Pinky flying off the fretboard!!

leishan · #1 02-13-2003, 10:15 PM

What can I do to keep my pinky from flying off the fretboard? I've tried playing slow to keep it from raising high off the fretboard, but nothing is working! Can you guys offer any suggestions? It really screws my playing up..the other 3 fingers work fine, just not my pinky.

EKG · #2 02-13-2003, 11:28 PM

The old saying....

Practice, practice, practice.

You can try trilling with your:
Index and pinky
middle and pinky
ring (3rd) and pinky

get it used to being involved ;-)

I've noticed Clapton has a wandering pinky, too

BrianH · #3 02-14-2003, 01:01 AM

typically pinky problems are caused by thumb problems. That is how you are holding the neck of the guitar. Some positions make your hand have to move in some ways to get in other positions. Try keeping the thumb in the middle of your hand when holding the neck.

Also it really doesn't matter if your pinky comes up, as long as you are fast enough to get it bck to where it should go! I've seen many a good fast player have the pinky problem, but didn't seem to be bothered by it at all. I was when I first started playing. I over came it by watching for good form while holding the neck and doing triplet hammers and pulls with the last 3 fingers!

XenoWang · #4 03-10-2003, 09:17 PM

The one thing I've found that has helped my own flying pinky problem is a fundamental element- removing tension. When you remove tension from the equation guitar playing, your playing becomes cleaner, more accurate, and more relaxed. When you are relaxed, you have more control and thus more finger independence. You'll notice a big improvement in your playing if you become COMPLETELY relaxed in your playing. I highly suggest it. And applying chromatic exercises with just your index, middle, and pinky fingers (sans thumb) helps a hell of a lot too. Good luck!

BREWTAL*LICKS · #5 03-10-2003, 10:43 PM

^^^^^^^^very, VERY true.

cheers!

Al M · #6 03-11-2003, 07:33 AM

Has'nt this been discussed already recently?

Ving · #7 03-11-2003, 07:42 AM

Yeah, but it doesn't hurt to restate it

It's like a zen thing...until you finally achieve total relaxation whilst playing you don't understand how it benefits you. The first time it really clicks is like a 'eureka' moment. It tooks me years and years of playing to get there, even though I thought I 'was' relaxed.

BREWTAL*LICKS · #8 03-11-2003, 11:21 PM

You've achieved nirvana!

cheers!