[nagukush]

Hi Friends

I request you to kindly see my Videos which I posted on the Recording-Booth, and kindly help me with this doubt of mine.

Usually when I play, the Pinky on my Fretting-Hand seems to Curl-Tightly inwards. I feel that this is causing troubles for me, to play smoothly. Is this a very bad habit ? Is this due to the lack of "seperation" and "independence" between my Ring Finger and Pinky ?

I request you to, Kindly advice on what should be done to correct this.

Video- Tears In Heaven (Incomplete) - Kush

Kindest Regard sand Care
Kush

[Chaotic Kittie]

IMO the fingers should always curl when you play, wasting energy on trying to keep them straight is a bad habit.
I also had that problem, I thought it 'caused problems for my playing too. I realized that the only real reason was that I was thinking too much about it. So that might be the problem, if so, just stop thinking about it and keep playing and you won't notice anymore.
Should it still really be a problem, there ought to be a few exercises for it.
---------------------3-4-
-----------------3-4-----
-------------3-4---------
---------3-4-------------
-----3-4-----------------
-3-4---------------------
Where 3 is the ring and 4 the pinky. And while you do this, only move 1 of the fingers at a time, so whilst moving the ring finger to A-string, you keep the pinky on the E-string meanwhile, and so on. Do this for a few mins everyday and it should get better, otherwise I don't really know what to do.

[nagukush]

Originally Posted by Chaotic Kittie

IMO the fingers should always curl when you play, wasting energy on trying to keep them straight is a bad habit.
I also had that problem, I thought it 'caused problems for my playing too. I realized that the only real reason was that I was thinking too much about it. So that might be the problem, if so, just stop thinking about it and keep playing and you won't notice anymore.
Should it still really be a problem, there ought to be a few exercises for it.
---------------------3-4-
-----------------3-4-----
-------------3-4---------
---------3-4-------------
-----3-4-----------------
-3-4---------------------
Where 3 is the ring and 4 the pinky. And while you do this, only move 1 of the fingers at a time, so whilst moving the ring finger to A-string, you keep the pinky on the E-string meanwhile, and so on. Do this for a few mins everyday and it should get better, otherwise I don't really know what to do.

Hi Buddy !!!

Thankyou so much for caring and for the wonderful advice !!!! I will try the exercise today, and If it helps I'll do it everyday. Thanks again for that, Pal !

Kindest Regards and Care
Kush

[USGold]

You're better off curling than I am-my little finger(pinky) is stiff and doesn't want to bend easily--makes it difficult to get good string press with it-especially reaching across the other already fretted fingers-i fight it constantly and it makes me crazy trying to finger some reaches and arpegios.Scott

[nagukush]

Originally Posted by USGold

You're better off curling than I am-my little finger(pinky) is stiff and doesn't want to bend easily--makes it difficult to get good string press with it-especially reaching across the other already fretted fingers-i fight it constantly and it makes me crazy trying to finger some reaches and arpegios.Scott

Hi Scott !!!

I hope everything is great there Buddy !

Yes, I guess it will take time for the Pinky to develop well, but anyways I'm trying constantly too, to get it to work efficiently.

Kindest regards
kush

[Fretsource]

Hi Kush - It doesn't look too much of a problem. Kittie's exercise would help as would practising the chromatic scale - but it doesn't look serious.
What does look serious is the angle at which you hold the guitar. Hold it more upright. I know you're doing it so you can see what your fingers are doing but it's a bad habit that will impair your technique.
Nice sound though - keep it up.

[nagukush]

Originally Posted by Fretsource

Hi Kush - It doesn't look too much of a problem. Kittie's exercise would help as would practising the chromatic scale - but it doesn't look serious.
What does look serious is the angle at which you hold the guitar. Hold it more upright. I know you're doing it so you can see what your fingers are doing but it's a bad habit that will impair your technique.
Nice sound though - keep it up.

Hi There

Thanks for caring and for pointing out that. I guess, I do it by habit now.

Actually I wanted to ask this in a seperate thread, but I guess this is a good time to ask it : Actually I feel that the Body of this Guitar is way too big for me to hold it comfortably, without tilting it a bit. And I would say this is more of reason that I tilt it that way, than having to look at my Fretting (but I'm not sure).

When I keep the Guitar "straighter" & "More Parallel to my Abdomen", my Right-Shoulder has to be raised, to go over the Top and come to the strings. (I hope I'm being clear with my Doubt) And due to this I tilt or slant the Guitar, so that I can keep my shoulder a bit lower. I dont want to change my Guitar (atleast for now,) because I feel very comfortable, Finger-Picking it.

Kindly advice on this

Regards and care
Kush

[allthumbs]

You bought a dread didn't you Kush? They are meant to be played standing up because of their size.

[Fretsource]

Try to bring your arm closer like in this photo I found on the net. http://mimf.com/articles/finocchio/
I know this is a smaller guitar and he looks like a big guy - but his arm is coming over the top of the guitar. Your arm is too far away - at the back of the guitar.
His arm is more vertical - yours is almost horizontal.
Hope that helps

[Snaar]

Try doing the spider exercises at http://www.melbay.com/guitarsessions/jan06/flat.asp although it is for flatpicking, it will help with starting to use that pinky and stretching the fingers of the fretting hand. As Fretsource mentioned, practise the chromatic scale (a lot), that will also help. The pinky is a very handy finger especially on the faster pieces, but my playing partner has the same problem and he gets along fine without using it, but it always looks akward to me when he plays and shifts his hand all over the place where he could just be using his pinky to get the note easier. You could also practise your normal scales and force yourself to play one finger per fret.

Good luck

[nagukush]

Originally Posted by Fretsource

Try to bring your arm closer like in this photo I found on the net. http://mimf.com/articles/finocchio/
I know this is a smaller guitar and he looks like a big guy - but his arm is coming over the top of the guitar. Your arm is too far away - at the back of the guitar.
His arm is more vertical - yours is almost horizontal.
Hope that helps

Hi Pal !!!

Thanks for caring and for that link. I'll try my best to improve my Posture
Thankyou so much for all the care.

Kindest Regards
Kush

[nagukush]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

You bought a dread didn't you Kush? They are meant to be played standing up because of their size.

Yes Marty !!! I think I did a big mistake , but I'm very used to the feel of it, has a great action and good spacing. Will I get used to the Body-Shape and size too ?

Regds
Kush

[USGold]

Yes kush your body will adjust to the instrument-personally I find dreads a little unweildy but you will get used to it. try making adjustments to your playing posture-get a box or footstool for one foot-try switching to resting on other leg ect-and do definatly-get a strap and learn to play standing-sooner or later your gonna want to perform and sitting is not always an option. Scott

[nagukush]

Originally Posted by USGold

Yes kush your body will adjust to the instrument-personally I find dreads a little unweildy but you will get used to it. try making adjustments to your playing posture-get a box or footstool for one foot-try switching to resting on other leg ect-and do definatly-get a strap and learn to play standing-sooner or later your gonna want to perform and sitting is not always an option. Scott

Thanks for that advice Pal , Thankyou so much for Caring
I've bought a foot-stool and I'm currently working on sitting comfortably. I hope I'll soon find a good comfortable position.

Regarding performing, I dont think I'm gonna get a chance to perform before others, but who knows I may play that well, someday

Anyways thankyou so much for caring !!!

Kindest Regards and Care
Kush