Burns bad habit?

Strumit · February 2023

Newbie here. I keep resting my right hand on the (tremelo style) bridge and distorting the tuning. Is this a bad habit that I have picked up on my accoustic and any suggestions? I am currently trying to support my right hand by resting my little finger on the plectrum guard. It may self correct as my strength and technique improves.

stickyfiddle · February 2023

What type of guitar is it? I assume something stratty?

sweepy · February 2023

Down to technique I’m afraid, you can rest on even the floppiest Floyd and not get tuning issues

Strumit · February 2023

stickyfiddle said:

What type of guitar is it? I assume something stratty?

Yup! Strat style Burns!

Strumit · February 2023

I had some nerve damage to my neck/shoulder, so my right hand can sometimes shake (one reason why I need to use it or lose it).

Strumit · February 2023

A pic of the open "rest" area that isn't a rest!

[img]https://i.imgur.com/OI3ENnW.jpg[/img]

Roland · February 2023

Strumit said:

… any suggestions?

A couple of ideas:
1. Learn to play with your forearm resting on the edge of the guitar body, instead of resting your hand on the bridge.
2. Play a fixed bridge guitar.
3. Practice using a lighter touch. Palm muting is an important part of playing.

Strumit · February 2023

Roland said:

Strumit said:

… any suggestions?

A couple of ideas:
1. Learn to play with your forearm resting on the edge of the guitar body, instead of resting your hand on the bridge.
2. Play a fixed bridge guitar.
3. Practice using a lighter touch. Palm muting is an important part of playing.

Good advice thanks. The lighter touch is definitely a problem as I used to work on HGV trucks! I'm working on it!

stickyfiddle · February 2023

Yeah, a lighter will come with time. Almost everyone is a bit heavy-handed when they're starting out.

If you wanted, you can also adjust the trem setup to rest on the body. That means you could only bend notes downwards with the arm, but that might be ok depending on your preferences.

Strumit · February 2023

stickyfiddle said:

Yeah, a lighter will come with time. Almost everyone is a bit heavy-handed when they're starting out.

If you wanted, you can also adjust the trem setup to rest on the body. That means you could only bend notes downwards with the arm, but that might be ok depending on your preferences.

I just looked at that very thing on t'internet. That may be an option until I "learn" properly. Still battling with chords and technique at the moment and the "mechanics" of guitar tuning (and carburettors!) always interested me.

inewham · February 2023

Swap one bad habit for another, rest on your pinky

At least it wont wear the plating off your bridge

Strumit · February 2023

I'm currently in the middle of setting up the "knife edge" and tremelo and have already found several adjustments that were "out"! Some new strings ordered and looking for saddle adjustment grub screws as one was already loose under the rear trem/string base cover! To get the action height correct, the adjusting screws were almost right through the saddles and out the other side (which is probably what happened to the stray screw!). Once I get it set up correctly, I can get back to "strumming". I've always been a better mechanic than a guitarist!

Strumit · February 2023

Setup completed! Thanks to all for your help and advice. My tremelo is now on a "proper" knife edge and so, hopefully, my playing will not be. Keep strumming and picking. Mike

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Burns bad habit?

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