I recently cut the tip of my 1st finger right were I would use it to finger notes. So I just moved down using my 2nd finger were my 1st would normally be, 3rd where my 2nd would go & 4th where my 3rd would normally be. I also had an automatic chromatic tuner so I could see if I was truly hitting the notes in tune.
It's like playing in the half position but even further down. I played through a few tunes & my pinky really felt like it had been worked out. I do use my 4th quite a bit and I felt that this really gave it a work out.
To those fiddlers who don't use the 4th finger much, and might be tempted into trying Brad's technique, remember that Brad was already an experienced player with a well-developed left hand before he was forced into doing what he described. So don't.
The best way to develop 4th finger technique is to use it in normal playing - not just the B on the E-string but try fingered E's, A's and D's on the lower strings. Make sure you're warmed up and that you've got a good relaxed left hand position (check this out with a more experienced player first). Don't overdo it in the earlier stages, give your hand time to rest and the muscles that control the 4th finger an opportunity to develop their strength.
I don't recommend unusual exercises, still less mechanical devices, for developing the hand unless there is a good medical reason or you're an experienced player faced with an emergency situation.
Brad, I don't think your work out would be a problem for anyone at that stage where they realize they need to use their fourth finger more.
Sure, if it causes any aches, ease off. But tiring that pinkie out (well, the forearm muscles that run it) and then letting it recover is the only way to develop it into a fully functioning fourth finger.
I've found playing scales, using the 4th finger in place of the open string, to be good for both building up strength in that finger and opening up the hand to get the right intonation.
The lower octave of Bb major, with 4th-finger As and Ds, while keeping every other finger in place (esp. the low first finger), is a particularly nice stretch
Hey Brad, sorry to hear about your misfortune. At first reading I thought you had severed the top of your finger. However that’s no consolation if it impedes your ability to play, even for a short duration!
For you, and others, who might have suffered such an accident, here’s a little piece to encourage you all.
In the North East of England, near Newcastle there was and is a mighty scene of traditional music with Northumbrian Pipes, fiddles, accordions and full on singing.
I was blessed for many years to meet and play with some of these beautiful characters.
One of these was a lovely man called Willie Taylor, a fiddle player. He played in a little group called The Border Shepherds, and did he play beautifully!
I must be honest and say I never noticed until after a number of sessions that he had no top to his left index finger; he’d lost it in a turnip cutting accident. It never impaired his playing, and he wrote such beautiful happy tunes. One springs to mind, written for his grand daughter, “Wee Kerry’s Welcome.
Here’s a little something to give you all a laugh!
There’s a lovely concertina and pipes player called Aly Anderson from way up North.
He told me once that he was doing a gig at some art exhibition and he’d taken The Shepherds along. Also playing at the same gig was The Lindsay Quartet. As you can imagine fiddlers talk and swap fiddles and one of the violinists proffered his Strad for Willie to try.
He played a few tunes and his response was “Don’t care much about the fiddle, but the bow’s alright!”
I developed my fourth finger by playing tunes that used it: Musical Priest, Connaughtman's Rambles, Joe Derrane's, Calliope House in E, Star of Munster, etc.
Johnny Gorman's is another good tune for the pinky.
One exercise I had from a mandolin teacher to develop the fourth finger was to play any tune without playing an open string. For example, instead of playing the open D string, play the D on the 7th fret on the G string, etc. Same idea could be used for fiddle.
Django Reinhardt had a severly deformed left hand. He was able to make it work to his advantage. I cut the tip off my wedding ring finger 30 some odd years ago when I was learning to play guitar. After it healed it became my toughest finger tip with the scar tissue. But it was very painful as I started to re use it. Nowadays, when my other 3 fingers get sore, it's just starting to warm up.
I feel like keys with Bb and Eb are not used enough. I suspect some string players are afraid of those keys because they take away their open strings one by one, but they make the fourth finger so much easier to use. I think everytime I play the B part to Eileen Curran, "thank god I don't have to embarass myself by reaching for that high b natural, because I'm only one of two people playing right now." Anyway, years ago I severed a large chunk of my left middle finger, and smaller portions of the surrounding two fingers with a circular saw. Just as I was breaking past so many musical plateaus in my development. After The wounds sealed, I had no nerves in the tip of my middle finger. If I poke at the point on my finger where the blade hit it, it feels like it is the tip of my finger that I'm touching. It was at that point that I quit playing guitar (until I got ahold of a nylon string) because my grip had weakened severely and the tips of my fingers were messed up for some time after they healed. That's when I started playing fiddle, because from a physical perspective, it is a much easier instrument to play than the guitar. At least you don't have to worry about buzzing notes because you didn't press down hard enough, because the tip of your finger has no feeling....works fine on the fiddle though.
Earl, how many years ago did you slice your fingers?
I only ask because I sliced my little finger in a serious accident with a sharp knife and a stale bread roll on an offshore rig.
