Pinky poll

[j.blay]

When I first learned to bare finger pick in my teens, one of my close friends was a prodigy and started in grade school. He asked if I wanted to use my pinky for an anchor or use all five fingers before he taught me. He could do both easily. I saw no benefit to loosing a finger to pick with so I chose all five. For me, there's a cadence to five finger picking that can only be imitated using fewer fingers. There are times I'll only use the bottom three fingers, just because.

[SuperB23]

My right hand pinky is the only finger I have that doesn't know how to play guitar!

[Jimi2]

I studied classical for a couple years and pinky picking is forbidden. I keep telling myself I’ll practice using it to make up for losing a finger while hybrid picking, but I rarely try.

[KalamazooGuy]

I can do finger style playing, but I am a flat picker, through and through, who anchors the pinky.

[gmel555]

Just a little. Probably on a few songs where I use the pinky or ring finger interchangeably.

[ship of fools]

But there is always one or two songs that require the pinky to earn its keep. But mostly it just stays out of the way and nope don't use it as an anchor either.

[joeld]

My right pinky finger gets involved a little bit. It seems to happen most when I'm not paying attention, probably my subconscious trying to break through. My left pinky finger is always busy.

[A Wolf]

Sometimes I use it as an anchor, especially if I want to deaden the “openness” of the top. (I mean, you can anchor with next to no pressure, but if you do press down, the guitar sound closes in some, and there are times when I want this.)

I also frail on occasion, and my pinkie definitely is involved. I’m just beginning to try hybrid picking, and it seems like it will see use there also—if I manage to get comfortable with this.

Fretting hand pinkie is used quite a bit, although I suppose only my thumb gets less action.

[jaymarsch]

For the most part, I do not need to use the pinky finger on my strumming/fingerpicking hand. I know some hybrid pickers who do though.

Best,
Jayne

[Dave Hicks]

I occasionally do a rasgueado-type strum, and that little finger is a part of it all.

D.H.

[mawmow]

Sometimes... :-/

[alien]

Not at all. When finger picking, my pinky just hangs there beside my ring finger, which is firmly planted on the guitar top. (My pinky isn't long enough) I have always just used my thumb, index and middle fingers.

[David Eastwood]

Originally Posted by alien

Not at all. When finger picking, my pinky just hangs there beside my ring finger, which is firmly planted on the guitar top. (My pinky isn't long enough) I have always just used my thumb, index and middle fingers.

Ruh-roh. You’re actually admitting to being a ring planter here.

What are you thinking?

I predict much tutting will ensue.

Never fear, we pinky planters will rally in support

[alien]

Originally Posted by David Eastwood

Ruh-roh. You’re actually admitting to being a ring planter here.

What are you thinking?

I predict much tutting will ensue.

Never fear, we pinky planters will rally in support

Thank you! I have tried for years to plant my pinky, but like I said...It's not long enough. When I try it, my hand is too close to the strings, my timing gets outta whack, I miss notes and all sorts of nasty things happen! It's really not something you want to see (or hear)

[Steve36]

All the time. Very handy when changing from flatpicking to fingerpicking. I can just tuck the pick into my palm with my 1st finger when not required.

Steve