Should I use my pinky to play guitar..or does it REALLY matter..?!
Question: acoustic
Answers: acoustic
Hey Snozzberries!
I surely HOPE what you mean by "my pinky", still means your little finger! :)
This question really gave me a good chuckle! Thank you so much for asking it!
Snozzberries, just watch a video close-up of your fav lead guitarist, or watch guitar master; Chet Atkins, Carlos Santana or Eddie Van Halen, in any close-up of them playing guitar on TV or wherever; and you will see that; real professional guitarists, use ALL of their fingers for guitar playing, most all of the time!
I would be completely lost, if I hadn't worked hard at getting my left hand little "pinky" finger coordinated enough so I could use it to pick guitar with!
Using my "pinky fingers" is so much a part of my guitar playing now, that for years, I've been using my pinky finger to help me broaden the notes on the chords I make, when I play rhythm guitar!
I use my pinky finger on my right, strumming hand: when finger-picking, when tickling the strings for a mondolin type rhythm effect and for holding the round whammy-bar and using it when I need that effect when playing my electric guitars! I can think of many other ways I use my pinky fingers on both hands, while playing guitar!
As far as I know, you flat cannot play finger-picking style of guitar without using your pinky-fingers! At least I've never seen any true professional guitarist finger-pick and not use both of their little fingers!
I find this question so refreshing and humorous because, when I first read it; I just immediately thought that I cannot fathom any serious guitar player NOT using their pinky fingers to play guitar! After all the many long years I've played guitar professionally, i guess it would just never have occured to me to ask this question! :)
However, I do clearly recall, a very long time ago now; a very young High School aged boy that was just then learning to play guitar. This young fellow had a few months of beginning guitar under his belt already, and was hearing all the same kinds of scuttle-butt from other "new" guitarists a bit more advanced at guitar playing than he was. I remember this same young HS aged fellow, asking almost the very same question you have asked herein, of his friend, a local lead guitarist legend, who could pick Chet Atkins note-for-note and not miss a note!
The local lead guitarist whom was helping this young beginning guitar student learn to play guitar whenever he could; just shook his head at the young HS aged boy... that was me; and with a big old smile said; "Watch the fingers on my picking hand real close as I play this next song and see for yourself, the answer to your last question!" Then he picked-out Chet Atkins hit "Mainstreet Breakdown" note-for-note, at tempo and he was using his pinkys and his thumbs as well, picking that guitar solo out!
Here I am years later, using all my fingers, ("pinky" inclusive) and thumbs, to play guitar, so.....
Hope this helps you see through the scuttle-butt rumors that seems to abound between "newby" guitar players with a year or two more time, still learning to play guitar, than the true beginning guitarists listening to all this nonsense! :)
I certainly have enjoyed answering this question though Snozzberries! Thank you so much for asking a very good, sincere question and making my whole week so much lighter and happier for your having asked it! :)
Sincerely,
Jazzme 109
It does not matter, but most people would not find it comfortable or have as much control over their pinky.