I am doing some exercises and the instructor noted to keep my fingers as close to the strings as possible.
However, i noticed that every time i go to press my second or third finger, then the pinkie finger lifts up. Like way up.
In addition to that, i have no control over it. It's like the tendons are connected in such a way that if the 2nd or 3rd finger goes down, the pinkie goes up.
Is this normal? Can i do something to overcome this?
This seems to be broadly spread, but not everyone has this problem.
You can avoid it by positioning first the pinkie finger and then 1,2,3 when playing e.g. E7:
I know what you mean, it is like a reflex reaction when someone tests your reflexes and taps under your kneecap and your leg jerks up. I notice that if I rest my palm on a table and lift my fingers then quickly tap my second or third finger on the table my pinky has a bit of a “knee jerk” reaction.
Since this is an involuntary thing what you need to do is train your pinky to voluntarily stay down. I have never practiced exercises for this but try holding the guitar and hold your fingers about 1/4” to 1/2” above a string. Without plucking, slowly try different finger combinations like 1-2-1-2 or 1-3-1-3 Do this very slowly at first, consciously trying to keep your pinky in place. I recommend to my students to put the preceding fingers down so when you go from 1 to 2 leave the 1 down and when you do from 1 to 3 put 2 down with the 3. If this is really hard at first try them with the pinky on the string at first to get the feel of it not moving when you manipulate fingers 2 and 3. Then gradually lift the pinky off the string and try again.
You can come up with longer combinations on your own, like 1-2-1-3 or 1-3-1-4 and gradually start adding the plucking when you make progress. Good luck!
There are several exercises you can do to build independence of the fingers. It is a long process.
A set of left hand classical guitar exercises (which is just as good on the electric) can be found in Pepe Romero's book. The easiest involves doing trills with two consecutive fingers while keeping all other fingers planted on the next string.
Example:
Start with the index finger on the first fret of the low (pitch) E string and fingers 2 through 4 on frets two through four on the A string.
Lift your second finger up and place in on the second fret E string (it should have started on A), "hammering" it down. Then pull off to play the first fret. You are playing F and F#. Play the sequence (F#, F, F#, F, F#, F, F-) where F- means hold twice as long as the other notes.
The important thing is to do this with fingers 3 and 4 firmly planted on the A string.
Then, keeping fingers one and two on frets 1 and 2 of the E string lift the 3rd finger and do the same things with notes G and F#.
Then lift the pinky and do G# and G.
At this point you shift to the fourth position, index finger on G#, and repeat the entire pattern.
Move all the way up until there is no where to go.
Do the same on every other string.
I think the author also has you going back to first position.
The key to this exercise is to NOT move the other fingers while you hammer-on and pull-off with a single finger. At first you may feel like you have to squeeze but in time you will realize that you can execute this movement without squeezing. Then gently release the pressure so that you are only touching the strings but not pressing down. Then lift.
In reality if you play this SLOW enough you should NEVER have to squeeze to keep the other finger down. I think most instructors would scold me for even suggesting it. But the key is that as a beginner you don't have the correct muscle memory for what is feels like. Speed begets tension in beginners. What you need to do is practice basic exercises slow enough that you can hold the correct position, drill it, then try going fast.
Another exercise you can do WITHOUT the guitar is to tap one finger on the table top while keeping the others down. This is basically the same exercise as I just described.
There are very good exercises for finger independence in Scott Tennant's classical guitar technique book "Pumping Nylon". I recommend checking the book for more exercise. For a starter, you can practice the exercise below. But do not force your muscles so much. When you feel pain, immediately take a break and put muscles in rest. The point is you have to do technique works every day for maybe 15-20 minutes before you start working on your piece. You'll see the improvement by the time.
There are more advanced exercises on the book which combines two finger. You can try them when you feel comfortable with this foundational exercise.
Keep working!
Try this:
*Using rubber band around the fingers
*Practicing slowly before speeding up, making sure the pinky stands still
*Guitar spider fingering. Place all 4 fingers on the same E low string, one finger per fret (1, 2, 3 and 4), then put index on the same fret in a string below without moving the other 3, put the middle in the same fret in the string below without moving the other 3... then the ring finger... then the pinky. When you reach the e string, do the same moving from one string to the string above. It will look like your hand is a spider walking leg by leg in the web of strings
