so i just read this whole thread:
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum...8&page=1&pp=20
and i advise you guys do too.
i started getting into fast alternate picking about...9 months ago. my teacher introduced my to the technique of constant up and down strokes and also anchoring your pinky for stability so i learnt that way. obviously i saw players like shawn lane, gilbert and john mclaughlin didn't anchor their pinkies but players like petrucci and steve morse do anchor, so i thought, "well, why change to un-anchored which is more uncomfortable when petrucci can pick like that!"
well, i read that thread, and after a couple of months of anchoring, i' think i'm gonna start un-anchoring. it just makes more sense. it will take a while to get the stability of anchoring with out it, but i think it's really better. it might also help avoid developing RSI and CTS and all those nasty things.
discuss away. i know there is the argument of "if it doesn't hurt, do it" but i've changed my mind.