I'm 56 and brand new, have never played a string instrument. Started doing this drill about a week ago and literally play about 10 minutes a day and not even every day. Couldn't play the pinky note without it buzzing for the life of me. Thought maybe my hands were too small but really it was reach! And the reach suddenly started improving after a handful of days. Don't give up on this! I can't believe how much better it's getting and I'm really glad I stuck with it. Thank you for the video!
In addition to its intended purpose of making the ring and pinky fingers stronger, the riff just sounds cool. Walking it up and down the neck from low frets to high frets and back down again, with a few repeated patterns randomly thrown in, is really fun once you get it up to speed. Great stuff, as always, man!
I do have a challenge ahead... arthritic left thumb, at the wrist. That 'proper thumb position' will be elusive for me. I currently am using the pad of the thumb on the back of the neck, to get around thumb pain.
GOOD VIDEO MARK, IVE BEEN PRACTICING SO MUCH I HAVE CAULISES ON MY FINGERS AND PLUCKING THUMB, I HAVE TO PLAY MY BASS EVERY DAY TO FEEL THE STRINGS UNDER MY FINGERS AND HEAR THAT GREAT SOUND
Here’s where 25 years of guitar playing helped my newfound bass playing, my pinky and ring finger was already plenty strong. The pinky can’t hide on the guitar
Wow. Without getting into the particulars of why I'm such a bad bass player. After 7 years of continually screwing up things I've been playing for 7 years. The way you come across. Now I've really been trying to incorporate my pinky. And only 3 frets per 4 fingers. I can't get over how much my practice has improved in only 4 days. And another thing I notice it just groups different parts of the riff? In a organized way that the change over is clean. ( if that makes any sense) Im like amazed. I just wanted to say thank you so much For this information. Thanks Mark!
Mayhap the greatest bass-learning channel on youtube, telling you to play one of the most iconic cornerstones of all metal. I just love it. This stuff used to cost a lot of money before teh interwebs. Edit: Now get it up in speed!
This has been one of my weaknesses. I have really struggled using the the pinky. So thanks Mark I will try that exercise. I have enjoyed using the site and found it really helpful. As a 68 year old just starting the bass I am not very dextrous yet but hope to improve.. I am using the sight reading course as well as the beginner one and enjoying every minute.
I can't hold my thumb and fingers in the suggested position without wrist pain. I need to point my thumb more toward the head stock and my fingers at an angle and flatter to the frets.I broke my left pinkey many years ago and it healed bent towards the ring finger and not quite as strong. I make it all work though.
Another fantastic exercise. Thanks Mark! I keep going into these thinking I won’t get much out of them or they are too complicated and then I try them and I can do them and learn a bit too. Hmm ya think I would have figured that out by now. That’s why Mark is the best!
Thank you so much for all the great tutorials. I personally am still having a difficult time using the pinky finger on the higher frets like the 12th fret and upwards. Especially on the E string.
Perfect timing for me with this video! I managed to hurt my pinky quite badly 4 weeks ago with a kitchen knife, I was really looking forward for this kind of exercise in order to rebuild a few pinky muscles as it is slowly healing...
So enjoyable to improve pinky strength whilst playing something that sounds interesting and pleasant. One of my many problems playing bass is lack of speed. This piece allows me to start slowly and then get faster. Can't play a succession of sixteenths yet but with practice ......
Thank you Mark for another valuable lesson. Particularly good points re. the finger/fret positioning (7 minute mark). After 4 years I still have difficulty getting parallel. Another very important point re. fatigue (10 minute) - warning to the over enthusiastic newcomers!!!!
Perfect lesson (especially the comments about bass- and hand positioning), and exactly what i needed. This video here ticks everything i wanted to know! One thing that's missing or i have a question about... and that is the 'light pressing' to get the right tone... doesn't that also depend on the action of the bass? And that being said... what 'action' do you reccomend/ play with? Other than that just another great little lesson... you really stand out with your approach to technique and theory... great stuff!
Mark, it's a good exercise, thanks. One tip of advice for these kind of videos: although you mention later on people should start this exercise slow, you're not playing it slow yourself as an example. I think it will help students to start slower if you perform it a bit slower yourself as well at some moment in the video.
Fantastic lesson Mark! I think Johann Sebastian Bach copyright lawyers might be in touch soon though 🤣 I shall do this daily from now on and increase the BPM on a weekly basis. Many thanks!
