Little Finger
Matt23
Oct 17 2008, 06:17 PM
Accomplished Tone Master
Posts: 1.745
Joined: 17-January 08
From: Scotland
I've got a question. Should i use my pinky for shred runs.

I've noticed that for example, Pavel and Muris use their pinkies a lot, but Marcus (Lavendell) and other people (cant remember who) don't use theirs so much. All of these people can play very fast so both methods obviously work. I always try to use my little finger wherever possible, but for a long time i had trouble with getting my pinky fast and i still do. I just wondered if i happen to have a weak little finger and should try to use other fingers instead. This may be me trying to find a reason why i'm not progressing as fast as id like to, that isn't i haven't done enough practice, but i just wondered why do some people use their pinkies and some people don't.

Matt

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This post has been edited by Matt23: Oct 17 2008, 06:48 PM
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Jose Mena
Oct 17 2008, 08:49 PM
Instructor
Posts: 1.359
Joined: 28-July 08
From: Miami FL
When I started playing guitar, I found it very hard to use the pinky, I thought I was never going to be able to use it because my pinky cannot move by itselt, some people can and some cannot.

To explain better, I cannot bend my pinky forward if I hold the ring finger straight with the other hand, I still can't however on the fretboard I can move those fingers independently.

Anyway, I think that using the pinky is a matter of the sound you are going for, I mean if there is no need to use it for a certain lick or phrase, why use it?, I don't if I don't have to but playing something like the stretch on my hard rock solo lesson:


--17-10---10-13-17-13-10-17-10---10-13-17-13-10-
---------14---------------------------14-------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------

Would be impossible without the pinky.

So does it depends on the style?

I don't really know the answer, some think you probably will never need it if you arrange your scale differently, and you play pentatonics bluesy licks, and don't want to shred.

But I look at it this way: it is an extra finger, less work for the others, even if you play slow and never shred, it is there for when you need it, my advice is train the pinky, and use it whenever it would facilitate the performance of a certain lick.

You are at GuitarMasterClass.net


Don't miss today's free lick. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!

Don't miss today's free blues, jazz & country licks. Plus all our lessons are packed with free content!


This post has been edited by Jose Mena: Oct 17 2008, 08:53 PM


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