For years , pressing the bottom joint felt like the tip of my finger. But, amazingly, the nerves gradually found their way back and by about seven years later feeling was back at the tip. I still have a sensitive bit were the cut was, and my little finger isn't terribly mobile
I was slicing pounds of mushrooms for a saute with garlic and olive oil for a large group of people. Never found the tip. Never worried about it because after cooking it probably tasted just like mushrooms. Maybe a bit more chewy. Anybody want to come to my house for supper? We're having T-Bone steak with saute au fingertips and mushrooms. Guitar players welcome.
Oh, also to clarify, 30 some odd years ago when I STARTED to learn guitar........ I'm still trying to learn how to play it. Boyoboy......are my other 3 fingers sore!
Bob, come on over. We need some guitar players to silce the mushrooms. We could watch Sweeny Todd with Johnny Depp and then have some pie for dessert. :~)
Boatpiper, I always wonder what happens to those bits of finger that meet with a newly-sharpened chef's knife. No one has ever complained at our house.....I do search for the. Really.
On the other hand, it does make playing the fiddle rather difficult for a few days. But the scar tissue is nice, too.
Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
I recently cut the tip of my 1st finger right were I would use it to finger notes. So I just moved down using my 2nd finger were my 1st would normally be, 3rd where my 2nd would go & 4th where my 3rd would normally be. I also had an automatic chromatic tuner so I could see if I was truly hitting the notes in tune.
It's like playing in the half position but even further down. I played through a few tunes & my pinky really felt like it had been worked out. I do use my 4th quite a bit and I felt that this really gave it a work out.
# Posted on January 25th 2010 by B Rad
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
To those fiddlers who don't use the 4th finger much, and might be tempted into trying Brad's technique, remember that Brad was already an experienced player with a well-developed left hand before he was forced into doing what he described. So don't.
The best way to develop 4th finger technique is to use it in normal playing - not just the B on the E-string but try fingered E's, A's and D's on the lower strings. Make sure you're warmed up and that you've got a good relaxed left hand position (check this out with a more experienced player first). Don't overdo it in the earlier stages, give your hand time to rest and the muscles that control the 4th finger an opportunity to develop their strength.
I don't recommend unusual exercises, still less mechanical devices, for developing the hand unless there is a good medical reason or you're an experienced player faced with an emergency situation.
# Posted on January 25th 2010 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
Whoopsy! My bad.
Remember tunes in Bb Eb F & all those other flat keys bring the 4th finger into play too.
Didn't mean to lead anyone astray
# Posted on January 25th 2010 by B Rad
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
Brad, I don't think your work out would be a problem for anyone at that stage where they realize they need to use their fourth finger more.
Sure, if it causes any aches, ease off. But tiring that pinkie out (well, the forearm muscles that run it) and then letting it recover is the only way to develop it into a fully functioning fourth finger.
Hope your index is on the mend and heals fully.
# Posted on January 25th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Good 4th finger exercise for fiddlers
I've found playing scales, using the 4th finger in place of the open string, to be good for both building up strength in that finger and opening up the hand to get the right intonation.
The lower octave of Bb major, with 4th-finger As and Ds, while keeping every other finger in place (esp. the low first finger), is a particularly nice stretch
# Posted on January 25th 2010 by rdi
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
Bail ó Dhia oraibh!
Hey Brad, sorry to hear about your misfortune. At first reading I thought you had severed the top of your finger. However that’s no consolation if it impedes your ability to play, even for a short duration!
For you, and others, who might have suffered such an accident, here’s a little piece to encourage you all.
In the North East of England, near Newcastle there was and is a mighty scene of traditional music with Northumbrian Pipes, fiddles, accordions and full on singing.
I was blessed for many years to meet and play with some of these beautiful characters.
One of these was a lovely man called Willie Taylor, a fiddle player. He played in a little group called The Border Shepherds, and did he play beautifully!
I must be honest and say I never noticed until after a number of sessions that he had no top to his left index finger; he’d lost it in a turnip cutting accident. It never impaired his playing, and he wrote such beautiful happy tunes. One springs to mind, written for his grand daughter, “Wee Kerry’s Welcome.
Here’s a little something to give you all a laugh!
There’s a lovely concertina and pipes player called Aly Anderson from way up North.
He told me once that he was doing a gig at some art exhibition and he’d taken The Shepherds along. Also playing at the same gig was The Lindsay Quartet. As you can imagine fiddlers talk and swap fiddles and one of the violinists proffered his Strad for Willie to try.
He played a few tunes and his response was “Don’t care much about the fiddle, but the bow’s alright!”
Hope your finger repairs well Brad!
All the best
Brian xx
# Posted on January 25th 2010 by briantheflute
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
I developed my fourth finger by playing tunes that used it: Musical Priest, Connaughtman's Rambles, Joe Derrane's, Calliope House in E, Star of Munster, etc.
Johnny Gorman's is another good tune for the pinky.
