Playing Piano: Tips for Improving Pinky Muscle Strength

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around improving pinky muscle strength for piano playing, particularly in the context of experiencing discomfort and spasms while playing. Participants share various tips, exercises, and considerations related to finger positioning and practice routines.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant mentions experiencing soreness and spasms in the pinky while playing Fur Elise and seeks advice on strengthening the muscle.
  • Another suggests that improper pinky posture during playing may contribute to fatigue and recommends consulting a piano teacher for guidance.
  • Some participants advocate for using Hannon's Study for finger exercises to enhance overall finger strength, noting its effectiveness based on personal experience.
  • A participant raises concerns about muscle spasms, recommending consultation with a doctor or occupational therapist to avoid potential injury.
  • There are inquiries about finger positioning, including the use of curved versus flat fingers while playing, and how this might affect pinky movement.
  • One participant questions whether clenching the pinky while writing is detrimental to its strength and flexibility.
  • Another participant shares a personal challenge with finger mobility, specifically regarding the pinky and ring fingers.
  • A suggestion is made to use a finger exerciser, typically found in rock climbing shops, to strengthen the pinky muscle.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a range of views on the best methods for strengthening the pinky, with some advocating for specific exercises and others emphasizing the importance of professional guidance. There is no consensus on a single approach, and multiple competing suggestions are presented.

Contextual Notes

Some participants mention the potential for underlying musculoskeletal issues affecting finger movement and strength, but this remains unresolved. The discussion also highlights varying experiences with finger exercises and the effectiveness of different techniques.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to piano players experiencing discomfort, those seeking to improve their finger strength, and individuals considering different practice techniques or professional guidance.

ehrenfest
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Does anyone here play piano?

I recently learned Fur Elise but the more I play it the more my pinky muscle gets sore and usually I just have to quit in the middle of the song from these weird pinky muscle spasms. Does anyone know how I can make my pinky muscle stronger? Will it eventually be easier to play? I speak of the pinky on my right hand.
 
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Right, when you're playing take a look at what you're pinky is doing. If while playing the notes using other finger, you're pinky is making up-right posture (not curled or relaxed in as usual) you're tiring your pinky when not using it. Hmm...it's very difficult to explain but let me try one more time. Put your right on top of the white keys, just relax your hands on the keys. Now with your thumb, press Do. Then with your index press Re. and so on. As you do this exercise, watch your pinky. Your pinky should not move much as you're going from Do, Re, Mi and until you're using your pinky to press Sol key. But if you find your pinky going straight up along the key side, you need expert's help. Get a piano teacher. If you can't afford to have piano teacher and you just want to learn to play easy peaces, then practice Hannon's Study for fingering enhancement.
 
Piano is not my forte. I've heard that using Hannon's book for finger exercises will increase the strength of all of your fingers evenly.
 
HungryChemist said:
If you can't afford to have piano teacher and you just want to learn to play easy peaces, then practice Hannon's Study for fingering enhancement.
My piano teacher made me play Hannon at least one hour a day, before practicing actual pieces, for a couple of year or so. It makes wonders from a technical pooint of view. If you want to play piano seriously, you need to practice everyday, a fairly long amount of time. It is very enjoyable.
 
Hi ehrenfest! :smile:

First … stop doing it (at least until you've taken professional advice).
Patient to doctor: it hurts when I do that.

Doctor to patient: Then don't do that!

Second … if you're getting muscle spasms, you should consult a doctor or an occupational therapist, preferably one with experience in music, before you do any permanent damage.

Third … I assume you're playing with curved fingers. Have you tried playing with flat fingers (like some famous rock pianists).

Fourth … hold your hand out flat. Bend your index finger to meet your palm (leaving the others still). Then the next one. Then the next one. Now the pinky … does it go straight down like it should, or does it hit the next one and refuse to move off it?

Fifth … are you right-handed? Do you relax your pinky when you're writing, or do you clench it against your hand?
 
tiny-tim said:
Fourth … hold your hand out flat. Bend your index finger to meet your palm (leaving the others still). Then the next one. Then the next one. Now the pinky … does it go straight down like it should, or does it hit the next one and refuse to move off it?

Can anyone bend their middle, ring, or pinky fingers down towards their palm leaving the others still?

tiny-tim said:
Fifth … are you right-handed? Do you relax your pinky when you're writing, or do you clench it against your hand?

I clench it against my hand. Is that bad?
 
HungryChemist said:
If you can't afford to have piano teacher and you just want to learn to play easy peaces, then practice Hannon's Study for fingering enhancement.

I googled "Hannon's Study" piano and the only thing I got was this thread.
 
ehrenfest said:
Can anyone bend their middle, ring, or pinky fingers down towards their palm leaving the others still?
Not absolutely still, but nearly so. But my pinky drags the ring finger with it, even though the ring finger does not drag the pinky.
 
  • #10
Assuming you don't have some musculoskeletal problem, get a finger exerciser; usually sold in rock climbing shops; and strengthen that little bastard up.
 

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