Two in the pink; one in the stink

#1 trick is to not avoid using your pinky. It's amazing how many "great" players basically only use 3 fingers on their fretting hand. They're effectively diminishing (get it?) their fretting capacity by 25% for no reason whatsoever. No other instruments do this and they never have "pinky issues" because they learn to use them from the start. The same is true when learning to type, or any sort of fine motor skill. The more you avoid learning proper technique from the start, the harder it will be to learn it down the line. Bad habits are hard to break.

This where the whole idea where "proper" fingerings come into play. Just because you could reach a note with your ring finger, doesn't mean you should in the same way that you could lift a boulder with your back, rather than your legs, but that wouldn't be very wise, either. You might get away with it when young, but you'll pay the price in time.

Generally speaking, "every finger has a fret", so if your going to reach from the 3rd to the 6th fret, make yourself use your index and pinky fingers, even if you could stretch. It's no different than using "proper form" when lifting weights. Ultimately, good technique exists to protect you and make you better, but only if you use it.

Lots of acoustic guitar/bass playing will also help to strengthen your left hand. It really forces you to have strong fretting and intonation. Using slightly larger gauge strings than normal can also enhance the challenge.

There are lots of Classical Etudes, "Studies" and exercises you can do, as well. They aren't always very "musical", per se, but think of them like going to the gym, so you can play well on the field later. Check out "24 permutations for the Guitar" if you want just a bone dry, but very rigorous exercise. Another approach is to pick a song you know/like and then forcing yourself to arrange and play it using "proper" fingering, rather than your normal instincts. Some Guitar/Bass exercises will even use indicated fingers for the left hand, but usually only on very simple/basic beginner books. I like all the CAGED patterns and associated fingerings, as well.

Arpeggios are another great way to strengthen your fingers while also training your ear. For example, reaching for the minor third/major third on the low E string using your index and pinky fingers is always a good default pattern to build up the pinky too. Although, there are many other possibilities, as well. Paganini Caprices are great, shreddy challenges that will force you to use proper fingerings. Most non-violin folks learn the 5th and 24th. Something like the Bach Cello Suite No. 1 in G major is another great acoustic practice piece that is also very popular and fun to play.

Ultimately, you just have to do what you know what you're "supposed" to do. Slow down, think about how you're playing what you're playing and make yourself do it the "hard" way. It will only feel "weird"/"weak" for a little while, but before you know it, you'll be up to speed in no time. "Use it, or lose it ;) "

Form = Function

Don't get caught fingering A minor.

Why don't you ask your mother? I showed her all the fingering techniques I know last night.

But for real, practice scales and use your pinky as much as you can. Then move on the hammer ons and pull offs where you change which finger is fretting the lower note while doing the HO/PO with your pinky. It takes a long time but the answer to 99% of these posts is just play the guitar if you want to become more comfortable on the instrument.

😳 Whoa

Once I read the title to this post my mind jumped to “fingering”

Literally just use it. I had the same problem for years and years. Solved itself with a little conscious effort to use it more. If it's more sore than the rest of your fingers that's good. Now it's actually a power player on my fret hand. Work on getting a clean pinky to _____ trill with all 3 fingers you're used to using. Don't like focus on that, but every once in a while after you've started using it more check back in and be impressed by the progress you didnt even realize you were making.

Microshifting helps, or you can practise 4-finger fretting on the smaller frets

Octaves. Play them until you cramp up. Then do it again....and again......next day repeat

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Practice

I almost exclusively use my pinky instead of my ring finger whenever I can.

Your pinky naturally curves when your thumb in between your index and second finger. Try to keep your thumb on the neck between your first and second finger. Having it naturally curved is the first part of the battle. After that do everything with your pinky instead of your ring.

Are your instruments setup properly with good action?

Pretend you have no index finger. Now play.

When I was briefly taught upright bass, they told me to use the ring finger to assist the pinky. But maybe that is just for kids?

Its funny when I started playing bass, I had a wart on the inside of my ring finger, right on the joint. It made me use my pinky ALL the time for the first year of playing or so.

Anyway, as far as advice? Do octaves up and down the neck, alternating Index-Ring, then Middle-Pinky. That should help build some muscle memory in that lil pinky of yours. Good luck!

I play the violin and broke my left wrist, and didn't want to lose my finger strength. My OT had a tool to individually strengthen each finger, basically little buttons to push down and you could get versions that were increasingly difficult to move the button. I bet you could find those, sorry don't know what they're called. But a lot easier to use throughout the day than a whole guitar.

None. Your pinky is weak by design. Go on Youtube, check "weak pinky" and see everybody tell you you don't need a "strong pinky", whatever the instrument.