names?)

I however place great importance on getting my pinky as efficient as possible.