Short Pinky Problems

Technique Critique
#33

This is getting kind of absurd. I doubt this matters in practice, what does is how independently you can move them, and that takes time and practice. If you can span a 5 fret stretch on the lower frets, as your picture indicates, No need to buy a different guitar with a shorter scale or any of that. You already have 90% of the stretch you will likely ever need or use.

Enjoy your new guitar, and then worry about this stuff if it actually becomes an issue on your guitar journey, right now it just sounds like an obsessive compulsive speculation.

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#34

In the photo, it looks like you can cover the first 3 steps of the major scale from the F on the low E string (whole-step whole-step stretch). While there are tricky licks where the ability to stretch even further is desireable, I think the main milestone for “should I use a shorter scale length” is whether you can comfortably and quickly do a “whole-step whole-step” stretch from the G at the 3rd fret of the low E string. To me, that’s the widest “super common” stretch in “shred” guitar.

My pinky is around 2 and 3/8 inches, and while I sometimes strain on certain licks on a 25.5" guitar, I find it’s mostly not a big issue. Most frustrating is licks where I can just barely make the stretch, but not in a relaxed enough way to play fluidly, but those are rare.

And as Troy pointed out, you could always DIY a shorter scale by slapping on a capo at the first or second fret if you really felt you needed to. And if you go that route, there are even removeable fretboard stickers you can buy to adjust the appearance of the fret markers.

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#35

You’re right. It is somewhat obsessive speculation. Do you know of some good songs to learn in the beginning? Preferably ones without large stretches?

#36

Well where are you at playing wise now? Are you just starting out all together, or have you played for a while and just want to branch out into more advanced lead playing?

#37

The latter. I’m pretty decent at rhythm playing and can do a few very simple leads but when it comes to playing anything complex and / or fast then I can’t do it.

#38

I’d recommend you start with what @tommo has advised. Find your fast tremolo, without thinking too much about how you do it. Experiment and see what comes easiest. Film it (there are filming guidelines here which are important so that we can see exactly what is happening)
And post your videos here. From there it’s much easier to advise on the next step.

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#39

Well, I can only tell you what my experience has been. I used to play a strat when I was a teenager, when I didn’t know anything about scale lengths and hand sizes. I didn’t put any thought into it. I wasn’t playing any 3nps runs in the lower registers, and couldn’t do it now most likely. The max I would play nowadays is a 24.75.

I would say return it if the disadvantage of having a wider stretch outweighs all of the advantages the Ibanez gives you. And I definitely understand where you are coming from, they are very nice guitars. I wish they made a 24" scale model for lefties. I just returned my 22.5" scale Ibanez due to a nickel allergy, but it was a very nice guitar.

And I’m not saying you can’t play fast on the Ibanez – not at all. Its just that some fast runs in the lower registers may be too difficult unless you downsize. 3nps runs in the higher registers are certainly doable, as is every other fast technique. So you aren’t that limited.

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#40

I’m sure I’m blushing.

@AerithAngel if you could make a video of you playing a 3 note per string scale shape I can give you pointers on fretting postures and mechanics which will alleviate any problems you experience. Simply knowing how your fretting hand should approach the neck is itself incredibly powerful.

For example, these stretches

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#41

This is a serious thread :laughing:

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#42

Stop whining and deal with it. Make it your secret weapon.

#43
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#44

Ok so I am also a Twitch streamer so please don’t worry about the little things still smattered about the screen. Here is a quick video. Simple Major Scale

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#45

Try to put a space between the link and the text. It should display the player in your post. Also video is set to private so can’t view.

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#47

I can’t seem to make it embed. I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, which is sad because I’m a software engineer lol.

#48

Well I can open it now. Fretting hand looks fine to me. I wouldn’t really focus too much on running scales though. It’s good to spend some time on them just to learn them. But I would may try incorporating more fragmented licks on one or two strings. What type of shred stuff do you like. If you like more neoclassical malmsteen type of stuff that may be a perfect place to start as he does a lot of single and two string sequences. What is your rhythm picking hand like (motions, placement etc.). Ideally you will want to build off of that and what you have already developed for your lead playing too if you can.

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#49

Django Reinhardt played absolutely smoking lines with only two mobile fingers. Danny Gatton had rather small hands and he could play like an absolute legend.

I don’t think that a short pinky is a problem unless you let it be one.

