Pinky power: tame and strengthen a flat fourth finger (VIDEO)
I was always proud of my fourth finger as a teenager. I’d use it all the time for high notes, finishing arpeggios, big shifts, you name it. So it dismayed me to discover, when I was in my early twenties practicing for a Chicago Symphony audition, that my 4 had gone from fit to fat!
I don’t know when it happened. Maybe it was the stress of my first job in Saint Paul. Maybe it was the pint of ice cream I was eating every day at that point (living alone in a bachelor apartment with Ben & Jerry’s money, you know). But there were passages I suddenly couldn’t play evenly because my 4 was flattening out.
Now before you read on, make sure you’ve downloaded my Pinky Power cheat sheet so that you can follow along. Just let me know where to send it:
So it can happen to anyone! Or maybe you’d say that your 4 has never been your friend. It doesn’t really matter. Because I’ve made a video that shows you how to start at scratch and build your fourth finger back up. In the end, all you really want is for it to behave like your other three. You may even start to feel lucky with your 4! Here’s how to do it, and I’d really appreciate your comments below to let me know how these exercises work for you:
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21 thoughts on “Pinky power: tame and strengthen a flat fourth finger (VIDEO)”
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Scales: The Road
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Even if you’ve never played a scale before, violinist Nathan Cole of the Los Angeles Philharmonic will guide you through scale routines that meet you where you are, and build progressively alongside your playing.
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Thanks for your advice and teaching, I am 70 years old and just took up violin again, played as a child, not well, but I love learning and have no expectations except to learn as much as I can with the time I have left. I love listening to artists who can play beautifully, and if I get one note that sounds close to beautiful, I am happy.
Really inspiring, thanks!
Thank you! Really helpful tips.
Thank you for the clear explanations, and especially for your demonstration with the tissue. I am an adult cello student with a very weak pinky. I especially like that I can do the exercise away from the cello. I immediately felt it working the pinky in a way to strengthen and train it. Thank you again.
Great, I think you’re the first to try it out and report back!
I really enjoy your videos!
Very good lesson!
I would add another exercise, which is the opposite of playing a long D and short E’s on the A string (which can be written as D———ED——–ED——-ED—- etc.): playing with the same fingers but playing the E’s long and the D’s short. (It can be written as E———–DE———-DE———-DE—– etc.). This strengthens the 4th finger’s motion in the opposite direction. which is also very important.
Yes, I love this too! I need to make another video that addresses finger motion in general, and this one (the complement of the “trill prep”) would definitely feature prominently!
Wonderful – I’m actually a guitar player but I’ve been making slow steady progress vs. focal dystonia w/r/t to hand-position, tension bla bla and this has helped a bunch. Thanks very much and keep up the great work!
Really glad to hear!
JIT for St Patrick’s day and those crazy fast ornaments with the fourth finger… I gave myself a injury that took months learning one slip jig a few years ago… Thank you.
Right, those quick little things like turns and trills really need good form to sparkle!
Hi Nathan, thanks so much for giving your dedication and time, especially with a busy career. Your videos, website and blogs are so well thought out, well explained and useful.
I have a question, my fourth finger seams to lock at the base joint, I can curve the middle joint so don’t think it’s just a flattened fourth issue although it’s benefitting from the exercises.
I first noticed it recently practicing broken octaves and was struggling to consistently tune the fourth finger. I then realised I can’t do an expressive fourth vibrato and subconsciously always choose the third where possible.
I’ve looked but haven’t read any literature (Galamian, Fischer, Strad articles) relating to tension or locking of the fourth finger base joint.
Have you come across this problem before with students? Any thoughts, sugggestions or musings would be really appreciated.
I want to make sure I understand, so are you describing something that happens only on the violin, or even away from the violin? Does it happen with the 4th finger of both hands?
Thanks Nathan, its just my 4th, left hand violin playing. I’ve had a close look this morning at its range of movement in front of the mirror and I’ve misanalysed, sorry, it’s not ‘locking’, the joint moves comparative to the others but when playing there is tension I don’t feel in 1,2,3. I tried bringing my thumb a little lower and moving my hand slightly forward which seemed to help, albeit altering the frame (intonation to boot).
My 4th is probably well overdue exercises, (along with whole left hand technique) and has been pressing to compensate weakness. I’ll continue practicing yours and the MVP and slowly practice Kreutzer 16 and my Schradieck currently gathering dust on the piano!
Yes, and have you done the little exercises with a tissue or similar small object that I demonstrate in the video? That can help, as well as those grip accessories that golfers often use. Just get the light tension:
https://www.amazon.com/Gripmaster-14003-BLK-Exerciser-Tension-9-Pounds/dp/B0006FLBSO/ref=sr_1_4?s=sports-and-fitness&ie=UTF8&qid=1523311717&sr=1-4&keywords=grip%2Bstrength%2Btrainer&th=1
This video is so interesting. I’m from Ecuador. I’m a violinist since 5 years old. But, it’s so dificult the exercise 9 of Kreutzer. Can you explain this?.
Blessings
Mario.
I agree, Kreutzer 9 is actually pretty advanced and a challenge even for professional players. You may want to start slowly with moderate trill exercises and things like Schradieck. That way it’s not as taxing on just the 4th finger.
Thanks, Nathan, for this and all of your wonderful resources. I often refer my students to your website so that they can benefit from your methodical and positive videos.
So helpful ????
Whenever I have a technical issue, I do a Google search with “Nathan Cole” and the issue (pinky this time), and lo & behold, Nathan Cole always delivers!
Love how you clearly break things down and provide solutions!
My brain doesn’t function at all like this, so it amazes me!
Obviously you inherited both the musical & teaching gene from your parents!
Again, can’t express how helpful your explanations are!
Best wishes to you! Wil
Thank you Wil!