I saw two players this past weekend with completely differant techniques. One guy had his palm resting on the bridge and kept his little finger anchored on the guitars body and believe me, this guy could fly! Then I saw another guy who's hand was'nt anchored at all on the bridge or the guitar. More like floating above it all and this guy could pick just as fast as the first guy I saw. Both players were amazingly fast. I'm under the impression that there's no real correct way. I'm asking because I have'nt quite found what works best for me. How do you guys do it?
How do you position your picking hand?
- Thread starter Mike M.
- Start date
DiminisheD-7th
New member
Re: How do you position your picking hand?
i play sort of in the second way you mentioned.
i'd shift my picking hand position according to the sound i want to produce tho.
i play sort of in the second way you mentioned.
i'd shift my picking hand position according to the sound i want to produce tho.
D
DeadSkinSlayer3
Guest
Re: How do you position your picking hand?
It's all personal preferance, I keep my hand anchored on the bridge for the most part.
It's all personal preferance, I keep my hand anchored on the bridge for the most part.
danglybanger
ReelItInologist
Re: How do you position your picking hand?
I guess my hand "floats"... the odd thing is I see a lot of guitarists (most good ones) don't even need their forearm touching the guitar when they play. I need to "anchor" the guitar with my forearm for stability, suppose I haven't reached that level of skill yet.
I know I hold the pick differently than most people... I don't hold it with the... um... flat part of my thumb and forefinger, I press the pick against the side of my forefinger with the tip of my thumb. Makes lateral movement alot easier and faster, for me anyways. Probably wrong techniquewise, but it works.
dan
I guess my hand "floats"... the odd thing is I see a lot of guitarists (most good ones) don't even need their forearm touching the guitar when they play. I need to "anchor" the guitar with my forearm for stability, suppose I haven't reached that level of skill yet.
I know I hold the pick differently than most people... I don't hold it with the... um... flat part of my thumb and forefinger, I press the pick against the side of my forefinger with the tip of my thumb. Makes lateral movement alot easier and faster, for me anyways. Probably wrong techniquewise, but it works.
dan
Closed Eye
New member
Re: How do you position your picking hand?
I move my picking hand all over. The "float method" you mentioned.
I love getting natural high or low sounds from the strings, I think it's amazing that you can do stuff like that just by moving your hand ever so slightly.
When I started playing guitar I read in a magazine that you can get a more trebly sound by picking higher up and a more bassy sound by picking lower, and I could immediately hear the difference. Didn't know anything about notes, chords, or technique, but I knew I could hear the dynamic.
I move my picking hand all over. The "float method" you mentioned.
I love getting natural high or low sounds from the strings, I think it's amazing that you can do stuff like that just by moving your hand ever so slightly.
When I started playing guitar I read in a magazine that you can get a more trebly sound by picking higher up and a more bassy sound by picking lower, and I could immediately hear the difference. Didn't know anything about notes, chords, or technique, but I knew I could hear the dynamic.
Alvin Lee Fan
New member
Re: How do you position your picking hand?
I move all over the place too, but generally have my pinky touching the guitar all the time. I love the variety of sounds you can get just by picking in different areas.
I move all over the place too, but generally have my pinky touching the guitar all the time. I love the variety of sounds you can get just by picking in different areas.
OffTheWallPaul
New member
Re: How do you position your picking hand?
I rest the tip of my little finger on the pick guard when I play a lead, and free float when I'm strummin'. I've heard that classical guitar teachers get mad when you rest your picking hand.
I rest the tip of my little finger on the pick guard when I play a lead, and free float when I'm strummin'. I've heard that classical guitar teachers get mad when you rest your picking hand.
shred me good
New member
Re: How do you position your picking hand?
the less you know where the strings are (i mean subconciously, not "there there!") the less you have to have some part of your pickhand touching somthing your brain can find the strings from;
resting on the bridge lets ur brain find the stings real easy, hard to play fast with beceause it limets your movement.
resting a pinky on the pickup gives far more movment, this is what i do but only beceause i cant..
freefloat, your brain knows where the strings are and you dont need any kind of marker point to slow your hand down with.
but as dimineshed said, you need to be able to do all of them well so you can get the exact sound you like.
i started playing fingerstyle last week, it can be realy fast! also you can play 2 guitar parts at 1ce, great stuff.
hope that helps
guy
the less you know where the strings are (i mean subconciously, not "there there!") the less you have to have some part of your pickhand touching somthing your brain can find the strings from;
resting on the bridge lets ur brain find the stings real easy, hard to play fast with beceause it limets your movement.
resting a pinky on the pickup gives far more movment, this is what i do but only beceause i cant..
freefloat, your brain knows where the strings are and you dont need any kind of marker point to slow your hand down with.
but as dimineshed said, you need to be able to do all of them well so you can get the exact sound you like.
i started playing fingerstyle last week, it can be realy fast! also you can play 2 guitar parts at 1ce, great stuff.
hope that helps
guy
