My pinky needs work.

[City Static]

What are some good exercises for my pinky? I don't use it that often, and I need to start. My pinky is quite weak, which makes some songs difficult. So what are some good exercises for it?
- Thanks in advance -

[Jason]

Using it.

Don't you play scales? Scales usually require the use of your pinky.

[jonesy]

I tease my students sometimes and tell them that their pinky will shrivel up and fall off if they don't use it

The Major scale is a really good way to exercise all 4 fingers IMO
You use the "one finger per fret" rule (root notes in red)



G Major scale, here is the one octave version (start with second finger)
-----------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------2---4---5---4---2------------------------
---------2--3---5-----------------------5--3--2-------------
--3---5-------------------------------------------5--3-------


Here is an excercise I call the Spider, it is a diminished scale....use only your first finger and pinky.

------------------------------------------9---11----
--------------------------------8----10--------------
------------------------6----9-----------------------
----------------5----8------------------------------
---------4---7--------------------------------------
--3---6----------------------------------------------

The more you use your pinky the stronger it will get...

[City Static]

Originally Posted by Jason

Using it.

Don't you play scales? Scales usually require the use of your pinky.

Not often.

And thanks jonesy. I will do this exercise. I really appreciate your help.

[jonesy]

No problem bro, let me know how that works out for you OK?

[jonesy]

Here is a cool site with really nice graphics if you get bored with the tabs I posted you might want to check it out?

Guitar Scales @ Chordbook.Com

[Wizzle]

This is a good workout, i hope it's clear. The fingering is written above the notes: i = index. p = pinky. r = ring.

e|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
B|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------i---------r---------p------------------------------------------|
D|-----p-r-p---3-p-r-p---5-p-r-p---6-p-r-p------------------------------------|
A|---i-6-5-6-----6-5-6-----6-5-6-----6-5-6------------------------------------|
E|---3------------------------------------------------------------------------|

Keep repeating and building up speed.

[BUDOKAI]

just use it lol anyway u can

[City Static]

Jonesy, those scales are helping me out very nice. I'm seeing some real progress.
Wizzle, your tabs are helping as well. I like the way they sound.

[Jason]

[randelli]

Originally Posted by Jason

OK we were all thinking it................

[Jody]

Chromatic scales work well also.......

[jonesy]

Originally Posted by City Static

Jonesy, those scales are helping me out very nice. I'm seeing some real progress.
Wizzle, your tabs are helping as well. I like the way they sound.

Rock n Roll bro, keep up the good work

[City Static]

Originally Posted by Jason

I don't get it.

[Wizzle]

Try this using only your ring and pinky fingers. Start slowly and build up speed. It's good for left hand mobility as well:

e|---4-5-4-5-4-5--------------------------------------------------------------|
B|---------------5-6-5-6-5-6--------------------------------------------------|
G|---------------------------4-5-4-5-4-5--------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------6-7-6-7-6-7--------------------------|
A|---------------------------------------------------7-8-7-8-7-8--------------|
E|---------------------------------------------------------------7-8-7-8-7-8--|

Alternate picking throughout.

[Wizzle]

Originally Posted by Wizzle

Try this using only your ring and pinky fingers. Start slowly and build up speed. It's good for left hand mobility as well:

e|---4-5-4-5-4-5--------------------------------------------------------------|
B|-----------------5-6-5-6-5-6--------------------------------------------------|
G|-------------------------------4-5-4-5-4-5--------------------------------------|
D|---------------------------------------------6-7-6-7-6-7--------------------------|
A|-----------------------------------------------------------7-8-7-8-7-8--------------|
E|-------------------------------------------------------------------------7-8-7-8-7-8--|

Alternate picking throughout.

I hope this turns out better...