What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

Oudy

New member
What i mean by quirks is what sort of techniques do you use with your fingers/picking hand that most other people don't do or look down upon.

The major ones i can think of for me are these

1. I am pretty much self taught and while i can alternate pick i tend to favour downstrokes unless it's impossible for me to play that part with downstrokes only. Part of the reasoning behind this despite being considered a limitation is that i like the chunky sound that the downstrokes have on the string and it gives a strong sound to the parts
2. I find it almost impossible to start patterns on an upstroke, I start patterns that are difficult to do (But way easier for me to do) on downstrokes when it would save me a stroke or two using an upstroke.
an example of this would be Megadeth's "Mechanix" (or Metallica's "The Four Horsemen, but i'm using Mechanix as an example since it is bit faster than "The Four Horsemen"


(U represents upstroke D represents downstroke

DUD D DU D D (etc etc)
1
2
3--------9---------9
4--------9---------9
5--------7---------7
6--0-0-0----0-0-0-


3. I have a tendancy to favour using my first three fingers over my pinky and tend to not use it at all unless it's ether a chord i can't play with 2 or 3 fingers, an arpeggio/sweep pick since it's easier to use it, or a part where i can't reach with my ring finger (my reach however with that finger is a bit longer than most other guitar players- I believe i can reach from 12 (index_ to 19 or 18 (ring) with my ring finger comfortably and I really just find it easier that way.I do use my pinky when i need to make long stretches (longest strech i can make with index and pinky would be 12-22 with a small bit of discomfort and 12-21 with comfort).


So i'm curious, what kind of "quirks" do the other guitarists on the forums have with their style and is there a reason they do it or is it just the way they learned.

edit: i should have also inclued stuff like body shapes most people find repulsive and other things along those linkes so go ahead with that stuff too :D

editx2
other stuff i just realized that ido
4. I tend to usually use a vibrato with one finger (index) and it's amazingly controlled, the only time i do not do this is if it's inconvenient to move my hand up to do it.
5. I used to up untill about 3 years ago did one finger bends instead of reinforced ones since it gave it a really cool vibrato to it (now i use 2, 3 or sometimes 4 but rarely 1 unlessi need that really coolsound.
6.when i am picking i tend to keep my ring finger of my right hand ether on the e strnig or the mounting ring of the bridge pickup, it helps the muscle memory in my hand determine how far the strings are away from each other. i dont know anyone who does this, they usualy keep their fingers like away from the guitar or on the pickguard.
 
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Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

3. I have a tendancy to favour using my first three fingers over my pinky and tend to not use it at all unless it's ether a chord i can't play with 2 or 3 fingers . . .

Me too. And at my age, this going to be a hard habit to break.
 
Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

Hmm..

1. I use my thumb over the fretboard alot. I have big hands so it helps me.

2. I use my pinky alot for powerchords, but almost never in regular chords. I am trying not to use it as much, as I need to strengthen my middle and ring finger.

3. I can do 2 whole-tone bends with ease, but I have to watch it in order to not overbend. The same with vibrato, I have a very wide John Sykes like vibrato (when I contrate that is, when I just jam, I dont think about it), but it can sound ragged sometimes because its so wide.

4. I alternate pick in a weird way. I tend to do up-down-up-down instead of down-up-down-up. Learnt it from a Vivian Campbell hot licks video, and it makes certain stuff easier.

:D
 
Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

Hmm..

1. I use my thumb over the fretboard alot. I have big hands so it helps me.

it tend to also do that quite a lot but i never fret chords with my thumb or notes with it unless my arm is fatigued and i need a small break to get it back upto speed
 
Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

I'd bet it's too common to really be a "quirk" but I, too, ignore my pinky finger. Fret hand pinky gets used only when it's a necessity, and there are many places where I would benefit from using it over the ring finger. I'm working on it, though.

My pick hand has a bit of a quirky grip on the pick... instead of a fist or even a relaxed hand, I often find myself holding the pick between my thumb and index finger with my other three fingers sticking straight out. Looks odd, but works fine for me.

A "quirk" I'd like to develop is Randy Flowers' (one of Meat Loaf's guitar players) finger style technique: where I was taught a traditional thumb and first three fingers technique and later developed a modified hybrid style with a pick that rarely uses the pinky, Flowers never plucks with his index finger, even when using his thumb. Instead, he curls his pick in his index finger, and the speed & efficiency at which he changes between using a pick and playing finger style is amazing.
 
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Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

it tend to also do that quite a lot but i never fret chords with my thumb or notes with it unless my arm is fatigued and i need a small break to get it back upto speed

I do both. I both use it to dampen as well as fret chords some times.

EDIT: quite weird. I know alot of players are sad that they dont use their pinkys. I hate using mine so much as I do.
 
Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

edit: i should have also inclued stuff like body shapes most people find repulsive and other things along those linkes so go ahead with that stuff too


One body shape that kinda bothers me is the one that causes a woman to continue moving for a few seconds after she's stopped walking.

I'm not too much into the "V" shaped guitar bodys. They look awkward, but I wouldn't go so far as to say they repulse me.

