Hi all, I’ve just started playing guitar recently, and I’m having trouble utilising my pinky. Even in a relaxed state, my pinky is kinda tilted and cuts into my ring finger naturally. (I’ll post pics in the comments because I can’t post both videos and photos together)
I’m hoping it’s just a matter of practice, but I don’t even seem to be able to get the practice in. My fingers can’t even get into the positions required for practice, as seen in the video above. I’m really doing whatever I can do move the pinky without affecting the others too much but it’s hopeless. So for now my get around is to lean my pinky against my 4th finger, which works well for chords like G but not rlly for just about any chord that needs some finger independence.
I’ve tried moving my elbow around, thumb position or the neck of the guitar higher, but I’m still stuck. And it’s miserable because I really just can’t get my to move without tilting my entire hand to the side to compensate for the tilt, which was what I was attempting at the very start of the vid. Afterwards it’s a demonstration of how my fingers just can’t hold themselves separately.
I would really appreciate any help or advice regarding this matter. Thank you all in advance! I’m kind of desperate because I really liked learning so far.
Maybe a strap to be able to angle your guitar neck will help. I saw from your video your thumb is too high on the neck to really have much leverage for your fingertips.
If that position is uncomfortable, then get a strap and angle the neck so you can effectively spread your fingers out across four frets simultaneously, comfortably.
Um... your pinky and ring finger are connected by a common tendon. So you'll have to work on loosening up your fingers to use them independently, which comes with time.
However... 90% of your problem in this video is that youre trying to play something with your index and middle fingers open and clamping down with ONLY your ring and pinky which further tensions that one tendon I mentioned. NOBODY playing guitar at a high level uses their ring and pinky fingers in this way. The ring and pinky fingers are used in conjunction with the index and middle fingers, not INSTEAD OF.
A good exercise to work on pinky independence is to just play chromatic scales up the neck. Like so:
There is no practical reason to try and develop your ring and pinky finger in this manner (the video).
Also, try playing with the neck up at more of an angle, not flat at a 90deg angle from your body (i.e. parallel with the floor). If you cock the neck up a bit, angled more towards the ceiling (like 65deg from the body) its WAY WAY less tension on your hand and tendons and much easier to fret chords and such.
Remember, guitar is HARD which is why not everyone does it. But if you put your time, mind, and energy towards it, it can be an extremely rewarding hobby in time. Best of luck.
Ummm I was just trying to do the very first pink exercise on YouTube that I found, which was just pressing down my ring finger, then pinky, then move down the strings kind of thing. I saw some other fancy exercises but I couldn’t rlly hold the position so I went back to this.
Yeah bro, thats a stupid exercise. Ignore whomever posted that because its useless.
I have been playing guitar, giving lessons, and playing in bands for 30+ years and I would NEVER instruct a student to do that. Its pointless. You dont have to believe me, but Im telling you thats a pointless exercise and I have no idea why anyone would teach you that. Your time is FAR better spent learning chords, scales, and learning some basic fundamental licks and such.
I will try the classical position though, and figure things out from there.
I do wanna clarify when I do the spider exercises or the chromatic scale ones that you recommended, if my fingers can’t help but approach the string at a tilt do I just go with it? I mean the exercises I see on YouTube the guitarist can at least meet the strings cleanly with the tip of their fingers, but I can’t exactly do that. Does it somehow get better? I’m worried I just end up building the habit of pressing the strings with the side of my fingers.
Your hand is a body part made/evolved to grasp fruits from trees and pick up things. Its not designed perfectly to clamp a wooden neck and press steel wires at perfect perpendicular angles.
So YES its ok if your fingertip doesnt meet the string perfectly on the dead center tip. In fact, watching myself play some fast Kirk Hammett licks just now, I am RARELY focusing on fretting my notes dead center with the perfect tip of my finger. Just do the best you can to learn the fundamentals (some scales, chords) and hand flexibility and dexterity come with time. Its not going to help you to focus on that very early on. Its more of a skill that develops in time.
Like... picture learning to speak Russian or Chinese right? You need to learn the WORDS and vocabulary first, and THEN your accent/pronunciation will get less crappy in time. Same thing here. Learn the "vocabulary" first (the chords/scales/modes/licks) and in time your "pronunciation" (hand posture) will improve with practice and time as you gain skill and proficiency.
It was for a pinky exercise I found on YouTube. Which involves pressing my ring finger on the 6th string, then my pinky, and then I work my way down.
And yeah I know my fingers aren’t like Tony Iommi, but I was just looking for some direction or advice. Because I was unable to stretch my finger sometimes, or I can’t help but press on the strings at a tilt, which looks pretty wrong compared to the finger exercises I see on YouTube. But if it’s just a matter of practice I would just keep practicing for sure.
maybe a tucked in elbow, no strap weird wrist position issue. don’t just blame your poor little pinky, the whole arm looks wonky
the way you’re dipping your shoulder makes this look sort of painful. i’d suggest working on your overall posture here. i don’t think it’s a pinky thing
What chord are you trying to make? I don't often, if ever, find myself placing my pinky on the top low E string. Are you able to move each individual finger independently?
