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Playing with the pinky

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Pippynip
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MetalJacob
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Playing with the pinky Empty Playing with the pinky

Post  MetalJacob Fri Apr 15, 2011 3:14 am

So I've asked UG and a death metal bassist and everyone said that playing with the pinky most likely slows you down. It's time for you guys to have input. What do you think? Mainly for death metal is what I'm talking about. The pinky is so short that it seems it might in fact hinder the speed of a very fast player and most DM players seem to use only three fingers.
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Playing with the pinky Empty Re: Playing with the pinky

Post  SuperMaximo93 Fri Apr 15, 2011 10:09 am

At first it'd probably slow you down, but if you keep practising and training your little finger to be awesome then it will speed you up in the long run (unless your little finger is somehow perpetually weak Razz)
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Post  MetalJacob Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:43 pm

I suppose I should get one of those finger exercise tools for my pinky.
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Post  ThreeLetterSyndrom Fri Apr 15, 2011 7:59 pm

MetalJacob wrote:I suppose I should get one of those finger exercise tools for my pinky.
Just play, man. I don't know, but I'd say playing will also give you the necessary skills and all that alongside pinky strength.

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Post  Pippynip Fri Apr 15, 2011 9:32 pm

A little extra exercising when not playing bass can't hurt though. I carry one o' them Gripmaster things around with me and use it occasionally when I get bored.
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Post  Nocturnal_Pulse Fri Apr 15, 2011 11:28 pm

I am not into death metal in any way, but this is my story:

When I played the guitar I rarely used my pinky, so when I picked up the bass it was weak and without any coordination.

After two or three people from this forum suggested to me to start using it in my exercises (the simple 1-2-3-4 for example, on the 7th fret so my pinky wont twist from the pressure lol), now I can fairly use it with speed and it really helps!

Now, one year and 3 months after picking my bass for first time, I can't stop using my pinky in any genre I play! It's very very good to learn and use it.

Speed will come eventually and faster than you think!
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Post  MetalJacob Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:17 am

Sorry, I meant right plucking hand. silent
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Post  Nocturnal_Pulse Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:25 pm

Oh! I dont use it... Rolling Eyes
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Post  willba Sat Apr 16, 2011 1:36 pm

I dont play anything that requires a fourth finger, so I dont use it either. If you want to play music where its necessary its best to learn even if its difficult initially.
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Post  MetalJacob Sat Apr 16, 2011 2:38 pm

Well what I was saying is that it's not necessary. Most people (including death metal bassists) will not use their pinky. But yea, I decided I want to.
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Post  Nocturnal_Pulse Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:25 pm

MetalJacob wrote:Well what I was saying is that it's not necessary. Most people (including death metal bassists) will not use their pinky. But yea, I decided I want to.

I believe that the exercise for 3 finger gallop will do if you add your pinky also.

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Post  lololiet Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:41 pm

I don't really see how adding a fourth finger is going to help your playing much, I don't think it would greatly improve speed or control and seems like something that's a pain to learn.(but then again, I do have very short pinkies, I don't know how your hand look though)


I mean even Entwistle hardly used his pinky.
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Post  willba Sat Apr 16, 2011 3:45 pm

lololiet wrote: (I do have very short pinkies though).

Playing with the pinky I_hug_10

My pic says it all.. Sad
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Post  Pastichio Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:21 pm

lololiet wrote:I don't really see how adding a fourth finger is going to help your playing much, I don't think it would greatly improve speed or control and seems like something that's a pain to learn.(but then again, I do have very short pinkies, I don't know how your hand look though)


I mean even Entwistle hardly used his pinky.


True, he said he only used it for show.


I really can't see it being any use to be honest. I mean for three finger plucking the fingers are relatively the same size, so it makes sense physically to use them, adding the pinky would mean more work. But you know if you want to try it then don't let anyone stop you.


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Post  MetalJacob Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:48 pm

If it gained enough muscle though, don't you think you'd actually be able to go faster than with 3 fingers? I mean, it only makes sense.
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Post  Pastichio Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:15 pm

Its more a case of distance than muscle strength unless your pinky is very long. How good are you at 3 finger plucking?
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Post  MetalJacob Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:48 pm

Very.
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Post  Pastichio Sat Apr 16, 2011 6:56 pm

then whats stopping you trying it and seeing if it works if you are already proficient at three finger plucking? No real need to ask if it would hinder your speed when you can answer that yourself by tying it out.
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Post  Pastichio Sat Apr 16, 2011 7:11 pm

Plus I notice a lot of death metal bassists have great two hand tapping technique, they can get out a lot of notes with little effort. Have you tried that? It would be a lot more useful than having a forth finger for plucking.
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Post  MetalJacob Sat Apr 16, 2011 8:28 pm

Yea I've seen that too! But I would have no idea where to begin with something like that. And I guess right now I'm just working on gaining enough speed to play as fast as someone would play with a pick.
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Post  Pastichio Sat Apr 16, 2011 10:54 pm

Id recommend just working on getting your three finger technique faster. Guys like Alex Webster can well keep up with Corpses guitarists with three fingers. Sure sometimes on a good day the lads in my band have trouble keeping up with me and I only use two fingers. Just keep on practicing and you'll get there.

On the two handed tapping thing, if you were to get into it. The general idea is play something with the left hand using hammer ons and then repeat the pattern with your right hand an octave up. If you look at some of these guys doing it, there hands are moving fast alright but not as fast as you would think considering the amount of notes being produced. I'm practicing this at the moment, im not really into death metal that much I just like to borrow techniques I like from it and I do like what some of these bass players can do. It is a major pain in the ass to discipline yourself because you do want to just start ripping out notes and it is one of those things that you will have to practice painstakingly slow at first.
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Post  MetalJacob Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:13 pm

I don't know I still want to try my pinky...

You really think it's not worth it?

Take a look at this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8fKxHvn43Q

Don't you think he could be playing with much more ease if he used his pinky too?
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Post  Pippynip Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:20 pm

That sounds like an anus violently blowing raspberries.

...Haven't decided yet whether that's good or bad. scratch
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Post  Pastichio Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:44 pm

Pippynip wrote:That sounds like an anus violently blowing raspberries.

...Haven't decided yet whether that's good or bad. scratch

I'm with you on that one mate. Although it might sound great in contrast to blast beats.

Jacob Im not telling you not to. If you develop a great four finger technique then more power to you, I was just suggesting other things instead.
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Post  MetalJacob Sat Apr 16, 2011 11:49 pm

I want to do it all! afro

But yea I knew the sound was bad, I was just using it as a reference video for the speed.
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