I want to get into tapping but my pinky and ring fingers are so much weaker than the index and middle... I have to give this "work out" a try for a few weeks
We are tempted to say that the weakest finger is the little finger. But in fact, the little finger can carry more weight than you think. Just try lifting the bag with your little finger and lifting it with your index finger, and you'll see that your little finger can hold the same weight for a few seconds. The ring finger is the weakest finger and the only one that cannot perform complex tasks on its own.
Lesson Material: www.talkingbass.net/improve-your-pinky-finger-strength-with-this-killer-bass-lick/
I like it! def will try it
My pinky is stronger than ring finger
How to improve ring finger? plz help
This is my “Last Resort” for my pinky. Thank you Mark for this awesome exercise!
Hah I really thought he was gonna play the last resort intro
Isn't this cello thingy from bach?
I'm 56 and brand new, have never played a string instrument. Started doing this drill about a week ago and literally play about 10 minutes a day and not even every day. Couldn't play the pinky note without it buzzing for the life of me. Thought maybe my hands were too small but really it was reach! And the reach suddenly started improving after a handful of days. Don't give up on this! I can't believe how much better it's getting and I'm really glad I stuck with it. Thank you for the video!
2:10 straight to the exercise
These are the kinds of things that should be in every beginners course but normally aren't. Probably why I subscribe to Talking Bass :-)
In addition to its intended purpose of making the ring and pinky fingers stronger, the riff just sounds cool. Walking it up and down the neck from low frets to high frets and back down again, with a few repeated patterns randomly thrown in, is really fun once you get it up to speed. Great stuff, as always, man!
Great exercise. After laying off a few days, this one will get me Bach to the bass again. Thanks!
Not seeing it up in the Lesson Map yet.
Ah ... I was wondering. I've been scouring his site and I can't seem to find it. Does it usually take a few days?
Thanks for helping with my pinky power it was a big problem when my dad wanted me to start bass.
I do have a challenge ahead... arthritic left thumb, at the wrist. That 'proper thumb position' will be elusive for me. I currently am using the pad of the thumb on the back of the neck, to get around thumb pain.
GOOD VIDEO MARK,
IVE BEEN PRACTICING SO MUCH I HAVE CAULISES ON MY FINGERS AND PLUCKING THUMB,
I HAVE TO PLAY MY BASS EVERY DAY TO FEEL THE STRINGS UNDER MY FINGERS AND HEAR THAT GREAT SOUND
Here’s where 25 years of guitar playing helped my newfound bass playing, my pinky and ring finger was already plenty strong. The pinky can’t hide on the guitar
cool
Yeah, okay, _these_ are the kind of finger exercises I really dig, because it's musical. That's really cool, Mark!
What a great video, as soon as I read the title I picked up the bass to practice, thank you Mark!
This fella is amazing
Thank you for sharing
Really useful exercise. Thanks!
Super useful. Thanks!
I love talking Bass my pinky is so strong and flexible now
Fantastic exercise for strengthening the pinky and improving dexterity. This will be in my toolbox. Mark you’ve done it again!
Wow. Without getting into the particulars of why I'm such a bad bass player. After 7 years of continually screwing up things I've been playing for 7 years. The way you come across. Now I've really been trying to incorporate my pinky. And only 3 frets per 4 fingers.
I can't get over how much my practice has improved in only 4 days. And another thing I notice it just groups different parts of the riff? In a organized way that the change over is clean. ( if that makes any sense) Im like amazed.
I just wanted to say thank you so much
For this information. Thanks Mark!
Mayhap the greatest bass-learning channel on youtube, telling you to play one of the most iconic cornerstones of all metal. I just love it. This stuff used to cost a lot of money before teh interwebs.
Edit: Now get it up in speed!
thank you for your videos
Great exercise, I will incorporate this into my daily workout
Great lesson, even for an old-timer like me.
Thanks!
This is the best pinky training excercise on the entire web. I already knew the tune, absolutely beautiful. :)
Fantabulous exercise for the 3rd and 4th fingers!!!!! Thank you Master!!! :-)))
Your lessons make so much sense and are easy to understand. Thank you!
This has been one of my weaknesses. I have really struggled using the the pinky. So thanks Mark I will try that exercise. I have enjoyed using the site and found it really helpful. As a 68 year old just starting the bass I am not very dextrous yet but hope to improve.. I am using the sight reading course as well as the beginner one and enjoying every minute.
I can't hold my thumb and fingers in the suggested position without wrist pain. I need to point my thumb more toward the head stock and my fingers at an angle and flatter to the frets.I broke my left pinkey many years ago and it healed bent towards the ring finger and not quite as strong. I make it all work though.
Terrific, thanks! Glad I bought the course!
