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  • Ring finger independence

    Posted by jim33 on September 16, 2021 at 7:29 pm

    This is what has always seemed to hold me back from being able to get started with the guitar. I’m one of those people who cannot make the famous Vulcan “V” sign with my fingers. While I can spread my fingers relatively well with an open palm…as soon as I curl them the finger tips all basically come together…seriously hindering my reach.

    I’m sure that I am not the first with the issue…just wondering if anybody has any suggestions or exercises.

    Thanks in advance,

    N-lightMike replied 3 years, 4 months ago 4 Members · 5 Replies
  • 5 Replies
  • Loraine

    Member
    September 16, 2021 at 7:49 pm

    @jim33 You are definitely not alone! My suggestion is taking the stretching skills course. It helps loosen muscles and tendons, and then there is simply practice and building finger independence through the lessons. Good luck, and don’t give up. It gets better!

  • N-lightMike

    Member
    September 16, 2021 at 10:10 pm

    Hello @jim33 ,

    I agree with @Loraine that we just have to do the best we can and slowly but surely things get better. And there are usually specific exercises we can do to speed up our progress.

    Try this: place you hands palm down on a flat surface with your fingers splayed out. Then try lifting them one at a time. Try doing this in certain patterns. Also, try it in a rhythm. At first, it will seem nearly impossible and your hands will tire very quickly. But if you do this daily, after only a week you will notice definite improvement. This will help a lot with finger independence and stretch on the guitar.

    MG 😀

  • OwenGL

    Member
    September 17, 2021 at 4:32 pm

    <div>I have the same problem with my pinky on my fretting hand. It just wants to curl inward. My callous is offset to the outside of my pinky because of it. It has gotten a little better with time, but I still struggle.</div><div>

    For stretching exercises, I start on string 6 fret 9 with my index finger, fret 10 middle finger, fret 11 right finger, fret 13 pinky (yep, skip a fret). Alternate pick index, middle, ring, pinky. Move up to string 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 then work my way back down to string six. Then, I move the skipped fret between middle and ring finger, so frets 9, 10, 12, 13, up and down the strings. Then, move the skipped fret between index and middle, so frets 9, 11, 12, 13, up and down the strings. Then I start the pattern over, but move down a fret so I’m working between frets 8 and 12, then frets 7 and 11, etc until I get to frets 1 through 5.

    </div>

  • jim33

    Member
    September 21, 2021 at 10:36 am

    Thanks for all the input…and (hopefully without jinxing myself) it appears some improvement is being seen in my left hand finger flexibility through the exercises and skills course.

    (left hand) fingers crossed…😀

    • N-lightMike

      Member
      September 21, 2021 at 7:40 pm

      👍

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