https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/ Guitar Noise Discussion Board en-US Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:25:56 +0000 wpForo 60 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/paged/2/#post-98093 Wed, 13 Apr 2005 03:11:25 +0000 Cos my pinky has no problem shredding high up...I guess ill just keep going how i always have n see where it takes me]]> Guitar Players Discussion simon@home.co.uk https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/paged/2/#post-98093 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/paged/2/#post-97882 Mon, 11 Apr 2005 23:08:11 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion Audioslaveaddict https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/paged/2/#post-97882 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/paged/2/#post-97830 Mon, 11 Apr 2005 09:38:09 +0000
I've seen Slash from GNR just use the pinky like an exra addition to playing. Like sometimes he's going for speed and suddenly you see his pinky flash in the run for two notes and back to where it came from (cuddled underneath the neck)... It practically 'flashes' into action lol

]]> Guitar Players Discussion il_manti https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/paged/2/#post-97830 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/paged/2/#post-97752 Sun, 10 Apr 2005 20:23:22 +0000 Guitar Players Discussion Ignar Hillström https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/paged/2/#post-97752 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/paged/2/#post-97744 Sun, 10 Apr 2005 18:33:04 +0000
On electrics, position isn't so much a requirement. I can use my pinky throughout the entire range, and whether or not I'll use three fingers or two depends more on the type of music than anything else.

It's been pointed out that the pinky 'stops' the position. The same drawbacks can be found with three fingers - you've now got only two fingers for lower frets. If you're playing with simple pentatonic scales, there's not much downside, but if you're doing a lot of arpeggios, the three fingered approach can be limiting in the other direction! That can lead to a lot of one-fret shifts that aren't required if you're using the pinky.

The pentatonic scale, on the other hand, is ideal for shifting back and forth from three fingers to four. A lot of lead riffs in higher positions, are concentrated on the first three strings... the notes can be more accessible with three fingers than four.]]> Guitar Players Discussion NoteBoat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/paged/2/#post-97744 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/paged/2/#post-97737 Sun, 10 Apr 2005 17:25:37 +0000 Some ppl seem to be talking about the importance of training the pinky. I didnt mean I havnt trained it - I can trill left right n centre with it lol, I was just curious about this technique I'd seen with ppl not using it unless having to really stretch.]]> Guitar Players Discussion simon@home.co.uk https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/paged/2/#post-97737 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/#post-97715 Sun, 10 Apr 2005 08:42:36 +0000
I see what you mean but that high on the fretboard it is probably not surprising. The distance between the frets there just makes it more natural to use the fingers closest to the required frets. The pinky would still be used if a longer stretch was required say from 12 to 17 for example. But for the range you described, I think fret proximity just makes it natural to use 1,2,3 Not that I'm a know it all but, that's what I was going to say untill I saw this post.

The higher up you get, the harder it is to your pinky unless it's a good reach. Why use your pinky when your ring finger is already hovering over the fret?]]> Guitar Players Discussion Mike https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/#post-97715 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/#post-97710 Sun, 10 Apr 2005 07:58:15 +0000
However, when improvising rock and blues leads, the "proper" fingering of scales can be very limiting. It can trap you in the box because no fingers can reach higher than your pinky. What I've found is that using your pinky to fret notes that can be reached with another finger eliminates the option to reach farther up the fretboard should that strike your fancy. If you fret the same note with your ring or middle finger you can then drop the index finger "anchor" that cnev was talking about and pivot off of that finger to pull off one of those screaming blues bends higher up on the fretboard.

As Noteboat observed, It's a blues thang. But if you have a weak pinky you won't be able pull off that bend anyways. So I think you should use the "proper" fingerings until you have advanced to the stage where pinky strength is no longer an issue. You gotta learn to walk before you learn to run.]]> Guitar Players Discussion hairballxavier https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/#post-97710 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/#post-97702 Sun, 10 Apr 2005 03:45:03 +0000
I see what you mean but that high on the fretboard it is probably not surprising. The distance between the frets there just makes it more natural to use the fingers closest to the required frets. The pinky would still be used if a longer stretch was required say from 12 to 17 for example. But for the range you described, I think fret proximity just makes it natural to use 1,2,3]]> Guitar Players Discussion ElijahBaley https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/#post-97702 https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/#post-97697 Sun, 10 Apr 2005 03:25:43 +0000
I start rank beginners off with chromatic drills in higher positions to get used to using all fingers, but when it comes to sight reading we start in C in open position. As soon as they have all the notes down, I introduce the 3rd string B note - that uses the pinky, and gets them used to the fact that notes are in more than one place - a good segue into second position C fingerings.

I also introduce reading stuff with accidentals as early as possible - a few C#, F#, Eb, Gb or Db notes gives the pinky a workout too.]]> Guitar Players Discussion NoteBoat https://guitarnoise.forum/guitar-players-discussion/using-1st-three-fingers-in-soloing-instead-of/#post-97697