Great exercice, simply laid out. Thanks. I send this right now to a friend.
Great riff and lesson. Thank you, Mark.
Another fantastic exercise. Thanks Mark! I keep going into these thinking I won’t get much out of them or they are too complicated and then I try them and I can do them and learn a bit too. Hmm ya think I would have figured that out by now. That’s why Mark is the best!
Thank you so much for all the great tutorials. I personally am still having a difficult time using the pinky finger on the higher frets like the 12th fret and upwards. Especially on the E string.
also said before Thank you Mark for this awesome exercise
Perfect timing for me with this video! I managed to hurt my pinky quite badly 4 weeks ago with a kitchen knife, I was really looking forward for this kind of exercise in order to rebuild a few pinky muscles as it is slowly healing...
This is my comment to the Channel: "Yet another great video! Thanks man!"
Good that.
Nice!
Thanks Mark! Great exercise
Great stuff, subscribing!
great exercise, as usual! thanks Mark
Great lesson.. was struggling very quickly 🤪…work to do 🙏🙏
Any ETA on when the lesson material will be up over at Takingbass?
So enjoyable to improve pinky strength whilst playing something that sounds interesting and pleasant. One of my many problems playing bass is lack of speed. This piece allows me to start slowly and then get faster. Can't play a succession of sixteenths yet but with practice ......
Really great exercise, perfect, thank you. And I've thought my pinky is doing pretty fine 😂
Thank you Mark for another valuable lesson. Particularly good points re. the finger/fret positioning (7 minute mark). After 4 years I still have difficulty getting parallel. Another very important point re. fatigue (10 minute) - warning to the over enthusiastic newcomers!!!!
Perfect lesson (especially the comments about bass- and hand positioning), and exactly what i needed. This video here ticks everything i wanted to know! One thing that's missing or i have a question about... and that is the 'light pressing' to get the right tone... doesn't that also depend on the action of the bass? And that being said... what 'action' do you reccomend/ play with?
Other than that just another great little lesson... you really stand out with your approach to technique and theory... great stuff!
Thank you, Mark. Great advice, as usual...
Wild, last night I was wanting something to do to make my pinky stronger, did not know he was watching my search history. Creepy but also useful.
Mark, it's a good exercise, thanks. One tip of advice for these kind of videos: although you mention later on people should start this exercise slow, you're not playing it slow yourself as an example. I think it will help students to start slower if you perform it a bit slower yourself as well at some moment in the video.
I've been practicing my Chord Tones like Django Reinhart, -- and it shows...
Great video as always. This helped me a lot
Brilliant, thank you so much.
I was taught early on to use one finger per fret but my flying pinkie makes me look like a posh bloke drinking a cup of tea.I need this,thanks.
Lovely. Thank you.
Bar 4 and bar 3 from Johann Sebastian's WTC Prelude #I-2 transposed down a 5th, obviously ;)
Thank you !!
Excellent
Reminds me of the "Spy Hunter" theme!! when you played it fast!
There you are!!!
That's some sauce
Fantastic lesson Mark! I think Johann Sebastian Bach copyright lawyers might be in touch soon though 🤣 I shall do this daily from now on and increase the BPM on a weekly basis. Many thanks!
The G one!!! Middle of Iron Maiden To tame a land is great for pinky stamina
How do you always know what I need to practice. Clairvoyant?
Mark what is your bass with the star on the body?
You can also do chromatic scales without using your index finger
I want to get into tapping but my pinky and ring fingers are so much weaker than the index and middle... I have to give this "work out" a try for a few weeks
♥️
Anyone got a link to the lesson material?
ill have to give this exercise a try thanks. also strangely papa roach sounding
Please someone tell me that this exercise will make my pinky reach the lower notes after 9th fret
Ouch!
If you mean the riff, it was almost instant hand cramp for me, I have really neglected my pinky.
Can we hold finger 1 in the 7 fret?
Anybody?
We are tempted to say that the weakest finger is the little finger. But in fact, the little finger can carry more weight than you think. Just try lifting the bag with your little finger and lifting it with your index finger, and you'll see that your little finger can hold the same weight for a few seconds.
The ring finger is the weakest finger and the only one that cannot perform complex tasks on its own.
I can feel my fingers slowly loosening up already after my first attempt.
I'm on time!! Finally!! Sorry, just had to say that.
How come the riff in A minor sounds like a classical piece but like a metal groove when in G? Lol.
Sounds like a JS Bach exercise to me...
And if you really want to trip out...put some delay on it.
This hurts. It sucks. I need to do this daily. I hate you 🤣