#16
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Sometimes there are things that your body just will not do, we all have different hands for example.
I had a similar post a few years ago. My fretting pinkie wants to curl inward and almost under my ring finger. No amount of practice will correct this. I am not sure if this link is correct but there is a medical condition similar to what you describe. Like anything else this condition can exist in many different levels. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clinodactyly |
#17
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"Militantly left-handed." Lefty Acoustics Martin 00-15M Taylor 320e Baritone Cheap Righty Classical (played upside down ala Elizabeth Cotten) |
#18
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Oh wow. That’s freaky. I think it normal for the pinky to have a slight bend towards the ring finger but I don’t think I have that condition. At least hope not. Also just want to followup on the few folks that recommended the barre method on the open D. I tried and indeed, the stretch on the pinky is easier. But I think I am making progress with the regular way, although very slowly. |
#19
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Way to channel your inner ninja RR. For lots of folks, the fretting hand pinkie is very under-utilized; largely cuz it's pretty weak. You WILL reap benefits if you train its strength and flexibility.
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#20
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You said, pinky strength.... but I think it's also strength in your middle and ring finger so that I can have them pressed down hard enough in their positions so as to not be dragged along by the pinky. |
#21
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That might be the way you are making some headway at this moment, with your overly dependent pinky situation, and that's fine for now if you feel it is helping, but keep in mind that pressing fingers down hard for this particular chord shape (D) and pinky movement, and so many other positions, is not necessary, and just creates needless muscle tension in your fingers, hand, arm even, which is never good in the long run. I'll think you'll figure that out on your own once your pinky develops better independent range, but be mindful of that. Finger strength is a good thing, but it shouldn't be used to press down overly hard. Work on some finger independence drills in general, in addition to this particular challenge. That will speed up your pinky independent motion progress.
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Best regards, Andre Golf is pretty simple. It's just not that easy. - Paul Azinger "It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so." – Mark Twain http://www.youtube.com/user/Gitfiddlemann |
#22
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Don't give up. There are lots of things someone's hands can't do today that with some effort, repetition and persistence will be able to do tomorrow. Your hands will, over time, begin to conform to the demands of playing.
As an example, I'd been working on Tommy E's "Mombasa" for some time. When I began there were two things my hands would not to; do a 6 fret stretch with pinky on the 1st string and index on the 6th. In about a month my hand started to conform and I could do it reasonably comfortably. Took a bit longer to get there in tempo. Similary another position in that same tune was to get my thumb to wrap around the 6th string relatively in line with my third finger and pinky. That took less time, but again my hand had to stretch out. (see photos). That pinky on the F# is tough because our hands are mostly trained for the pinky to go on the higher strings not the lower. But stay after it. You'll get it.
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Assuming is not knowing. Knowing is NOT the same as understanding. There is a difference between compassion and wisdom, however compassion cannot supplant wisdom, and wisdom can not occur without understanding. facts don't care about your feelings and FEELINGS ALONE MAKE FOR TERRIBLE, often irreversible DECISIONS |
#23
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#24
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Happy to report back, after many weeks of consistent practice on this, I am now able to move the pinky this way and play through the entire song somewhat decent.
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#25
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This is why I dislike the term "finger strength". We all have ample strength to push a string down a few mm to a fret (even the pinky) - pushing harder is a fools way of correcting bad finger positioning. Really it's about independence. We aren't able to channel the strength we already possess, because we haven't developed the independence yet.
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#26
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Believe it or not...I searched "Norwegian Wood guitar pinky" because I am having the same issue. So glad you posted your follow-up....as it provides the encouragement to keep practicing. I had a much easier time learning "Here Comes the Sun"....all because of the pinky motion required for "Norwegian Wood". Oh well...I guess I'll have to spend more time with my guitar
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