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Posted by: rhys Apr 24 2006, 10:48 PM

Ok, so I thought I might as well get things going with the new forum.

I noticed just lately when playing fast, and generally only when playing fast (or attempting to play fast, there may be a difference there) my little finger kind of buckles.

What I mean by this, is that when i stretch to hit the note I can feel almost the last joint in my little finger 'shift' - almost like the bone is being displaced from the socket, but probably nothing as serious. Anyway, it doesn't actually hurt - there's no pain (I feel no pain.. :sun ) but it certainly puts me right off cos it feels like I almost just broke my finger every time i do it. Take the bit where it gets fast in the sweet child of mine solo, by the time you get onto the high E string to do the run up to the 15th fret, it happens then.

I'm wondering if its purely a finger strength thing, and if i get my finger into some more action and strengthen it up that it won't happen anymore. I've ordered a gripmaster to see if that helps out. I've never noticed it before, but then again i've never been doing fast and demanding solos so much as i am now. Apart from that i can't find anything wrong with it.

Anyone ever have anything like this?

Posted by: VIRUS Apr 25 2006, 01:14 AM

I think i might have the same thing. Are you saying that it kinda makes a cracking noise, very slight pain, and kinda locks for a little less than a second when you try to play with it? Because if it does that, you might be double jointed like me. If you see this symptoms or whatever, theres no way to get around it, what i do is just play with my pinkie alot and i guess it has gotten used to not doing that anymore, because it doesnt do that anymore.

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Apr 25 2006, 06:53 AM

Not sure I fully understand you, but if the little finger gets strange when you do a 12-17 stretch - try to do a 12-16 stretch just to practice. If this feels comfortable, continue practicing it until you can do the 12-17 strecth . Otherwise do a 12-15 and work yourself up.

hope it helps!

/Kris

Posted by: BollyRotten Apr 25 2006, 11:58 AM

Sounds horrible to me! :think

I can stretch my little finger from 12th to 18 fret no problem, tho i do have big hands and did play the piano.
All i can say is we are all different, so just keep doing stretching exercises.

rock on freelickers!

Posted by: rhys Apr 25 2006, 03:05 PM

It's not that I can't stretch, I hit the fret fine. It's just playing fast, when my little finger hits the fret it sometimes feels so strange I tend to stop, maybe it's a kind of locking out, though im not sure. It goes kind of really tense, like the muscle is being over-stretched maybe? Since it almost feels like its being pulled out of its socket, that could be what it is. Hopefully with some finger strengthening and stretching work it'll go away.

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Apr 25 2006, 03:06 PM

Does this happen even with short stretches?

Posted by: rhys Apr 25 2006, 03:15 PM

I don't think so. Take say, the blues scale, from fret 1. I could play that very fast and perfectly with no problem at all from low E to high E, which includes quite a bit of little finger work, and it doesn't happen then. And of course with a riff like the one from Muse - Plug-in Baby, no problems there either.

I'll have a good test when i go home, but yeh, i don't think so.

Posted by: Kristofer Dahl Apr 25 2006, 03:19 PM

Then it is most likely [still] the stretch that is the problem - even though you can stretch far, it doesnt necessarily mean you have control.



/K

Posted by: Wassupwithat Apr 26 2006, 12:59 PM

You could get one fo those finger strengtheners, they look like pliers with a ring of metal on top of it. They help ALOT. But you need to know how to use em' and very often aswell but believe me, the effort pays off.

Posted by: rhys Apr 26 2006, 02:08 PM

I already just ordered a gripmaster

Posted by: Wassupwithat Apr 26 2006, 06:13 PM

Great! Use the big ones for "stamina" and the small ones (but use them with fast repititions) for speed. Don't stop though, no pain no gain.

Posted by: Captain Awesome Jul 12 2006, 07:27 PM

Hm, my neighbor is a very experienced guitarist, and he said to avoid grip machines as they work the muscles unevenly. Something to look into...

Posted by: rhys Jul 31 2006, 01:45 AM

Just incase anyone wondered, i don't seem to get this problem anymore. Not really sure why, i -have- been getting better, though not necessarily practicing -more-, but getting better. I got a gripmaster thing, but i haven't used it for some time, so i doubt that was the answer, still, it didn't hurt.