Exercises to strengthen 5th fingers?

[pianist7]

What are some good exercises to strengthen your 5th fingers? How to give them the same force as the third fingers?

[weissenberg2]

Chopin op.10 no.2

[antichrist]

as well as the godowsky op.10 no.2 to train ur left 5th finger

I think training octaves 1-5 all the way works well too

[imbetter]

Rachmaninoff op.39 no.3. I'm playing this and it's great for strengthening.

[lostinidlewonder]

If you told these composers that these pieces of theirs where excersises they might have slapped your face.

To strengthen the 5th you can try Hanon
     CDCD AGAG     DEDE BABA  etc
RH:1212  5454      1212   5454
LH:5454  1212       5454   1212

[nanabush]

Lol; I try 5-4 trills across different distances.  For example, C-D standard trill, D-Eb close trill, then like C-E, etc.

I also try chromatic scales with 3-4-5 (which does create the basis for a large portion of material in 10-2).

I also try some passages for 10-2 for my own leisure.  I'm nowhere near polishing the piece, but some parts are pretty fun to play, and they are working lots for my outer fingers.

[gyzzzmo]

Chopin op.10 no.2

I'd say Chopin op 10 no 1 is more for strength, no 2 is more for agility.

[pianist7]

thanks; anything off the piano (not pieces)?

[gyzzzmo]

thanks; anything off the piano (not pieces)?

What i do sometimes myself, is playing triplets with those weak fingers on any flat surface, starting slow and speed up till a speed you can still 'play' them even.

[perfect_pitch]

Brahms Variations on a theme by Paganini - Book 1 Variation 4... great variation to work on that 4-5 trills and give the 5 finger a workout.

[m]

What are some good exercises to strengthen your 5th fingers?

You can go to your local Sport Authority, or some sport goods store and buy there a rubber ring, or some other gudgets specially intended for strengtheing your fingers, including pinkie.
I highly doubt though, this will help in your piano playing. Indeed, pinkie is a very important finger, however, the concept is not about its strengthening, but about cultivating its lightness, relaxation, sensitivity, and control. Only this would be a step forward towards aquiring a good and solid technique.

Best, M

[keypeg]

Indeed, pinkie is a very important finger, however, the concept is not about its strengthening, but about cultivating its lightness, relaxation, sensitivity, and control. Only this would be a step forward towards acquiring a good and solid technique.

The next logical question would be how to do this cultivation.   

KeyP

[m]

The next logical question would be how to do this cultivation.   

KeyP

Very easy  , find a very good and experienced teacher and religiously follow instructions. 

Best, M

[gyzzzmo]

The next logical question would be how to do this cultivation.   

KeyP

I heard of a good old friend of mine, who's a buddhist goeroe and grasscutter in the friendly country Nepal, that you can strengthen your little pinky by putting it in freshly fertilized soil for about 5 and a half minutes, 2 times a week, and sprinkle some blessed Mountain Dew on it. I'm sure you got a vegetarian Greenpeace member somewhere in your city who can bless it for you. No doubt that will power up your pinky.

I'm curious though what happened to the fellow. I heard he moved to England, got some weight and grew a beard. I wouldnt be suprized if the guy visites this site sometimes too, since he had such a frantic tendency to collect all kinds of sheetmusic.....

[goldentone]

I don't know about strengthening, but I think the Mountain Dew would make your pinky much more caffeinated than the other four.

[slobone]

I like to do scales & arpeggios with unusual fingerings -- 45454545 works quite well. But then I'm kind of a pervert about stuff like that. Don't forget the chromatic scales.