Hi All,
Firstly I’m loving this course. Taking my time, started in Feb and now half way thro’ module 5.
Now so far, I seem to have coped OK using my Pinky (Fretting) finger just fine and haven’t really noticed any difficulties with strength/movement etc.
But all of a sudden my pinky finger has a tendency to lock up when closed and has to be manually straightened during which there are noticeable “steps” (for want of a better word). I am gonna leave the Bass alone for a few days and see if it improves.
I’m just curious as to whether anyone else has experiened this and it is a known pinky overuse issue or whether it’s just me.
Thanks.
Rob (aka Dodgy Pinky of Abingdon)
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Mine appears to be welded to my ring finger. I’m really struggling to get them to work independently. I can sort of stretch my pinky if I’m using index pinky, but throw the middle or ring finger in there and it doesn’t want to play.
Is it possible that you are pressing too hard while fretting?
If I recall correctly, doesn’t Josh include some exercises on fretting more lightly in some of the early lessons in B2B?
(If I find the exact lessons, I’ll post them here.)
He also addresses some issues with getting used to fretting with the pinky.
I hope that you feel better soon.
(I have a matched set of broken pinky fingers from when I competed in gymnastics. They won’t straighten completely. However, over time, they have gotten stronger by playing bass.)
On a less serious note:
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Sounds like trigger finger. It’s a repetitive motion injury. I have it in a couple of fingers and have had two others surgically repaired. Sounds serious but it takes like 20 minutes. If it is, you may have had it but didn’t really notice it until now with the unusual exertion you’re placing on the finger.
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Came to say this as well. I have the same thing going on and it makes me end up playing with my pinky mostly straight. Not ideal, but it works.
There are non-surgical methods you can try to alleviate the issue - which stems from the tendon that controls the pinky getting caught up on one of the areas it passes through. Worth a try in case it helps.
This has helped my condition, although it has not eliminated it by any means:
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Cortisone injections can help but generally won’t get rid of it. I’ve had those, too. The quick procedure takes care of it completely and only 2-3 weeks to heal.
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On top of all the other suggestions there is one more. If it becomes too difficult/painful to use your pinky then…don’t. I have arthritis in my fretting pinky and, whilst it’s ok to go for the occasional note with it, if I use it as much as I should it rapidly becomes too painful to use. I mostly now try to do all, or as much as I can, with first, second and third fingers using microshifting, which Josh does talk about at some point in the course.
So, better to use your pinky but, if you can’t, it’s not the end of the world; you can generally manage with microshifting but that means your fretting hand has to be a little more mobile!
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Yes, you may want to see an orthopedist to get it checked.
I have it with my middle finger, it locks up. The condition is called trigger finger and there is surgery to fix. It has to do with the ligaments.
Thanks. I may well be pressing a little too hard still. Just passed Josh’s minimal contact session.
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Big thanks to everyone who has contributed and offered suggestions and advice. Love this place. It does appear to match Trigger Finger symptoms. I’m gonna give it a weeks rest and see what that brings initially. Will update after 'cos it may help someone else who has similar issue in the future. No more “Nice and Sleazy” for me for a while. 
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