Hey, hopefully no offence is taken from these posts of mine - I am most definitely not trying to poo-poo anyone's approach and I know from experience that everyone's journey on this instrument is going to be somewhat unique... But it's worth discussing the options available, yes?

(No offence, again i appreciate the input. different strokes for different folks)

Sure, use all 10 fingers - nothing wrong with it and I am definitely not disputing anyone's use of them. But at the end of it all, just because someone used all 8 fingers and two thumbs, their face and their elbow - does it really enhance the musical experience for the player and the listener?

(If done properly, yes)

For instance, Yngwie Malmsteen - he's a super fast iconic guitarist who uses 3 fingers and an occasional pinky; good luck playing his stuff... (Go ahead and hate him - he is still ridiculously imitated and has a mansion and two Ferarris.... regularly sells out his concerts despite all kinds of people hating what he does) Django Reinhardt is another one who was missing some fingers, again... good luck playing his stuff... In the Stick world Greg Howard only uses 3 fingers, and his stuff is not lacking because of it.... And honestly, the audience doesn't care what fingers are used, as long as it sounds good.

(Use as many fingers as you feel comfortable with. I like a challenge, and i am not trying to play like anyone else. I am trying to use what i learn, hopefully soon it will sound like something.)

The fingering thing on Stick is something I really wrestled with, because I always used a 4 fingers for 4 frets approach as a guitarist but then again I sightread a lot, so that kind of approach helps that and because I was comfortable with it, it carries over into other walks of life on other instruments. But on the Stick, I have to wonder - which way is actually more efficient? I mean it's worth at least checking out and perhaps deciding for yourself what techniques and limbs are required to actually enhance the quality of the music being played.

(Agreed. the only way to accomplish this is to explore the possibilities. Whatever way you feel comfortable with, is the way to play the stick.)

Also, you see some really good Stick players who do a great job with three Fingers (Greg, Rodrigo) and those who play with 4 (Bob, Steve). And then there's other guys like Stanley Jordan, Adam Fulara, TJ Helmerich, Steve Lynch, Jennifer Batten, Joe Satriani, EVH, Steve Vai, Stue Hamm, Michael Manning, Billy Sheehan etc etc etc who tap on their own respective instruments with their own respective approach. heck, lots of guys do a bend and then tap a note while still bent for great musical effect (Colin James) So definitely a wide range of available methodology and musical context.

(That's great, and I agree with you, they practiced, and studied their method, or technique, I am studying mine, from what I am learning from the books that I have, and the people I see and hear play, and my free will.)

I will say this, I have recorded similar passages played with 4 vs 3 fingers into a DAW and looked at the waveforms, the pinky notes are much quieter and more prone to rhythmic uncertainty; which can be a cool effect or almost unnoticeable depending on the musical context. Sometimes I want it, sometimes it's cool, sometimes it's the only way to get it, but most often it's a lot of unnecessary work trying to drill the technique into perfection via pinky punishment.

(I never thought of the pinky as a punishment when I was learning fingerstyle guitar, I just thought of it as another digit that needed to be honed. with practice the pinky could sound just the same as any other finger.)

Here is the thing, you can literally do something with ONE finger on each hand on the Stick that your average guitarist and bass player might struggle to put together and since it's on one instrument, one player, it will groove harder, The "Stick advantage" I suppose...

Food for thought.

(I thank you sir. I am not trying to hold down the bass line, and play. I am just trying to play, and make it sound good. I am not there yet, but I seem to be on the hard road, and that's ok. I enjoy the Stick when I play it, I am not trying to be a rockstar. If i do make something worthwhile, then great. If my song may sound better from someone else using one finger thats great too.

I do not take any offence to anyone giving me advice. I take it and use it. Next week i may be ripping some 3 finger scales in the free hands book. I am only on lesson 3. After 3 years, and I still haven't learned lesson 1 and 2 yet.)

Godspeed.
LoVeTheSTiCk.