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#50

Don’t worry about small hands, Ruth is an absolute beast and she is tiny as an adult, and this is on a piano! In the absolute worst-case you can get a guitar with a shorter scale (under the typical 25.5 inches), or custom necks from Warmoth to retrofit Fender guitars. So, have fun, your hands will not be a barrier.

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#51

What type of shred stuff do you like. If you like more neoclassical malmsteen type of stuff that may be a perfect place to start as he does a lot of single and two string sequences.

Honestly, I want to learn to play fast solos from more mainstream rock music from the 80s, like Def Leppard, Motley Crue, Metallica, etc before I get into hardcore shredding but I did listen to alot of Yngwie for a while as a teen. The song I love right now that is major shred is Cliffs of Dover by Eric Johnson.

What is your rhythm picking hand like (motions, placement etc.). Ideally you will want to build off of that and what you have already developed for your lead playing too if you can.

I really just started working on this but watching Cracking the Code on YouTube and watching a few of the videos in the program I’ve learned alot. I didn’t even used to be able to do an upstroke without fumbling. I’m also working on getting good at single string tremolo.

#52

I think this is an excellent place to start! It’s where I did way back in the early 90’s when nobody wanted to play that stuff, and there is a lot of melodic value you can take away from some of those solos. A couple of good solos to begin with from DL are the the Steve Clark ones like the solo(s) for bringing on the heartbreak and too late, the are very attainable and sound good.

As for ej, I would work up to that, it’s more advanced. Since you are in a relatively newish phase of this, I would just take small sections you like before diving all in, but make EJ a longer term goal. Speaking of that, it may be best to set short term, medium term, and long term goals. A short term goal may be something you do every day - developing your playing capacity and style further, the small things like getting more acquainted with the instrument and short snippets of things. a medium term one may be playing the solo in too late, and for the long term, picking away at pieces of cliffs.

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#53

Okay, I have this problem of short fingers. I just want to mention, It won’t stop me from playing fast, or enjoying, or creating music. As others have mentioned, there are lots of players who have limitations and figure it out on their terms. My fingers are short, yep, way short (pinky measures in 2.25’’ says, the boxing announcer, haha) I started playing in the 80’s but have always found it difficult to minimize string noise, especially lift off noise when going up to the next higher string, or ascending. I also ‘PLAYED’ a RG super thin neck, by accident. After 15 unpleasant RG years, I play a PRS CE-24 (doesn’t matter which brand, just slightly thicker neck is the key, FOR ME. The neck fits my hand way better. I have gotten better at reducing tension but still not relaxed enough when stretching reaches my physical limits. I would imagine if anyone stretches past (his/her) reasonable distance, bad things will eventually happen. I’m in this until I can’t do it but it will only be due to physical issues. This is a bad recipe for me, to stretch as far as ‘so and so’ even though we are physically not even close in size, or even skill level. JP had his first instructional tape in the 90’s and I could only physically get through, may two iterations of his 1234 chord exercise. I simply don’t have the reach so as a result, you find different ways to play chords, maybe chord fragments, or 3 note chords, ala Ernie Berle via Guitar Player.

Again, this is my experience, but getting away from a thinner neck helped reduce some of tension and fatigue I had in my hands. However, I was clamping down way too hard with my left hand and to this day, I am still working on this. I can stretch decently but what I lose is the ability to get my index finger under the lower string to mute it out so I lose control in the ascending direction unless I use more staccato which I don’t prefer the sound of as much. So, while I can stretch decently to play fast, I have limits because wide stretching creates too much left hand fatigue and eventually tendonitis.

I suppose my workaround is that I use the middle and higher registers to compensate. I don’t play 3nps lower than the say, the A Ma (5th pos) unless I am only playing scale fragments. I also tend to play scale patterns that fit my hand better. For example, I like playing in the Locrian position and then shifting up into the natural minor position which helps keeps the stretching to a minimum. I create my own arpeggio patterns which are more horizontal than the straight up and down arps.

In the end, you definitely can learn to play fast because you need your right hand as well unless you are only thinking legato style. I suggest, playing in areas of the neck which allow you more left hand ‘freedom’ for stretching out. I now spend most of my time playing ONLY what physically is comfortable because I want to continue to play for 2 hours a day so I can continue to develop my own way of playing. The limitations will ultimately guide you to YOU, your own personal way of expression on guitar.

Again, I will keep working at getting my index finger under that next lower string but it has shortened my already short reach but it is what it is and I will also be mindful of reducing tension in my left hand by playing more realistic scale patterns when traversing the depths of the lower register.

Good Luck and thanks for the post!

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