Pinky Isolation

[Lukeydoodle]

Hi i was just looking around on youtube for finger exercises a few days back. I came across people who could hold their hand up in the air with their fingers together, and simply curl the pinky finger without moving any other fingers.

now for some of you you will be thinking.... hey that's easy. well for alot of us its not (its impossible for me). i looked into it even further and i see now its genetically inherited. im wondering if this is going to be a major disadvantage when trilling with pinky and ring finger. and please dont post things with excersises that will help me to bend my pinky without the ring finger....because it is impossible trust me i just cant...

well anyway extra advice on building finger strength would be appreciated

thank youuuu :)

[Tiko]

Well, I must say that you can exercise this (pinky in general, I'm not necessarily talking about curling it).
My pinky used to be useless, not saying it's super now but it's better.

I have a pinky exercise on the technique forum (which would be this), check it out if you're interested.
There's also a really nice addition to it from andrex66 on page 2.
Try playing as much as possible with your pinky when you jam on the keyboard, this really helps.

All in all, don't think that it's impossible, practice hard enough and you'll find your words corrected.

I'm sorry if this reply is exactly what you didn't want to hear, but I still felt like I have to post this.


- Tiko

E: ...and by exercising my pinky I'm able to curl both of them the way you said, which I wasn't when I started playing 2 years ago.

[Bigs]

Do you think it's genetic because noone in your family can bend that finger separately? I think most people can't do it without exercise, so that's a bit moot. I had to learn it myself, too (mostly by just forcing myself to use it instead of avoiding it's usage while playing).

[Lukeydoodle]

Well, I must say that you can exercise this (pinky in general, I'm not necessarily talking about curling it).
My pinky used to be useless, not saying it's super now but it's better.

I have a pinky exercise on the technique forum (which would be this), check it out if you're interested.
There's also a really nice addition to it from andrex66 on page 2.
Try playing as much as possible with your pinky when you jam on the keyboard, this really helps.

All in all, don't think that it's impossible, practice hard enough and you'll find your words corrected.

I'm sorry if this reply is exactly what you didn't want to hear, but I still felt like I have to post this.


- Tiko

E: ...and by exercising my pinky I'm able to curl both of them the way you said, which I wasn't when I started playing 2 years ago.

well iv met several people that can do it, and they don't even play any instruments. also Greg Irwin (finger fitness expert lol) said himself its genetic. im just wondering if it will affect anything other than simply curling it. after using it daily when playing the keyboard i think it wont affect anything else (hopefully). i have masterd the art of trilling with 2 and 3, i think its just taking alot longer working on 3 and 4. iv found playing the guitar with 3 and 4 helps more than piano.

p.s thanks for the comments. you guys should check out Greg Irwin on youtube it helped me alot

[Maddolis]

Who trills between the 4th and 5th fingers anyway?
There's only one (classical) piece that come to mind that has trilling between the 4th and 5th fingers, as the other fingers are busy with some counter-melody.
Just switch fingers for the trills (depending on how fast you want them).
Be sure to check out exercises for all of your fingers, but don't feel like you're disadvantaged at all simply because you can't bend your 5th finger without bending your 4th.