FOURTH DIMENSION?

As a classically trained violinist I always use my fourth finger when playing guitar [see ‘Perky Pinkies, Feedback 420]. This is because in 1st position on the violin, your fourth finger on each string is the same note as the next string played open. An early lesson on the violin is to learn to stop using open strings, because when they are bowed they sound really harsh (particularly the unwound A and E strings) and, of course, you can’t apply vibrato to add warmth/expression, which is used all the time on fretless instruments. So all violinists develop strong pinkies and it definitely makes guitar playing faster and slicker. It’s well worth practising, even though it will feel odd at first.

Having said all of this, I love learning famous guitar songs from the web, and it’s great to feel how certain phrases fit using three fingers because that’s how untrained players played. That’s why the electric guitar is so good; you don’t have to spend years at a music college to make great music. Tim Smith, via email We’ve met guitarists who recommend fully integrating the pinky into playing technique – and others who don’t use it very often at all. Perhaps the best way to look at it, as you point out, is that it aids certain types of playing but won’t necessarily help you nail the phrasing of that old blues lick or jazz melody. A tool to be used when it helps you say what you want to say authentically and fluently – or set aside if it doesn’t.