I'm familiar with the one finger per fret rule, which works fine below the 12 fret.

My problem is that once I get above the 12 to do any noodling, my fingers feel cramped. I can spread out and play with three fingers, but I feel like I'm neglecting my pinkie.

So what do you guys do? Leave em cramped up and just work on it, or spread em out more?

Thanks.

I'm not insulting you for your post but honestly, it isn't making much sense to me. Did you just recently start playing? I know you are new to the site which doesn't necessarily make you new to playing, but it seems like you are running scales with three fingers which three note per string method follows the law of energy conservation. Also known as alternate picking, D-U-D-D-U-D-D you know that whole thing. I'm trying to make sense of what you are saying but as we all know what makes sense when we write/type it doesn't necessarily make sense to the next person or make sense at all.

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I think i lost a brain cell there

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Tchambliss....the guy makes perfect sense to me....
Personaly...I rarely ever use my pinkie...too weak and I dont do blistering solos...heh

Well, I assumed he was refering to using one finger to do a single note. . . rather than two but the only reason I could see to use more than one finger on a single note would be if you were doing like a 2 step bend, then the extra finger just helps to provide leverage. That was the part of it I never understood, perhaps I was never told the One finger per fret thing unless hes talking about single note scale runs which of course I don't understand why you would use just one finger to go through all of your scales. To be very blunt, I'm easily confused by the conduction of things. . . even when I am the conductor so forgive my horrible understanding.

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The one finger per fret "rule" isn't a rule, if you can pump out solo's with one finger, knock your self out. but more to the point, if you do a whole lot playing in "nether regins" of the neck, then it helps to space out your fingers some.

I used to never use my pinkie, I'd avoid it by using my third finger, but now as I get into more complex leads, it's necessary. So now, I use it all the time so it's all calloused up now.

one finger per fret rule? wtf?! i never heard this rule, and quit frankly sounds gay to me

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its a standard, not a law. it is acually the most important thing ive learned ( well probly not) the "one finger per fret" is manly to teach people to use there pinky.

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Yeah I don't get this either, I would think that only one finger would be used per fret....

I think he means if you were to play:

-12-13-14--------------
-----------12-14-15----

The fingering would be 1,2,3 1,3,4 (and not 1,2,3 1,2,3)
ie. index finger plays 12th fret, middle plays 13th, ring finger 14th, little finger 15th.

Sticking to that is a good habit to get into, otherwise you will have a shit little finger.

ah that makes sence danny. also when doing trills use your pinky CC uses this alot and if definitally helps

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That sounds quite hard, I've never tried it. My little finger is pretty strong these days though. I'll give it a go.

its not hard at all, unless your pinky is a little weak stub that never gets used

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never knew that this practice had a name, but i just do whatever is most comfortable, and what lets me play faster and with most accuracy.

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I was kinda refering to the basic chromatic exercise, the 1-2-3-4 up the neck deal. When I get around the 12th or so it get's more difficult to keep that pattern.

I used to never use my pinkie as well, but am trying to use it more now. I realize the one fret per isn't a "rule", but take something like this.

15-17-18-----------15-17-18
----------15-17-18----------

If I were to stick to the "rule" my fingers would be cramped up, so as such i play it with my index middle and ring.

I realize there is no total right and wrong, just whatever feels best. I guess I just wanted to know some thoughts on how others would play it, cramped up or spread out.

I hate practicing bad technique.

i would play it with inex middle ring as well. i see what your saying now. once i get up to the higher frets i just use whatever finger would be most comfortable with. if your middle fingers already there then use that no sence in usuing any other finger

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If you're fingers are cramped, then either your guitar is hanging too low or your fingers are just too damn fat.

I always endorse heavy use of the pinky so that it doesn't become worthless, but Bruce Bouillet from Racer X never uses his pinky and he rips.

if your fingers are simply too big to fit, then use 3 fingers. if you choose to use 4 im sure youll find a way to get around it.

I used to just do whatever was comfortable, but i found once I reached a certain level of playing, and I started playing more intense and difficult song, I had to relearn fingering patterns to use the "one finger per fret rule". I'd suggest forcing yourself into the habbit. Same thing happened when I got into the habbit of downpicking EVERYTHING except complete trem. picked passages. I'm regretting this hardcore right now and I try and force myself into constant alternate picking.

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I use the only finger per fret rule.. I dont like to have to look down when I play.

And if you dont use your pinkie your only using 75% of your playing ability.

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Actually, probably only like erm. . . 30% of your playing ability. . . until you use your thumb on your fret hand(Hendrixian style) and all of the fingers of your pick hand(semi-Chris Arp style). Yeah, I agree with DEAD on a lot of that shit though. I used to downpick everything and then I found out about alternate picking and shit like that. I hear Kerry King downpicks everything but eh, doesn't matter, he doesn't meet his picking potential. I'm by no means saying you should shred everything, that's so over-rated and dull. If you want to play fast you should have the ability to though. Even now due to my previous errors I still have to warm up slowly so that I can tell if I'm making a lot of errors. It tends to help me out a lot doing that, its a good habit to make.

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I used to downpick every thing aswell, Now I'm a monster at downpicking.. alternate picking came easy to me.

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Downpicking is easy for me too, and so is alternate, if by taht you men trem picking, but when it comes to economy picking, my wrist just doesnt not agree.

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no i dissagree, i only use 3 fingers but can still pick on 5 different frets on the same string while shredding, its not important to learn rules when you play guitar justplay how you like it and teach yourself,at the end of the day thats what makes guitarists idfferent

Thats right. Playing like that is supposed to be healthier guitar playing. but past fret 16 or so this doesn't work too well because the frets are so close together. In the higher frets if you break this "rule" it's not going to matter too much. Past fret 14 or so, just do whatever you want. I don't use my pinky too much in the higher frets anyway.

My guitar teacher made me play pretty much everything alternate picking back in the day. But my downpicking is quite poor.
I can't do economy picking either, after 6 years of strict alternate it feels very unnatural. I always go dududududu regardless of string skipping.

When i practice scales and modes or solo's i make sure that i practice it in alternate picking. As far ass riffing goes i try to downpick everything (if I can) if its too fast then i alternate pick it. It is true if you dont use it you will lose it.

either your an idiot, or you miss understood what he said, only using 75 percent of your playing ability, not missing 75 percent.

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Calm down. You're right though...

on a note of downpicking versus alternat.. I automaticly play alternate picking, when I try to just downpick fast, It just doesn't work out.

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Which is what I've been doing. I really use my pinky alot, and I do down pick fairly fast and can alternate pick fairly fast as well.

Thanks for all the replies, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't doing something that was going to hurt me by taking time to unlearn.

Anyone knows Django Reinhardt?

lost two fingers, but he was fast