Hey guys, I've thought about this quite often in how my fingers are callused and I know they reflect my weaknesses. Index, middle and ring are callused nicely which tells me I'm using these fingers enough. However my pinkie is a different story. I do use it and it's callused slightly which tells me I'm relying on my ring finger to do the job for it.

Just wanted to get your thoughts...Am I crazy or what?

your pinky is smaller than the other fingers so the callus will be smaller...

Same boat here. The callus on my little finger is smaller, and I consider myself fairly comfortable in using that finger. I guess as I think about it though, if I can use another finger while playing, I do.

I know this John but I'm talking about the thickness which tells me I'm not using my pinkie as often as I should. I feel their are times when I use my ring finger, as it's more natural to me, but should be using my pinkie to train it for things to come..Like strong pulloffs and hammers.

It's completely normal that calluses are smaller on little finger, because that finger is not strong as others.. and also not used so often as the first three

I think it's not important but if you want to grow a bigger callus you could get a routine to develop your skills with that finger.
I recommend you one exercise. After I've praticed a lot this ex. and some others my callus is as big as the other finger's calluses.

Nice exercise Ramiro, I'll work on it..thanks! I guess my point is not so much the callus size, but can your fingers help you identify your weakness.

This post has been edited by skennington: Nov 1 2008, 03:37 AM

The calluses on my fingers are the same as yours it sounds like from reading your post and I have also thought about this myself.

I do most of the bending, vibrato and sliding licks with my 1st, 2nd and 3rd fingers and that is why they are thicker calluses.

My pinky finger I use for fast runs, legato, staccato and other accent notes. But I don't use it for the bends and vibrato stuff like my other fingers (which I should).

Robben Ford uses his pinky quit a bit with his cool blues licks (with vibrato and bends). Do a search on Youtube and you will see what I mean.

EDIT: Yes your fingers can identify you weaknesses. But you don't need to have the same thickness on each finger. I think it just depends on your style of playing. My hands and fingers are smaller than most so I use what I got to get the job done.

This post has been edited by UncleSkillet: Nov 1 2008, 03:52 AM

I agree with UncleSkillet.
For me bends are quite responsible to easily get sore fingers and with that to loose and re-create calluses. I do bends with the pinky, but often with the help of the ring finger.
On my index, middle and ring finger i have kind of the same calluses, but lesser on the pinky and i use the pinky a lot.

Maybe it is an indicator for a weakness of one finger, but i think there are more efficient ways to find out like Danilo's "Finger Independence" lessons or similar exercises which involves all four finger.

Just checked mine and there all feel the same.you wouldnt see it but there as tough as an old kung fu master and prob bullet proof

I think I'm in the same boat with you man!

That bout says it man, I use my pinky a lot and the callus is still somewhat smaller in relation to other fingers. It blows for hammer on tho. Just to weak.

Steve, to answer your question, the finger(s) further from your thumb are the weakest. Your pinching power comes from your thumb, along with your first and second fingers. Your ring finger and pinky will be callused to a lesser extent, normally.
The more hammer ons you do with your pinky, the more it will callus.

Your playing style will, of course, dictate what fingers get the most workout. For instance, if you work on Zsolt Galambos' new Modal Madness workout, you will be using your pinky as much as your other fingers due to the three notes per string arrangement of his lesson. Practicing any three notes per string shapes will work out the pinky alot.

I find that my second finger has a bit more callus on it than the others, due to getting the most use overall with bends and especially, vibrato.

This post has been edited by FrankW: Nov 2 2008, 12:54 AM

Thanks Frank, this is definitely the case with my fingers as well. The thing I'm worried about is that I tend to use index, middle and ring fingers for 3-note per string licks as well. Think I'm getting into a bad habit and just need to introduce the pinkie to more licks.. That's where the whole callus question came from..

Steve, print out Zsolts' lesson and go through it slowly. It's the new one on the Home page. You'll find that you will have to use your pinky often in order to play the piece properly. This exercise will also give you great insight into neo-classical shred. I just printed it out myself a little while ago.

It may depends Sken,push pinky more and calluse will be bigger,
then take a look at it in a few day and it may change.
Perhaps fingers can show you what you're practicing a lot lately
and which finger/s has been in use mostly.

Thanks guys, I'll have some practice with Zsolt's lesson

IMO it is not important at all. In fact most people have smallest callueses on the pinky, because naturally pinky is used less then any other finger.