I've finally got my 4th finger working, some of the time! Now teacher has mentioned the "Vibrato" word, that looks a lot harder!

Note: Pinky is a Scots word for the 4th or small finger I wonder if it is used in other parts of the planet?

We now have the term 'pinky-strike' affectionately floating around at home.

My pinky was fairly outspoken when I first took up the violin but we did settle to a happy co-operation after a while. Then I introduced the viola! Now my pinky tries its best but it's short and locks a lot so there are certain things it just calls a 'time-out' for!!! (It was substituted against its will last night!)

It is in the US, I believe

I hear you on that one, Lottie.

My little finger just won't have it on my viola - same problem as you, it locks and is always flat. I've tried smaller violas, but I don't like them as much as mine (or I can't afford the ones I do like) - so I've just made my peace with it and now shift around the fingerboard instead of using 4th finger when I'm in first position.

I'm just starting to get the hang of using my 4th finger on viola... I have tiny hands and a tiny tiny little finger

I too have a problematic pinky.

My pinky is wee and tiny too. I'm having to slide up and down the fingerboard just to get it into position. I wonder if the medical profession could do something to make our pinkies bigger! I have a 15" viola and I'd be extremely reluctant to change to a smaller one My teacher tells me that it's possible to persuade these digits kind of permanently stretch into position after a lot of practise. When she shows me her little finger, it does permanently stick out at a different angle to the other one.

am only doing half and first position on bass so far and you use only 1st 2nd and 4th finger, not 3rd, actually the third is 'supposed' to be more or less attached next to your 4th finger when you press down your 4th finger (mr or mrs pinky).
On bass if you play 4th finger then all fingers must be pressing down, pinky is of course very sore, but the ackward thing is to keep my 3rd finger directly attached to the 4th, it is one of those skills one has to acquire through lots of practice!
Pinky is VERY numb indeed these days

I'm playing a viola thing which ends on a fourth finger (with vibrato)(3rd position) so I'm using 3rd and 4th pressed together. There's a lower mordent on the note too so it works quite well.

I'm probably wrong to do it but it works for me.

My little finger generally behaves now after months of protest.

But it still refuses any fast movement such as trills and laughs when I mention vibrato to it!