How much affect does it have.........

  • Thread starter Thread starter Dioxide
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ggunn said:
Yeah, I'd think that the lack of a finger would be much more of a prob for playing rhythm than lead.
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That was my thought. I use my pinky extensively for rhythm, but hardly at all for lead work...
 
Think Django Rheinhardt. That is some awesome lead work....two fingers.
 
My pinky is short, but I'm glad I have it. It helps with lead runs, and adds spice to chords for me. I swear if my pinky was bigger I'd have more confidence :D .
 
I say make the best of what you have. Those of us with all 4 fingers should use them all. I have all 4 and my thumb and I use them all. As a child, I shattered my left wrist, this left me with some limited movement and may have restricted my speed. I had to work out a few alternate ways to do some chords but didn't let it stop me from playing. I have played with several people with far greater limitations than I have who have overcome those limits to the point that they have become quite accomplished musicians.
 
I use my pinky in barre chords and certain open chords, and when i'm playing fast classical leads and metal leads, but really, i don't it's that important. It helps, but theres alot of good guitarists that don't use their pinky, not because they were born without one, but just because they just never learned the proper way to play.
 
If you have a pinky, make sure you take the time to learn to use it. It's immensly helpful. Don't let that statement get you down, like it was posted, there are amazing guitarists with missing fingers. You will need to put more thought into how you play though, but forcing creativity can't be all bad, right?
 
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