Pinkinest (R)

Think of this as training wheels for your bow hold technique. I’m just starting to learn violin, and one thing I have learned is that a correct bow hold is absolutely essential to work on, right from the start. Practicing improper bow hold can set you back for months, and you will be forced to “un-learn” the incorrect bow hold. I am fully aware of the proper bow hold, with bent fingers, but unfortunately, while practicing, my fingers were tending to slip around, and my pinky was not staying in place. And then I discovered this little device, which works like magic to keep that unruly pinky in place, thus keeping the other fingers in line, giving me the freedom to focus on arm bowing technique from the elbow, finger placement on the fingerboard, and elevator positions to play each string separately. Once you have the pinky nested into this device, it sits very comfortably, in bent position, on the top of the frog, and does not move from there. It even encourages the rest of the fingers to curve correctly and place correctly over the bow. The pinkinest itself is made of soft, flexible acrylic, and it is very easy to install on the bow. You simply slip it on over the screw and push it toward the frog. It automatically stops in the correct place. The nest part fits an adult finger very well. Since it is flexible acrylic, I think it would fit just about any size pinky. This is definitely a great thing to have, if you are starting out on violin.

It's a good product to learn how to have a straight pinkie (Fourth finger) or even be more conscious of when the finger is on the bow. It's good for beginners and also intermediate students.

Works so well for violin students! I am a violinist, and I recommend this for beginners.

I have a 4/4 violin and I couldn't fit the product over the end of my bow. I widened the hole and I was able to use the product. Even as a beginner adult this has been a fantastic learning device. My instructor was shocked at how good my hold was not long after I started using this while practicing. I really struggled with putting my pinky in the right spot and this worked great as a set of training wheels.

It has been all of five minutes and I am certain this will help me transition my bow hold from cello to viola. So exciting! I’ve been having such a weirdly hard time.

I purchased one of these for my daughter who is starting violin at 7 years old. She is having trouble with her bow hold, this was an inexpensive product that would get her pinky to stay put, so I bought one. It didn't fit on the bow immediately... I was a little concerned that it was too small... but the material was able to stretch over the bow with some pressure (and is now warped that way... seems to be permanently bigger, so I'd advise against widening it too much or using a tool to widen it). But now that it's on, it fits and works! She hasn't quite gotten the hang of keeping her pinky inside the nest bit, but she's only used it once. HOWEVER!!!!! The genius of this product clicked in my brain and I snatched it from her bow and stuck it on my viola bow. I have been playing for about 4 months and instantly fell into an easy comfortable bow hold. Dang... such a difference from simply keeping your pinky in the right spot! I'm keeping my daughter's pinkinest (now that it's a bit stretched out for her bow after being on mine) and just ordered her a new one. UPDATE!! I used the pinkinest on my viola bow for a couple of months, pulled it off to see how I would do without it and what do you know? I've developed a good bow hold! No more need for pinky nest and no more sliding around pinky finger. I've played without it for probably 8 months now. My daughter (2nd grade) has also had good luck with it. If you find it too high for the little fingers (although it's fine on hers... she has long fingers though) it is made of soft material... you could cut off some of the height easily enough. She has had a good hold with it from the start.

This product is amazing and very sturdy and well-made. my daughter is seven and has been playing the violin since she turned four. We still have to be on her about proper pinky placement. As soon as I bought this the problem was instantly solved with no complaining and her playing reflected the difference in grip. It made it a lot easier on us because it was one less thing that we had to stress to her when practicing. When her violin teacher noticed that she was most impressed, she has been teaching Suzuki for more than 20 years and has never seen a pinky rest of that good quality. Nothing negative about this at that her carbon fiber bow perfectly and was very easy to install. It also arrived quickly. Five stars for sure and I wish I would have broken down and purchased earlier

As a beginner violinist I struggled for weeks to keep my pinky bent and in the right position when bowing but it kept locking straight or slipping off the bow. But this pinky nest solved that problem and with it my pinky stays bent and on the bow and my bowing has greatly improved. Easy to place on the bow. Love it!