Quirks: When I play with an e-bow it is almost exclusively on the G string.
I stroke the strings with the rounded corners of the pick.
(I wonder how much this contributes to my overall lack of skill).
 
Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

I despise quick runs through many strings. The sort of thing that John Petrucci or Steve Morse do. If I have to play a quick run, it better be on 2 strings at most, or else I get angry.

Also, I'm not a very disciplined player. So I'd say my technique suffers from that, I'm not much of a shredder and I don't want to be. So if I'm in a band or a jam and I get requested to play 50 consecutive 6 strings arpeggios, I'll probably say **** you in return. :D
 
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Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

Em Pentatonic. I know it very, very well, too well, I don't use any scales. On another hand I can make it sound rock, Bluesy, neoclassical... I just never really used other scales because I love it so much. Though I always mix in blue notes and the Aeolian/Dorian modes in too.

I never had lessons so my theory is limited.

I'm not the greatest picker nor legato player...I should be way better considering how long I've been playing. Hell after three years right now I should be sweeping and doing fast picking runs :(

I palm mute hella fast, I can follow Iced Earth tunes ok. That's something I do ok.

I also improvise 100% of the time. There is not ONE lick from another player in what I play. I actually stopped learning songs note for note ages ago so I could find my own voice. If I didn't do that I'd be a much better player, ironically...
 
Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

i play in a blues band but don't really bend strings much.
i like to play my steinberger.
i like guitar synth.
i like looping. a lot.
old guitars don't do anything for me.
i really shy away from classic guitar sounds.
 
Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

:9: many things I thought made my technique "imperfect" and "frowned upon" actually came up more than a few times :9:

- I too many a time ignore the pinky where it should have been used and opt to stretch the ring finger instead (I don't do it consciously, it just goes that way) which is bad because now my pinky is left behind in terms of strength and accuracy (when I try to use it the note is not as crisp and rings dully) which in turn makes me want to use it even less...

- Another quirk I picked up from being self taught is that for power chording I used the index and pinky instead of the index and ring finger.
After I was told how it was supposed to be I tried to do it but the pinky just felt more comfortable. Now I seem to switch between the two for no apparent reason, even while playing the same (power) chords.

- The thumb-over-fingerboard is something fairly common and although not canon I don't consider it a quirk. When one can get away with it it's vastly preferable and easier on the hand and tendons but unless one has really long fingers not the easiest way to reach across the fretboard...
Personally I use both; if I can, I prefer the thumb-over method and if not, I use the "Classical" way...

Another "quirk" that many cannot fathom is that I vastly prefer 24-fretted guitars.
I see no problem when the neck pu is bellow the 24th fret (unless it's an HSH guitar in which case things get cramped there) and don't appreciate the lack of the 2 full octaves as bending can only get you that far.
Also, I love my tremolo, fulcrums being my favs as a good middle of the road.
When I play on a hardtail I find myself constantly reaching for the whammy :9:

Finally (and personally I don't really consider that a quirk but anyway) I HATE big chunky heels with a passion. That's the #1 reason I don't appreciate PRS much...
I don't care if it's a bolt-on/in, a set neck or a neck-thru, in all scenarios there's a way to make the heel fit the inside of the hand so DO IT LIKE SO ALREADY!!!

(BTW, I too like the chug of the downward picking but the past year alternate picking has become like second nature to me and now I'm learning how to make it sound like all-downward so that's one down...)
 
Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

i tend to use a lot of harmonics... pick harmonics and natural harmonics...
 
Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

- Another quirk I picked up from being self taught is that for power chording I used the index and pinky instead of the index and ring finger.
After I was told how it was supposed to be I tried to do it but the pinky just felt more comfortable. Now I seem to switch between the two for no apparent reason, even while playing the same (power) chords.

.)

i usually use my pinky to fret 5th chords when my arm is getting fatigued since i guess it'sless hand movement or something
 
Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

I have the ability to take a really great guitar and make it sound very ordinary....or a cheap guitar and make it sound cheaper... I keep trying.....I don't give up, much to the chagrin of my poor wife. Sorry, Hon.
 
Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

Well, I can bend with the pinky, and vibrato as well. I use it a lot since I don't want to move the whole wrist along the neck, I just use the pinky - it's as strong as the ring finger now.

I also have long right hand fingernails which I can use when I play any style. I can strum complex rhythms, or play a blues solo, or chicken pick. It gives my playing my own personal style when I use the nails... I don't use them live though because most of the times I play cover songs and they have to sound a bit like the original.
 
Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

How do you who don't use your pinky make minor bar chords ?
I'd be totally useless without my pinky ......and those four to six fret lead runs ? unimaginable !
 
Re: What would you say your guitar "quirks" are

How do you who don't use your pinky make minor bar chords ?
I'd be totally useless without my pinky ......and those four to six fret lead runs ? unimaginable !

like this

A and D minor for example

(in order from 6th to third string for fingers 1, 3, 3, 1)

3---5
4---7
5---7
6---5

(same thing here except from 5th to 2nd 1, 3, 3, ,2
2---6
3---7
4---7
5---5


but sometimes i just quit being lazy and use my pinky for thos kind of chords
 
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