TE-007 • Finger Stretching Exercise

[justinguitar]

Questions...

[pablolespaul]

I´m wondering if it´s not mandatory to stretch the ring and middle finger (finger 2 and finger 3 in justin´s notes).

[Quark]

I am not sure I am reading your question correctly but if you are asking whether or not you need to stretch the ring and middle finger, I would suggest that you do. For example, I play mostly blues and need to stretch my pinky to get the notes further down the neck. But Justin showed me in NY a way to get an extra stretch by using my middle finger instead of my index finger for the second note in the chord. (i.e in the chunka chunka 12 bar blues put your index finger on the 2nd fret D string and your middle finger two frets down, F# instead of your ring finger.) It gives you an overall longer stretch. Initially this took some doing but I now I get the additional stretch from using the middle finger and I can easily hit the notes on the neck I could not before.  Hope this helps.

W

[pablolespaul]

Thanks Quark. Yeah, that was my question.

If you see the notes in Justin´s finger stretching exercise there´s no stretching between middle and ring finger, but since you need to stretch them in some other exercises (i.e legato) I was wondering why Justin didn´t put this particular stretch in his exercise.
    

[justinguitar]

Quark is right...

Stretching from 1st to 2nd is useful...

But working on stretching between 2nd and 3rd is not very useful unless you want to work on 4 note per string metal techniques (which I never did, but they exist).

You hand is not built to stretch between 2 and 3 - so I don't think it wise to fight it - especially as you will hardly ever use it!

That is why the exercise ignores that stretch...

J

[DaSilvaRenegade]

the hardest one for me is stretching the third and fourth because i think those two share a tendon so to separate them is a pain in the tuckus.

Duo

[hilary7]

Hi, Should i be touching any other strings while doing the exercises? I find it difficult to keep all 4 fingers on the 6th string even for exercise one.

[Arry]

Hi guys, i only have an acoustic at the moment. I think i have the technique down but it sounds a bit sh*tty. Is it worth me carrying on with the acoustic or is string bending only really used with electrics?

[justinguitar]

Arry and co - This exercise is not about how it sounds, it is about doing the stretch.

Doesn't matter if you hit other strings, or anything - just feel the stretch in your fingers and you are doing it right!

Hilary7 - Do try and keep all the fingers on - if you find it hard - then try curling your middle two fingers a little more!

And yes - DaSilva - it hurts

J

[koherp]

hi justin and others,
i am a beginner working my way thru the hal leonard guitar method book (and following your site too of course) and figured its a good time to start some basic exercises.  Problem is, i can't even get my lame pinky to reach the 6th string (and barely get the 5th string) whilst holding down the other strings in the basic "non-stretched" starting position. Even sliding further down a few frets doesnt seem to help much  Note, i do actally have a normal length pinky, but it just wants to curl up and "pigeon toe" towards the ring finger. any advice?

PS-  interestingly enough , i am fairly accomplished pianist and have been told i have good stretch and strength in my fingers! (yes, even the pinkies... probably from playing a lot of baroque music)

thanks
KO

[aging_bimbo]

koherp, you could try raising the pinky side of your palm closer to the neck of the guitar (ie rotate your hand a bit more) and see if that helps?

[Quark]

Problem is, i can't even get my lame pinky to reach the 6th string (and barely get the 5th string) whilst holding down the other strings in the basic "non-stretched" starting position.

AB is absolutely correct. What also worked for me now that I think about it is I actually brougt my elbow and wrist in. Try bringing your elbow and wrist in, towards your body a little and see if that increases the reach. If not then you have to just keep practicing the stretch as Justin and others have noted previously.

W

[koherp]

thanks for the replies, guys.  i'm not sure if rotating the wrist is the solution, that seems to maybe gives a little bit of exta reach towards the 6th string but the rotation seems to pigeontoe the pinky in more (reduce the stretch?) ...  i'll need to continue to experiment more with some different positions and angles etc.thanks
KO

[Cobryn]

Arry and co - This exercise is not about how it sounds, it is about doing the stretch.

Doesn't matter if you hit other strings, or anything - just feel the stretch in your fingers and you are doing it right!

Hilary7 - Do try and keep all the fingers on - if you find it hard - then try curling your middle two fingers a little more!

And yes - DaSilva - it hurts

J

First wanted to say great lessons! But my fingers must be stupid or something, they just can't seem to stretch that much yet.

[nmarlowe]

I have been working on this exercise for about a week or so. I think its going well, although I am a bit confused. The lesson mentions feeling the stretch in your fingers. I however feel the stretch in the back of my hand. I figured this was normal as all of the muscles that control the fingers are in the back of the had.

But, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing something wrong. I can go up and down twice in one shot before my hand starts to cramp at this point.

I also suffer the same pinky issue as mentioned before where it curves toward the middle finger. I assume this is something that will correct itself through time and practice, but I don't to inadvertently tech myself a bad technique. The pinky seems to have a very strong mind of its own and weak muscles to back it up with. Any tips?

Thanks!