Strengthening and stretching 3rd & 4th finger for guitar??

Question

When I play my guitar my ring and pinky finger dont really hold the string down hard enough unless I'm really pushing. I used to play piano so I figured they'd have some more strength than that...but I guess not.

Any tips on how to make them stronger other then practicing??

Answer 1

ti comes naturally, dont pay attention to it. just play G with the ring finger on the 2nd string on the 3rd fret and the pinky on the 1st string 3rd fret

Answer 2

its easier to try  lighter gauge strings, they are looser, and much easier to play, it could be that you still have the strings that came on your guitar are just harder to play... go to a music store and just ask for begginer strings... i recommend custom light elixers, easy to play =], and they last forever

you could also be placing your fingers on the wrong part of the threat board

Answer 3

I've never used them but there are finger tip and finger strengtheners that you can buy actually, they are called Gripmaster Exercise Tool and they sell them at almost all the music shops i've been to or something like them, you can look at musicians friend online, but other than that practice makes prefect

Answer 4

See if your library has any books on stretching, especially occupational therapy books. OT is for rehabbing fingers, hands and arms to the shoulder. Here are some I had to do when I broke my 5th metacarpal bone and mushed my pinkie finger:

Place your splayed hand down flat on a table. Starting with your thumb, slowly lift and lower each finger. As you repeat the exercise, try to get a little more lift.  Build up to  ten times 4x per day.

Support your elbow on a folded towel on a table with your arm upright and the palm facing in ( not at your face). Bend all your fingers flat, keeping them together so they are at a 90* angle to your palm. This is called Table.  Pull your fingers back into claws so you feel a slight pull in the tendons in your hand.  This is obviously Claw. Curl your fingers into a fist.  Open your hand and return to the starting position.  Do these slowly working up to 10x per session. Repeat 3-4 times during the day.

With palm on the table, straighten fingers completely at large knuckles, and lift fingers off table.  Hold for 5 seconds. Finish by tapping each finger on table.

For flexor tendon gliding: rest your hand palm up on the table, straighten your fingers , then make a fist bending all joints.  Repeat 3-5 times  Do 3-4 sessions a day

For flexor tendon gliding: with fingers and knuckles straight, bend middle and tip joints. Do not bend large knuckles.  Repeat 3-5 times Do 3-4 sessions daily

Use some theraputic putty to roll a log, pinch it with each finger, holding each pinch for 5 seconds. Repeat for 5 minutes.

It's important that you NOT do all of these at once. Start with one or two and after a few days add another one.  Rest if your hand becomes tight.  Over doing these exercises can cause your fingers to "trigger" which requires painful injections to release the tightened tendon sheath. So GO SLOWLY. I am not an OT or doctor, but these helped me regain the strength in my fingers.

You could also check with an athletic trainer at your school for advice or call your former piano teacher for suggestions.

Answer 5

When you are away from your guitar carry silly putty. just squeeze the stuff with each finger over and over.