Improving pinky on fretting hand

[The Watchman]

I used to keep a tennis ball in my car and sometimes at my desk at work, to squeeze whenever I had a moment.

[tbirdman]

I'm doing a very similar exercise. I guess I'm going have to start doing this exercise while watching TV. I've read doing exercises like this while watching TV quite often.

[brad4d8]

Originally Posted by The Watchman

I used to keep a tennis ball in my car and sometimes at my desk at work, to squeeze whenever I had a moment.

Ted Williams used to squeeze something harder, maybe a lacrosse ball, although I've also read that he used a tennis ball. Supposed also to strengthen the wrist.

[jschmitz54]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

One from Pete Huttlinger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hsk40DWuAcw

OMG, it looks easy when Pete does it but keeping your fingers on the strings and moving just the one finger is much more difficult than it looks. I can see where this would develop good finger control. Thank you! John

[Jamolay]

Originally Posted by jschmitz54

OMG, it looks easy when Pete does it but keeping your fingers on the strings and moving just the one finger is much more difficult than it looks. I can see where this would develop good finger control. Thank you! John

It is a good reminder not to compare oneself to the teachers in the video. Most of them started young and have been playing more than I ever will and for decades.

My fingers may never quite get there because I am a hobby player without professional aspirations and am old enough that I’m 30 years other issue may get in the way!

But I can make my own progress and my own success.

[Robin, Wales]

Originally Posted by tbirdman

I’ve been playing for 1.5 years. The pinky (4th finger) on the fretting hand is an interesting character.

Does better fretting ability (speed, accuracy tone etc) come with experience or are there technique exercises are should try?

Go rock climbing, get hit by rockfall that amputates a 3rd off the length of your index finger, and you'll soon learn to use your pinky to form pretty much every chord.

Yes, it is a "needs - must". The more experience you gain at using your pinky the better you will get with it. Anything new is going to feel awkward at first.

[The Bard Rocks]

Long ago I began to realize that there were a lot of notes i could play within the chord if I could control my pinky. I began to feel I'd play a lot better if I used it more, so went to work on that. It was awkward at first but but in due time it came along and is now integral to my playing style.