Picking hand placement

[dd12939]

I have always anchored my hand just behind the bridge of my SG (except for strumming, etc.). I've noticed that many players seem to have their hands sort of floating above the strings. I've tried a few times to do some stuff with just my forearm resting on the top of the guitar and I've found that I have very little control that way. Am I losing a lot by having my hand behind the bridge?

 

[7th Hell]

Re: Picking hand placement

What are you, some kinda weirdo? Just kidding! You should place your picking hand however you want to place your picking hand. I do that "floaty" hand thing you were talking about, with my forearm resting on the edge of the body. Like a true Lynch Fan, I catch myself doing the Lynch "fingers spread out" thing with my middle, ring, and pinkie. Kind of strange, cuz most shred-players ball up their picking hand into a tight fist.

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Picking hand placement

What are you, some kinda weirdo? Just kidding! You should place your picking hand however you want to place your picking hand. I do that "floaty" hand thing you were talking about, with my forearm resting on the edge of the body. Like a true Lynch Fan, I catch myself doing the Lynch "fingers spread out" thing with my middle, ring, and pinkie. Kind of strange, cuz most shred-players ball up their picking hand into a tight fist.

Randy Rhoads used to do that finger fan thing in the floating position on leads, much better and more articulate control, I do the same but just let the fingers kinda relax ... not clenched, not locked out, just kinda naturally extended to rid the hand of excess tension (well forearm). Works great for funk style rhythm work also (I suspect the extended fingers act as a counter balance of sorts, and puts the pivot point closer to the middle of the hand), now for palm muting, well that's different ... but even then you can float that little finger edge and corner of palm down. If I'm playing with my fingers the hand goes into a combo of palm mute and classical hand position. Like anything else though personal choice as to what is comfortable and gets you the best results.

 

[casblah]

Re: Picking hand placement

Speaking of weirdo-s, I think I'm the only person left on the planet who prefers a pickguard on a Les Paul, because of my right-hand's orientation to the strings. I tend to "anchor" somewhat with my pinky, so It gives me some kind of reference. (Having said that... they do look nicer w/o the p.g.)

 

[Fiber-Optics]

Re: Picking hand placement

What are you, some kinda weirdo? Just kidding! You should place your picking hand however you want to place your picking hand. I do that "floaty" hand thing you were talking about, with my forearm resting on the edge of the body. Like a true Lynch Fan, I catch myself doing the Lynch "fingers spread out" thing with my middle, ring, and pinkie. Kind of strange, cuz most shred-players ball up their picking hand into a tight fist.

That is what I do... I didn't know I was imitating Lynch. :laugh2: I have just always done it that way.

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Picking hand placement

I prefer keeping my right hand in a tight fist, just in front of the bridge pup, more or less, with just a bit of pick showing. Don't anchor it on the bridge, but I've seen many people do this ...

 

[Hellion]

Re: Picking hand placement

What are you, some kinda weirdo? Just kidding! You should place your picking hand however you want to place your picking hand. I do that "floaty" hand thing you were talking about, with my forearm resting on the edge of the body. Like a true Lynch Fan, I catch myself doing the Lynch "fingers spread out" thing with my middle, ring, and pinkie. Kind of strange, cuz most shred-players ball up their picking hand into a tight fist.

I do something similar, except that I first saw Roger Fischer of Heart do that in the late 70's. Normally my picking hand rests on the bridge with my Tune-a-matic equipped instruments, back of the tailpiece on the Fenders. When I solo, it floats and does the "fan-dance" type of thing.