# Posted on January 25th 2010 by Will Harmon
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
One exercise I had from a mandolin teacher to develop the fourth finger was to play any tune without playing an open string. For example, instead of playing the open D string, play the D on the 7th fret on the G string, etc. Same idea could be used for fiddle.
# Posted on January 25th 2010 by Jiml
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
Django Reinhardt had a severly deformed left hand. He was able to make it work to his advantage. I cut the tip off my wedding ring finger 30 some odd years ago when I was learning to play guitar. After it healed it became my toughest finger tip with the scar tissue. But it was very painful as I started to re use it. Nowadays, when my other 3 fingers get sore, it's just starting to warm up.
# Posted on January 26th 2010 by Gone to work
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
I feel like keys with Bb and Eb are not used enough. I suspect some string players are afraid of those keys because they take away their open strings one by one, but they make the fourth finger so much easier to use. I think everytime I play the B part to Eileen Curran, "thank god I don't have to embarass myself by reaching for that high b natural, because I'm only one of two people playing right now." Anyway, years ago I severed a large chunk of my left middle finger, and smaller portions of the surrounding two fingers with a circular saw. Just as I was breaking past so many musical plateaus in my development. After The wounds sealed, I had no nerves in the tip of my middle finger. If I poke at the point on my finger where the blade hit it, it feels like it is the tip of my finger that I'm touching. It was at that point that I quit playing guitar (until I got ahold of a nylon string) because my grip had weakened severely and the tips of my fingers were messed up for some time after they healed. That's when I started playing fiddle, because from a physical perspective, it is a much easier instrument to play than the guitar. At least you don't have to worry about buzzing notes because you didn't press down hard enough, because the tip of your finger has no feeling....works fine on the fiddle though.
# Posted on January 26th 2010 by Earl Cameron
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
I find playing 4th finger cuts can be tricky - I often miss the
target. So I make a point of doing it more than I need to.
# Posted on January 26th 2010 by Hup
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
What would Tony Iommi do?
# Posted on January 26th 2010 by jwvansteenwyk
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
Earl, how many years ago did you slice your fingers?
I only ask because I sliced my little finger in a serious accident with a sharp knife and a stale bread roll on an offshore rig.
For years , pressing the bottom joint felt like the tip of my finger. But, amazingly, the nerves gradually found their way back and by about seven years later feeling was back at the tip. I still have a sensitive bit were the cut was, and my little finger isn't terribly mobile
# Posted on January 26th 2010 by Bren
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
The 4th finger is good for getting water out of your ear after a swim..
# Posted on January 26th 2010 by nik nak
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
Hey nik nak!
That's spot on!
I don't have fluent French, but I understand that the fingers from thumb to pinky are
Puce
Doigt index Index finger
Doigt majeur Major/strong finger
Doigt annulaire Ring finger
Doigt auriclaire Ear cleaning finger
Serious!
Brian xx
# Posted on January 26th 2010 by briantheflute
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
>>Boatpiper
You say:
" I cut the tip off my wedding ring finger 30 some odd years ago when I was learning to play guitar"
It's not clear whether this was an accident, a random act of self harm, or a deliberate way of achieving a calloused finger for guitar playing.
Please clarify, so that I know whether or not to do it myself.
# Posted on January 26th 2010 by showaddydadito
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
I was slicing pounds of mushrooms for a saute with garlic and olive oil for a large group of people. Never found the tip. Never worried about it because after cooking it probably tasted just like mushrooms. Maybe a bit more chewy. Anybody want to come to my house for supper? We're having T-Bone steak with saute au fingertips and mushrooms. Guitar players welcome.
# Posted on January 26th 2010 by Gone to work
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
Oh, also to clarify, 30 some odd years ago when I STARTED to learn guitar........ I'm still trying to learn how to play it. Boyoboy......are my other 3 fingers sore!
# Posted on January 26th 2010 by Gone to work
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
Oh, thanks. Now I've got several unpleasant images I can't get out of my mind.
# Posted on January 26th 2010 by Bob himself
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
Bob, come on over. We need some guitar players to silce the mushrooms. We could watch Sweeny Todd with Johnny Depp and then have some pie for dessert. :~)
# Posted on January 26th 2010 by Gone to work
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
Boatpiper, I always wonder what happens to those bits of finger that meet with a newly-sharpened chef's knife. No one has ever complained at our house.....I do search for the. Really.
it does make playing the fiddle rather difficult for a few days. But the scar tissue is nice, too.
On the other hand,
# Posted on January 27th 2010 by Michele Sims
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
"them" (the m appears to have been mysteriously lopped off....
# Posted on January 27th 2010 by Michele Sims
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
YUMMMMM.... Fiddle player finger tips are tasty too!!! Come on over Batlady.
# Posted on January 27th 2010 by Gone to work
Re: Good 4th finger excercise for fiddlers
My finger's OK now.
# Posted on January 27th 2010 by B Rad