[quote name='danonearth' timestamp='1496371426' post='3310883']
[color=#191919][font=Verdana, Arial, sans-serif][size=4]Good day all,
I am wondering how often people use the pinky finger (on the fret hand)? I am experimenting with different scale patterns and it is starting to hurt using the traditional 'box' scale position...
-----------2-4-5-
-----2-3-5-------
-3-5-------------
...so I am favouring a more spread out position (which doesn't seem to hurt my pinky as much, but I have also even just begun playing it with index-middle-ring fingers and no pinky at all)
---------------4-5-
--------3-5-7-----
-3-5-7------------
Just wondering how much I should be relying on the pinky for fretting on the bass? I use it extensively on a guitar, but on bass it tends to get a bit sore, as I think I might be over-using it a bit?
Note: I have been playing for a while, so it is not a 'beginner's muscle development issue...
Thanks![/size][/font][/color]
[/quote]
Using your examples, I will list how I would use my fingers for those scales . 1=index 2=middle 3=ring finger 4= pinky
[font=verdana][color=#191919]-----------2-4-5-
-----2-3-5-------
-3-5-------------[/color][/font]
[i] 1,3 1,2,4 1,3,4[/i]
[font=verdana][color=#191919]---------------4-5-
--------3-5-7-----
-3-5-7------------[/color][/font]
[i]1,3,4 1,3,4 1,2 [/i]
Right handed self taught player, It takes some time to develop the strength and flexibility in your pinky but its essential to play certain lines cleanly with economic movement across strings.