I have a few exercises I do on occasion to try and work up my pinky. It's not a finger I heavily use in my playing (not too much of a shred dude). But I think I want to work it to a really good spot.

I did a search but didn't see anything DIRECTLY for the pinky.

Play scales/exercises you already know but only use fingers 2,3 and 4.

Edit - I should not have posted that immature video

This post has been edited by Spock: May 31 2014, 11:15 PM

Rather than look for exercises I would just start using it in your playing. After all, that's what you're going to be doing with it anyway.

Sometimes I think exercises are like a dress rehearsal for a dress rehearsal... just work it straight into musical phrases. If you use your first 3 fingers for all the 3 notes per string stuff then just sub the 3rd finger for the pinky.

But then if you don't do that sort of playing anyway, because you said you're not much of a shred dude, then do you need to work it up ?

Try some of these

https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/solo-guit...inger-work-out/

https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/little_finger_etude/

https://www.guitarmasterclass.net/ls/move_y...le_finger!/

Well said!!! This is great advice from the Benster. If you just incorporate it in to your playing in an organic way, you'll just start using it more and get better at it. Also, as was mentioned, you just pick any scale and make sure to use your pinky wherever possible. So you theoretically have all the drills you cold need

I watched Jo satriani give a lesson and he asked a kid to play something he practiced. The kid fumbled around with some chromatic exercise. Joe said something cool. He said that if your going to practice anything practice something that moves you musically. Like your favorite guitar tune or a challenging solo. But 10min before he said that he ripped out a chromatic warmup exercise that was never mentioned. Idk I bet my favorite solos are ones that have a bunch of pinky action.

Indeed Incorporation the pinky in your playing is an exercise in itself Try bending and vibrating with it as well - you will find it very difficult at first to control articulation techniques with your pinky.

What's your favorite GMC lesson on phrasing? I will throw a challenge for ya!

Yet another GREAT point and I can't believe I didn't think to say it first!!! Being able to "Stick the landing" and nail individual notes with your pinky as well as being able to control vibrato with the pinky is one of the marks of a truly fine player.

Yes, a lot of people don't ever venture down that road but if you use all the 'spare' fingers that are not doing anything then you can lead the bend with the pinky whilst the other fingers are still fretting.

So, in essence, you are using 4 fingers to bend (loads of strength and control) but the pinky is playing the fretted note.

When people realise that it's not just using 1 finger to do the bending on its own, then they realise it's possible !

It's the same deal with vibrato

I am more blues/rock player than the shred, metal etc...and I know exactly what You mean and...that's exactly what I'm trying to work at the moment...same as You ....

I tell You what I do...

Playing at home I try to make myself play everything with only 2,3,4 fingers, using index only as a noise gate (muting tool). Many blues habbits I have made me use 1,2,3 mostly BUT....Try to put a strap and set up the height to "low position". When Your standing some things on higher frets are difficult to play with 1,2,3. It does the job for me but of course...still working to get some satisfying results...

I have a bad habbit with pinky finger, like most when I started working on more solo's than exercises the pinky either just fretted or HO/PO...

After a while probably because of all the H.O.P.O.'S s I started fretting it different than other, more like shooting than pressing...hard to describe but the power comes more from the beginning part of the finger than basically bending it.

Its really strong that way but really bad habit, specially if I'm recording and shredding (using over and over...) on the upper srings it starts to hurt so must be careful all the time

This post has been edited by Mertay: Jun 2 2014, 01:22 PM

As everybody is saying here, the trick is using it in your improvisations and phrasing. The technical exercises can be very boring and painful at first. You can work on them a few minutes every day but try to use it on real music situations. Ben suggested great GMC lessons which are musical and involve pinky finger.

If you want to incoporate some 5/10 minutes of boring but effective practice, work on this chromatic exercises: click HERE

Thank you Ben and Todd - I just stole the idea from the master



Check out the lick starting at 01:44

I also noticed GUTHRIE AND BEN HAVE THE SAME 3 FINGER BENDING STYLE!!! Where they move the pinky down a bit and use all three fingers for greater control and vibrato. I thought I was looking at Bens hand!!

Great thread guys We do lots of PINKY TORTURE licks during my weekend chats. I"m routinely impressed by how well everybody adapts to them so quickly and they don't even cry/scream/complain very much!!

I also use the three fingers bending technique - far more control and stamina for anything really

But the pinky, well, there are certain situations in which you need to reach far on the neck and the pinky - as wild as it may seem - is the only solution.

Here's some more fun - the famous Guthrie's Favorite 8 licks video



Tons of pinky mayhem in here

I actually thought most guitarists did it ?

This post has been edited by Ben Higgins: Jun 4 2014, 10:45 AM

It could just be me doing another way His finger position looked almost exactly like yours which is what struck me. Anyone want to post a quick vid with them bending?

I got one

I don't mind any comparisons to Guthrie Be nice if I could do more of what he does, haha

To be honest, I think you could play ANY Guthrie licks you wanted too after seeing your insanely good mult Guitarist vids

Check out cosmin above in the video, he is using all three fingers but his positioning is a bit different than you and Guthrie. Your hand position/finger position looks exactly similar.