Independent fingers

Hello,
when i play a solo the move of one finger effects another one, every time i use the 3rd finger the 4th comes along and when i use the 4th the 3rd comes along,
any tips or exercises that would help me use each finger without effecting the others?

Blues Shredder

Try holding your hand straight up, and bending only one finger at a time. Also, using a Gripmaster helped me.

stretching each finger daily to mthe furtherest point i can possibly stand is helping me. as they say "no pain no yadda, yadda, yadda!"

How do you stretch your fingers?

easy exercise - place fingers of left hand on the table at about the same angle they would be on the strings -- lift each finger - one at a time - as high off the table as you can without the other fingers lifting off. you can do this at work, in school (I do not suggest you do it while making love to your girl) Eventually you will be able to add a variation that goes like this -- lift one finger, straighten it, bend back and return to table.

I do an exercise like that myself it certainly does help with the dexterity of your fingers believe me!
Whats wrong with doing your finger exercises while with your girl, she might like it!

Whys a woman like a guitar?
Because it takes a lot of movement up and down the body to get the sound you want!

Chill!

Try this exercise. A friend showed it to me a long time ago. I don't know if anyone else has ever heard of this, but he called it the 'Spider'.



E |-------------------------------------------------------|
B |-------------------------------------------------------|
G |--------------------------------------7-8-5-6-----5-6--|
D |----------------------7-8-5-6-----5-6---------7-8------|
A |------7-8-5-6-----5-6---------7-8----------------------|
E |--5-6---------7-8--------------------------------------|

E |------------------7-8-5-6-----8-7---------6-5----------|
B |--7-8-5-6-----5-6---------7-8-----6-5-8-7-----8-7------|
G |----------7-8-------------------------------------6-5--|
D |-------------------------------------------------------|
A |-------------------------------------------------------|
E |-------------------------------------------------------|

E |-------------------------------------------------------|
B |------6-5----------------------------------------------|
G |--8-7-----8-7---------6-5------------------------------|
D |--------------6-5-8-7-----8-7---------6-5--------------|
A |------------------------------6-5-8-7-----8-7----------|
E |----------------------------------------------6-5-8-7--|

E |--------|
B |--------|
G |--------|
D |--------|
A |--6-5---|
E |--------|



Use alternate picking and start off slow. Then speed it up, and be sure to play it all over the neck, not just at the 5th fret.

That should keep your fingers limber and increase coordination. Peace.

Originally posted by scottay51
"no pain no yadda, yadda, yadda!"

Maybe for weight lifting or whatever, but in guitar playing pain = bad.

@Christoph
....mhh with which fingers should I play this exercise ? only with two ?

Jesus

All of them.

index - 5th fret notes
middle - 6th
ring - 7th
pinky - 8th

I found an exercise at one web site, forget which, you lift the index and ring finger at the same time, while keeping the "finger" finger and pinky on the frets. Then switch. Lift the "finger" (what is that one called?) finger and the pinky at the same time, while leaving the index and ring fingers on the frets. Repeat over and over. I guess it helps build independence. All I know is it's not very easy.

You're right, it isn't easy. I'm practicing flat on a table top. The "finger" finger is called the middle finger. But I like "finger" finger.

Try this one. Place the four fingers of your left hand on the top (thinnest) string at position 5 chromatically, i.e. index on fret 5, middle on fret 6, ring on fret 7 and pinky on fret 8.

Then, whilst leaving all other fingers on the fretboard, lift your index finger off the string and move it over to the second string. Do some pull-offs or trills between fret five and the open string. Move to the third string and do the same and repeat for each string until you are down to the bottom string. You will see that your index finger is stretching further with each string.

Return your index finger to position five and then do the same with your middle finger, making sure that the other fingers remain seated at the fretboard.

Which finger is most difficult? I find it's the ring finger and I'd guess that would be the same for mose people.

lotta replys'. my stretching of the fingers = from index to middle to ring to pinky all stretch towards the thumb. start slowly and whenever, wherever, or whatever you may be doing or at(i.e., traffic jam, boring business meeting, with your wife or girlfriend clothes shopping, etc, etc.). this little simple exercise will work wonders on the frets. trust me. as far as no pain, no yadda, yadda. . . only means that when you first start this little diddy it hurts like hell because your fingers are not use to this technique. i'm a coward so i'm definatly opposed to pain in anyway shape or form especially when it affects me. :(