UD#122 Let The Pinky Play Too!
UD#122 Let the Pinky Play Too!
from Ukulele in the Dark with Guido Heistek
A Challenging Moment
It can be frustrating to come upon a section in a piece of music that requires a skill that you have not yet developed. It may feel like you’re at a crossroads. Do I go back and work on the missing skill, or do I push forward as well as I can, hoping for the best? Or, maybe I should just give up entirely and try a different piece of music!
When unfamiliar fingerings are called for, it often elicits this kind of conundrum. So, I’ve started using a simple exercise which I developed for myself and my students. Spend no more than 5-10 minutes on this at any one time. It’s a great warm up or break in a practice session.
Here it is:
Start with a one-finger chord. Like a C major:
There are four different ways to finger it!
1. Index finger
2. Middle finger
3. Ring finger
4. Pinky
So far so good.
Try this exercise with some other one-finger chord, like A7 or Am, if you like. Then…
TWO FINGER CHORDS!
If you want a little bit more of a challenge, try a 2-finger chord like F. There are three different ways to finger it.
1. With index and middle fingers.
2. With middle and ring fingers.
3. With pinky and ring finger.
Okay! Let’s try it with a 3-finger chord like D minor.
1. Index, middle and ring.
2. Middle, ring, pinky.
There are two options for all 3-finger chords. I get a lot benefit from exploring these! Especially Gm.
Here is a video talking more about today’s exercise and some of the thinking behind it. I also introduce a little chord progression that you can experiment with.
Here are the CHORD CHART and CHORD PROGRESSION SHEET that go with the video. Enjoy!
All the best in your playing!
Guido