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Snapping pinky
Trouble with the pinky finger snapping on the left hand
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (2 votes) 
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Lajer

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May 29, 2013 - 2:43 pm
Member Since: May 29, 2013
Forum Posts: 15
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Hi

 

I've played the violin for a year and a half, and I really enjoy it - but everytime I use my pinky it "clicks"/"snaps"... I'm worried it will get worse, that's why I'm trying to find out what to do? My friend told me to ask in a forum before asking a professionel - I would be really bummed out if I get an injury which will take a long time to heal!

So, anyone got any advice or has any experience?

Info: it only happens when I play the violin, not when I use the keyboard or does other stuff... any advice?

Thanks in advance :)

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DanielB
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May 29, 2013 - 4:11 pm
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That usually happens when you have the finger straight (or even bent backwards, perhaps) and you go to a forward "regular" curve.  Right? 

There's a couple things you can try/do.  First, don't let the finger go all the way straight or backwards so it "locks" in the first place.  Second, if you experiment a bit, for most folks it only "clicks" when you are using over a certain amount of pressure.  Experiment and find if maybe you don't need that much pressure on the pinky to play.

Finding out how little pressure you need to use will be helpful when you go to work on vibrato, since you really don't want the finger locking when you try to do that.  But you'll need to learn to use light pressure and keep the fingers curved for that anyway. 

So it is no big barrier to playing.  Doesn't hurt to have a doctor check it out, though, and make sure it isn't from an old injury or maybe early arthritis, both of which might affect finger mobility enough to affect playing.

"This young wine may have a lot of tannins now, but in 5 or 10 years it is going to be spectacular, despite the fact that right now it tastes like crude oil. You know this is how it is supposed to taste at this stage of development." ~ Itzhak Perlman

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
May 30, 2013 - 8:42 am
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

Great tips from Daniel.

I would like to see a picture of your left hand holding the violin with all your fingers down.

In the meanwhile, make sure when you use your pinky that you put down all four fingers for added strength. Also, for now, use more of the flat on your pinky rather than the tip.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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Lajer

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May 30, 2013 - 11:11 am
Member Since: May 29, 2013
Forum Posts: 15
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Hi, thanks for the great reply Daniel, I don't think I bend it backwards. I've uploaded a picture (which for some reason is pink), of me pressing fourth finger on the G-string.

Actually I think it's worse when I'm using the G-string than when I'm using the E-string, so it might have something to do with the strech as you pointed out.

FM, I think it's a good advice, using all fingers, I tried it our very quickly, and it felt better :)

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Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
May 30, 2013 - 10:28 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

Glad to hear it. Looks great in the picture.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

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