Stretching my pinky...

[roadbiker]

I'm struggling with playing barre maj7th chords that require streching my pinky 4 frets away from the barre (index finger). Naturally it is easier as I got up the neck where the distance between frets is shorter, but making a barre at Amaj7 and below is nearly impossible for me. Are there any suggestions for excercises or stretches I can try? I think one of my handicaps is that I can't make the Vulcan "live long and prosper" sign - I can't move my ringer finger to my pinky.

Thanks, Jim

[Jannie]

Yes, just keep trying, eventually you'll be able to do it without thinking or difficulty.

[BigSkyTaylorPlayer]

watch the video of "my sharona" solo that starts at 2:46 and watch the pinky go....it has inspiried me to learn this thing...

[Go Navy]

You can also grab that chord on the top four strings......if you aren't aware of that,  look it up somewhere.  You've probably already done that, but just in case, I thought I would mention it.

[M19]

Do the following exercise four times, from high to low e-string then back. Rest a minute do again. Rest a minute do again. Do daily.

Alternate picking, as fast as you can: i-1, p-4, r-3, p-4; repeat two more times and go down and up the strings as above.

It not only stretches the pinky, but "teaches" the pinky and ring finger to start acting independently.

It'll hurt!

[Gary0319]

I'll jsut echo those who have encouraged sticking with it. My pinkie used to have a pronounced bend to the inside, but after years (yup years) of barre chording and using the pinkie to get to those bass strings for runs, it's now very straight (and about a foot long  ). 

[byrd]

I'm not sure if this will help or not.  I've been working to improve the control of my pinky ( I can stretch okay, but it kinda flails around).  I've been doing three things recently.

1)  Similar to what M19 suggested, I've been doing the "finger gym" routine over at justinguitar.com

2) I read an old, old post over on the AGF where someone suggested simply relearning the standard C, G, D chords with NO index finger (Some folks always do a G this way.  I don't).  Very simple, but it has helped me quite a bit.  I'm still working in speeding up the changes.  It really takes me back to when I first started learning chords. 

3)  Lastly I've been practicing C shape barre chords.  While moving that shape up and down the neck, I do various arpeggios while making sure to do LOTS of hammer ons and pull offs with my pinky across the strings.  There are some nice little melodies in there.  This one has also been a big help for me to improve my over all hand strength when doing barre chords.


Oh, and just out of curiosity what maj7th shape are you are you working on?  4 frets away from the bar.  That's a 5 fret span right?  I can think of 4 maj7th shapes of the top of my head, but none stretch that far.

[Edward]

Yeah, I'm also wondering which shape maj7th you're thinking of that requires that pinky leap.  I know the maj7th with 5th string and 6th string roots, so what shape are you playing?  I'd like to add that to my vocab 

To add to other good advice here, a good pinky "learning" activity I've found is to take any chord, open or barred, and find the "add-on" notes (7ths, minor 7ths, suspendeds, etc) that add tonal color to it.  Find those notes and practice getting your 4th and 3rd fingers there ...this can offer a nice vibe and change-of-pace to those "regular" chords shapes and songs we've gotten all too familiar with.  Kind of like shaking out the cobwebs and pushing for another flavor.  The physical plus is your pinky (and third) finger learn to move with greater independence from the other "chording" fingers, just as M19 had suggested with the exercise.

(Hey Marty, good to see ya here, man!!    ...ok, that was just a shout out   )

Edward

[dcopper]

If you use classical guitar technique on your fretting hand it may help. Your thumb acts as a sort of pivot which, rather than strangling the neck of the guitar, rests more on the center of the neck. This frees your hand up to move farther around the fretboard and gives you an easier reach. Go online and look at some basic classical guitar hand positioning. I studied classical for a couple of years and it helped my playing tremendously as well as reduced hand stress. I was a strangler, especially on acoustic work where you are dealing with heavier gauge strings and sometimes (but not on a Taylor), less than buttery action.
That along with the exercised above might help.
davidc

[Satsuki]

As my guitar teacher said whenever I complained "Practice, Practice, Practice." I hated him sometimes but he was right.

[roadbiker]

I'm not sure if this will help or not.  I've been working to improve the control of my pinky ( I can stretch okay, but it kinda flails around).  I've been doing three things recently.

