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Thread: My pinky hates me now

  1. #1
    small instrument, big fun Dan in NH's Avatar
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    Default My pinky hates me now

    I’ve been practicing, and struggling with, some 3-finger chords. I happen to be thumbing through Mandolin for Dummies, and I got to the chapter on Jethro Burns. They showed a whole bunch of different 3-finger cords, major, minor, and the various 7s. And as I was looking at the diagrams and the recommended fingering, I noticed that in a lot of the shapes, they recommended using the pinky. That’s something that I hadn’t been doing.

    So I’ve been practicing some of these 3-fingers chord shapes using my pinky, and I’ve been doing a much better, smoother job making chord changes.

    Only now my previously callus free pinky is screaming in pain. He looks like I’ll be spending the next couple of weeks building up my pinky.
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  2. #2
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    I personally use lots of three finger chords, but don’t use my pinky on any of them…
    Can’t see when the pinky would be useful…?
    I guess I’ll need to read what you’ve read
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  3. #3
    small instrument, big fun Dan in NH's Avatar
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    P. 117, root on top major chords, p. 119 root on top minor chords.

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    Registered User mbruno's Avatar
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    There are some positions that don't need a pinky at all (like the C 523x or G x523) and would be tough to add even if you wanted to. Then there are some that require the pinky (like the big chop 7523 or the big major7 5375) and cannot be played fully without the pinky (ignoring the "partial" chord etc). Of course there's some where it's players choice like the A shape (2245) or the D shape (245x) - you could use the pinky or ring finger usually. Then there's partial chords where you just ditch a string completely (like A7 2x43) but that's another topic haha.

    I nearly always use my pinky for the 5th fret note on those "players choice" chords but I've seen many use their ringer finger instead. The "nearly" is because sometimes I'll slip up in a solo or riff or etc and accidentally will land using a 3 finger chord without my pinky. It feels weird when this happens - and thankfully it's not that common haha. Using the pinky instead of the ring finger on those chords makes it al lot easier to move from shape to shape. Like A (2245) to A7 (2243) or similar D (245x) to D7 (243x).
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    I always use my pinky to mute the fourth string in three-finger chords like 523x

  6. #6
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    When I got started on the mandolin in 1967 I never took chords from a book. I worked them out from their construction, finding voicings that made them connect smoothly. The first chord I found was the big chop G -- today I would much rather use 7-9-10-*, thereby avoiding the doubling of the g. The corresponding G7 form would be 7-9-8-*, no root. The choice of voicing will of ocurse also depend on the harmonic context, and mode of execution (strummed, chopped, stabbed, broken), etc.

  7. #7
    Registered User Sue Rieter's Avatar
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    Quote Originally Posted by Dan in NH View Post
    P. 117, root on top major chords, p. 119 root on top minor chords.
    Dan, this is the same group of chords that was presented at the Fiddleheads workshop on moveable mandolin chords. I have been thinking about these lately as well, so thanks to pointing to this additional source of information. The sample chord progressions at the back of the chapter look like they will answer some questions for me.

    I was using my pinky alot when I was playing my mandola regularly a little while back. Now it is getting lazy and could probably use a workout. "Mike Marshalls Finger Busters" has some good ones (I think that's a book you don't have yet )
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  8. #8
    small instrument, big fun Dan in NH's Avatar
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    Glad to hear it, Sue. I was so jealous that you found that seminar and I didn’t. I’m glad that the information is readily available.

  9. #9
    My Florida is scooped pheffernan's Avatar
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    Wait ‘til you buy an octave.
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    Innocent Bystander JeffD's Avatar
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    Years and years ago using my left index finger suddenly became very painful. It lasted for a long time. To the point that i went about learning all the tunes I knew using the pinky and not using the index finger. I taped it up.

    I became competent playing that way, feeling confident that if I wanted to mandolin, I had to get it this way.

    Well the condition went away. I understand the medical reasons, and things could be a lot worse. I dodged a bullet. But for the purposes of this posting the whole ordeal was really good for my playing. While I quickly went back to my previous index finger using ways, my pinky became strong and as a result is deployed all the time.

    I would not recommend this, but there are dumber ideas than binding your index finger and playing your tunes with the next three fingers.
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  12. #11
    Registered User Billy Packard's Avatar
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    Your pinky has to feel reeeealy good being included in the jam!!



    (I don't know how anybody plays withOUT the pinky. It's like trying to walk on one leg...or...playing without your right hand...?!?)

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  13. #12
    but that's just me Bertram Henze's Avatar
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    Your pinky couldn't be expecting to stay out of the job forever, could it? Just wait until you follow the call of the Octave Mandolin, and your pinky will thank you for preparing it in time.
    the world is better off without bad ideas, good ideas are better off without the world

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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    Quote Originally Posted by JeffD View Post
    Years and years ago using my left index finger suddenly became very painful. It lasted for a long time. To the point that i went about learning all the tunes I knew using the pinky and not using the index finger. I taped it up.

    I became competent playing that way, feeling confident that if I wanted to mandolin, I had to get it this way.

    Well the condition went away. I understand the medical reasons, and things could be a lot worse. I dodged a bullet. But for the purposes of this posting the whole ordeal was really good for my playing. While I quickly went back to my previous index finger using ways, my pinky became strong and as a result is deployed all the time.

    I would not recommend this, but there are dumber ideas than binding your index finger and playing your tunes with the next three fingers.
    I've had very similar experiences, with various index finger injuries forcing me to use the other three for chords and melody. Besides improving dexterity and strength of the pinky, it's also helped me in breaking out of rote "muscle memory" patterns for many tunes and melodic ideas. Having to operate within the limitations of a middle-to-pinky reach has encouraged me to slide around and find new places to play familiar passages.
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  16. #14
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    I attended a class with Mike Marshall a day or three after he had sliced off the tip of his index finger. I was amazed at the facility he had with the three "off" fingers. What a musician and player. I use my pinky much more than I used to knowing what he showed the class.
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  17. #15
    Mandolin user MontanaMatt's Avatar
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    Quote Originally Posted by Billy Packard View Post
    Your pinky has to feel reeeealy good being included in the jam!!



    (I don't know how anybody plays withOUT the pinky. It's like trying to walk on one leg...or...playing without your right hand...?!?)

    Billy
    My pinky works all the time and is strong, it came from a violin upbringing that torturous the pinky into compliance.
    I never use the pinky on any three fingered chord.
    I have a large chord vocabulary, and can play, 2, 3 and 4 finger chords…all my three finger chords are sans pinky.
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  18. #16
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    We all went through it...........

  19. #17

    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    Some Grisman tunes like Cedar Hill are great pinky testers.

  20. #18
    Registered User Charlie Bernstein's Avatar
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    Default Re: My pinky hates me now

    I've been playing guitar for over fifty years and mando for about five. I've always used my left pinky.

    Always thought it was essential. But a few months ago I was watching an Eric Clapton video where he did one of his blazing solos, and I realized: He wasn't using his left pinky at all.

    Grr, I said to myself. Then I thought of other artists who don't even have ten fingers and manage fine. It affirmed what I guess we all know: The music doesn't come from out hands. It comes from our heads and hearts.

    So enjoy your new-found finger, and remember that there are more than one way to catch the sound you're chasing.
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