No Teacup Pinkies!

Does your pinky look like you’re having afternoon tea? Is it all curled up or sticking out? Very elegant, I’m sure, but not good for your harp playing or your hand.

The job of your pinky is to follow your fourth finger like a shadow. Those two fingers should move in tandem, opening and closing together, not stuck together as if with glue, but like good friends. If your pinky sticks out or curls up, you are creating tension in your hand that can prevent you from playing smoothly or quickly. 

You might wonder if your pinky actually serves a purpose in your harp playing. I can think of three. 

1. A relaxed pinky will anchor and balance your hand. Put your hand in playing position. Now extend your pinky and hold it there. Can you feel the weight of your hand shift? The weight of your hand moves back to center as your pinky relaxes and comes back into place.
2. Your pinky can release (or create) tension. Hold your hand in playing position as before, keeping your pinky in line with your fourth finger. Open and close your hand. Repeat that same motion, but with your pinky extended. Can you feel the tension in the bottom of your hand? When your pinky is extended away from your fourth finger, it creates tension across your palm and tightens your fourth finger. Having those two fingers work together keeps your whole hand loose and relaxed.
3. Using your pinky correctly adds strength and flexibility. When your fourth and fifth fingers move together, the motion of your pinky adds to the strength of your fourth finger. It also allows your fourth finger to move faster and more freely, since it is essentially cooperating, and not working against your fourth finger.

So next time you play scales or do your exercises, watch out for your pinkies. After all, you’re playing the harp, not having tea with the queen.