1)  Similar to what M19 suggested, I've been doing the "finger gym" routine over at justinguitar.com

2) I read an old, old post over on the AGF where someone suggested simply relearning the standard C, G, D chords with NO index finger (Some folks always do a G this way.  I don't).  Very simple, but it has helped me quite a bit.  I'm still working in speeding up the changes.  It really takes me back to when I first started learning chords. 

3)  Lastly I've been practicing C shape barre chords.  While moving that shape up and down the neck, I do various arpeggios while making sure to do LOTS of hammer ons and pull offs with my pinky across the strings.  There are some nice little melodies in there.  This one has also been a big help for me to improve my over all hand strength when doing barre chords.


Oh, and just out of curiosity what maj7th shape are you are you working on?  4 frets away from the bar.  That's a 5 fret span right?  I can think of 4 maj7th shapes of the top of my head, but none stretch that far.

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the C shape barre chord excercise and will try that. To answer your question, I'm talking about using E shape barre chord and extending the pinky 4 frets away from the barre. So, for example an Amaj7 would barre the 5th fret with the pinky extended 4 frets on the B string making an A-flat on the 9th fret.

Thanks again, Jim

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[byrd]

Ah hah!  Thanks roadbiker.  Now I see it.  That IS a stretch.  I'm gonna have to give that a whirl this evening.    Working with the C shape might be good for building up to that E shape since you're only barring 5 strings or less (I do 5 a strings so that I can easily get a min7 if I lift my pinky) and the index and ring fingers will each be a string lower as well.

My pinkie used to have a pronounced bend to the inside, but after years (yup years) of barre chording and using the pinkie to get to those bass strings for runs, it's now very straight (and about a foot long  ).

I also wanted to respond to Gary0319's comment...  This gives me hope!    My pinky also has a pronounced inward bend.  Sometimes I feel like it's gonna lay down sideways on the fretboard.  My pinky callous isn't actually on the center of my pinky tip either.  It's over to the outside corner of my pinky nail.  I've been working hard to straighten it out.  I've just been working around this shortcoming until recently.  It's good to hear that it might now be in vain (even i it might take years)!

[Edward]

I'm not sure if this will help or not.  I've been working to improve the control of my pinky ( I can stretch okay, but it kinda flails around).  I've been doing three things recently.

1)  Similar to what M19 suggested, I've been doing the "finger gym" routine over at justinguitar.com

2) I read an old, old post over on the AGF where someone suggested simply relearning the standard C, G, D chords with NO index finger (Some folks always do a G this way.  I don't).  Very simple, but it has helped me quite a bit.  I'm still working in speeding up the changes.  It really takes me back to when I first started learning chords. 

3)  Lastly I've been practicing C shape barre chords.  While moving that shape up and down the neck, I do various arpeggios while making sure to do LOTS of hammer ons and pull offs with my pinky across the strings.  There are some nice little melodies in there.  This one has also been a big help for me to improve my over all hand strength when doing barre chords.


Oh, and just out of curiosity what maj7th shape are you are you working on?  4 frets away from the bar.  That's a 5 fret span right?  I can think of 4 maj7th shapes of the top of my head, but none stretch that far.

Thanks for the suggestions. I like the C shape barre chord excercise and will try that. To answer your question, I'm talking about using E shape barre chord and extending the pinky 4 frets away from the barre. So, for example an Amaj7 would barre the 5th fret with the pinky extended 4 frets on the B string making an A-flat on the 9th fret.

Thanks again, Jim

Sick chord ...I don't do it that way.  Seems like working more to get less, IMHO

How about 1st finger on root A, muting the 5th and 1st string, 3rd/4th finger on the "2nd" fret of the 4th/3rd stings, and the pinky on either the "1st" fret or the "5th" fret if you want that high note.  That's more do-able finger (IMHO) and still addresses the pertinent notes for the Amaj7th.

Edward

[not darth]

This is a great thread! 
I'm starting to get the hang of several combinations of chord changes but that durn pinky is always tripping me up.  I'm definitely going to try some of the tips mentioned!

-K

[Paul]

Do the following exercise four times, from high to low e-string then back. Rest a minute do again. Rest a minute do again. Do daily.

Alternate picking, as fast as you can: i-1, p-4, r-3, p-4; repeat two more times and go down and up the strings as above.

It not only stretches the pinky, but "teaches" the pinky and ring finger to start acting independently.

It'll hurt!

Can you elaborate on this cos I don't seem to get it. Thanks.