UNPLANNED DOWNTIME: 12th Oct 23:45
Do you rest/anchor your pinky finger on the scratchplate when picking?
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I see a lot of tutorial videos on youtube where the teacher is resting/anchoring their pinky finger on the scratchplate for picking, particularly faster parts. I've never got in to the habit of this and when I try it now it just feels uncomfortable and a hindrance. Like it would give me carpel tunnel or something.
Is it something I should work on slowly to get used to or not so important? I'm thinking of being used when playing intros like Paradise City etc. I can see the merit of maybe hitting the right strings more accurately or can I get away without it?
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just because you do, doesn't mean you should.
- if I'm downward slanting (for an upward escape), there's some contact because the hand is open...but there's no tension so I don't think of it as 'anchoring'
- if I'm upward slanting (for a downward escape), there's no contact because the hand is closed
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There is a school of thought that this is incorrect technique and restricts movement / speed of the hand BUT on the other hand Jennifer Batten tells the story of going to Berklee? - and being told off for anchoring her hand. She tried and struggled for 2 weeks to use fist grip - until seeing a famous accomplished jazzer either at the school or on tv ...anchoring on the scratchplate... and she thought why fight it and never looked back.
I take your point though Roberty - but at what point though does resting become anchoring!?
I take the approach of do what comes naturally - if it starts to feel uncomfortable then you are probably doing something wrong and then correct it. You'll soon know.
Also the trouble with the internet is you can read something / take it out of context and end up going down blind alleys following advice that might not necessarily be in your best interests.!
There are people who think that it is a necessary technique. They are wrong.
There are people who think that it works for some purposes and not for others, works for some players and not for other players. They are right.
What do the very, very best players do? Some rest, some don't.
(Do I finger-rest myself? Sometimes. Then again, sometimes I don't.)
Ian
Lowering my expectations has succeeded beyond my wildest dreams.
I have always been a palm muter, it's very much a part of my sound. I didn't realise how much I palm mute until I got my upside-down leftie (with the treble strings on top). Unless I consciously adjust, I get a lousy sound on that guitar because the top (treble) strings generally sound awful when muted and the bottom (bass) strings sound boomy and muddy un-muted.
(PS: I have no intention of changing my ways, I started playing that way (largely unconsciously) because I liked the way it sounds, and I still do. It's just good to be aware of what you are doing.)
point and can be handy it insures your picking fingers are within striking distance of the guitar string so it keeps your fingers
at an even distance from the string. It's not essential but can work. The best thing is to be able to do play in different ways
be adaptable and just remember there are no set rules use what works for you. Hope this helps