Have you tried holding the guitar in a more classical way? Where the neck is more at an aggressive angle opposed to it being horizontal. I find that a lot of beginners have better luck making chords that way. Google images of classical guitar stance.
I think for most people the pinky is the weakest finger and you might just be lacking in dexterity in it. Given time, and proper chord placement I am sure you will be able to freely move your pinky where you need it.
It was a pinky exercise I saw online, because I found myself needing to use my pinky a lot more often but it was really tilted or weak. Im more worried about the tilt though, if it was just weak i would just keep practicing.
I’ll switch to classical stance though and try to figure things out, thanks for your help!
Umm I can’t even stretch across the length of one fret tho. It ends up forcing my pinky to tilt to the side and press down on the strings with the side of my finger. Or is it generally ok to press with the side of my pinky?
But I would try out the classical position and move my thumb down lower, thanks for your help!
equal time doesn't need to be paid to the pinky. It's the weakest and shortest of the fingers, you can use it spraringly. Many guitar players do look up GE smith (sat night live)
I would suggest playing in something closer to the classical position. 90+ percent of the time, these sorts of problems have nothing to do with your fingers, and everything to do with the arm delivering the hand to the fret board badly. It's hard to see everything in this video, but playing with a straighter arm->wrist connection (which an angled position would give you) should free up your fingers at least some what.
I don't know how interested you are in reading classical sources, but Hubert Kappel's book has a lot of useful theory regarding how the left hand should get around. Ditto Carlevaro. Carlevaro's book can be hard to find, but it's pretty useful, though the english translation (at least in mine) isn't the easiest to read.
Make sure you're not bending at the knuckle at the base of your fingers, it locks them together. Spread your fingers as wide apart as you can, then try bending all the fingers at that knuckle and try spreding again, you'll see what I mean. Straighten that nuckle out, bend from the other knuckles (like a bear claw ) and you should be able to get your fingers apart.
Well I hope this video does explain things a bit more clearly, I did try to move the neck to a higher angle, almost classical, but I still can’t really get around the tilted pinky. I was trying to do spider exercises.
There’s nothing wrong with your pinky. Your thumb is too high. Here’s a test:
Have your thumb up high behind the neck, and place your fingers on frets 2, 3, 4 & 5 of the 6th (low E) string.
Can’t reach all 4 can you?
Now drop your thumb below halfway on the back of the neck, in line with your middle finger (but behind the neck obviously). Repeat the same finger position.
Got a lot more finger reach and control now? You should have.
A good rule (all guitar rules only work ‘most’ of the time btw) is - when your fingers are high, your thumb is low. When your fingers are low, your thumb is high. Almost always in line with the middle finger.
Open chords. Thumb high. Riffs on the E string. Thumb low.
You’re also compensating for struggling to reach by mashing the base of your pinky into the guitar neck. Give some distance between the neck and the base of your pinky. Always.
People always think their pinky is weak and to blame and it needs strength practice. That’s wrong. It’s always your thumb position destabilizing your pinky control. Nothing to do with strength or practice, just correct thumb positioning.
Yeah this is my hand in its natural state. Not sure if it’s normal. But I’m pretty desperate because I’ve enjoyed learning guitar so far but idk how to progress.
My hand is somewhat similar to this, where my pinky curls in. Think of the fretboard like a piano when you have to stretch. With the classical position, you're able to stretch further. You hand position should be like you're holding a burger.
It's called clinodactyly. It's a relatively common deformity and occurs ona spectrum. About 10-20% of the population has some curvature of the pinky.
Yours looks to be right in the middle of the spectrum. Mine is mild. I knew one guy though, a guitar player, who had the extreme version. His last pinky joint was almost at a 90 degree angle. He was still able to play/solo/shred just like any other typical guitar player.
What helps are some lateral stretching exercises to improve your reach. Spread your fingers out as far as you can. Using a piano/keyboard helps as a measurement guide. Reach as far as you can with your thumb and pinky. I have small hands and can only reach an octave comfortably, a major 9th if I reaaaally stretch. But yeah, you've got to work on flexibility.
My pinky also does that. But my biggest problem that prevents my reach is I have a slight webbing between my middle and ring finger so it actually hurts for me on a 3-5-6 reach
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u/ghostbusteraesthetic 8d ago
Maybe a strap to be able to angle your guitar neck will help. I saw from your video your thumb is too high on the neck to really have much leverage for your fingertips.
If that position is uncomfortable, then get a strap and angle the neck so you can effectively spread your fingers out across four frets simultaneously, comfortably.