Bad Pinky!

[SFIsic]

So I started playing my bass a bit more than before now, and I started learning some basic lines. I can play fine besides that I'm having trouble holding down the lower strings (musically) with my pinky. Even on guitar I was never that coordinated with it. I only used it when I had to. But I want to try and learn bass in position, it just feels so tempting to just move my ring finger over. It's even more of a stretch on bass and takes more finger strength. I know it just takes practice, but any tips or insight I'd appreciate it.

[Dot.]

Cut off your pinky.


Or jsut use it more and more often.



the song that really got me to use my pinky more was Tom Sawyer.

[Az_Holl]

Just run scales which utilize your pinky.
Say play an A minor-
G----------------------0-2
D-----------0-2-3--
A-0-2-3-------

But play it with your ring and pinky fingers.
You just have to practice with it heaps to get it stronger.

[Thonk]

To add to Atomicant's post..Do the old 1 finger per fret thing.

G-------------------------------1-2-3-4-----|
D---------------------1-2-3-4---------------|
A-----------1-2-3-4-------------------------|
E-1-2-3-4-----------------------------------|

[herrly]

Cut off your pinky.


Or jsut use it more and more often.



the song that really got me to use my pinky more was Tom Sawyer.


Same here.

[Brainsplash]

You could try The Spider Variations in the bass lessons forum. I heard the guy who made it is really great (and good looking). :thumb:

[jollygiantchris]

stretch your pinky and index fingers on your fretting hand before playing always worked for me (mae devil's horns with your fretting hand and use your thumb/pinky on opposite hand to stretch out pinky basically)

if you really wanna build up pinky strength make a line with a bunch of bends and do progressively larger bends every time through

[pitchfork]

Pinky strength comes with use, do the finger per fret excercise but start slow (60bpm ish) then up the tempo when you have perfected it.

[Oz Rembrandt]

To add to Atomicant's post..Do the old 1 finger per fret thing.

G-------------------------------1-2-3-4-----|
D---------------------1-2-3-4---------------|
A-----------1-2-3-4-------------------------|
E-1-2-3-4-----------------------------------|

Thats how I built up my pinky. Also, when I started playing, I learnt alot of Green Day, and Dirnt used to hammer on with his pinky alot (Especially Longview). It came pretty quick.

[BassVirtuoso]

I just do a lot of trills with my pinky. It's harder to go from index to pink than ring to pinky. That's why it's good to practice 1-4 ish patterns.

[British Beef]

using the pinky becomes natural trust, it is hard at first but just like thionk said use a one finger per fret excersize

[Polyamarous]

12 Bar Blues!

[Efrim]

|-------------------
|------------------
|----7-----8------
|-5----6----------


The "Spider"
using one finger per fret, just do that over and over again. You can switch it up a string, or do it over two strings if you want. And you can also continue with the second part.

|-----------------------
|----------------------
|-------5-----6--------
|----7----8------------

EDIT: Also, try to keep each finger planted until you hit the next note.

[mastrrbasser]

go to guitar center and buy "bass workout." tons of exercises for finger dexterity and endurance. Tons.

[SFIsic]

I've got it pretty decent, I just need to build up speed. I get a clean note about half the time if I'm going fast. It's at that point where it's like ehh, kind of aggrivating to practice, just want to play for fun...and t-40's are heavy, which is kind of a burden when learning I'd say.

Also it's been messing up, sometimes it will just stop playing through the amp, I have to mess with the pickups, and then the sound pops up again...electronics...? pickups...?

I just realized that the main time I have a problem with the pinky is going from my index to pinky on the E, 3 frets apart. Other than that I can get mostly anything.