anchoring - the great debate

[wilch]

I only just recently started to not anchor... I feel I play better that way.... Strange.

[Homebake]

not anchoring, my picking style mimics paul gilberts almost to a tee exactly. it feels slightly odd but also feels better. it wasn't even that much of a change, since i used to anchor so lightly anyway. just feels way freer.

its also better when playing standing up (i have my strap as high as it can go) because you don't have to constantly have your pinky stretched all the way down to the pickguard.

[Tom Gilroy]

Whether you anchor or not, you are at risk of developing CTS or a RSI. I do believe however that anchoring increases the risk.

The greatest determining factor that determines your risk of CTS is genetic predisposition, however research does suggest that repetitive wrist motions, particularly those done with the wrist at a poor angle, is a factor. For this reason, I feel the best way to help yourself avoid a wrist injury is to keep your wrist as straight as possible when picking (and typing!).

Tension is more likely to cause a tendon injury. So, it seems fairly logical to me that we should try to have as little tension in our picking arms as possible, from the shoulder down to the fingers.

Anchoring you hand requires more tension than not anchoring, that's just an unavoidable truth. I'm not talking about your hand touching the guitar, by anchoring I mean actively pressing your arm into the guitar. I haven't heard a sensible argument that refutes this.

Regardless of whether or not anchoring increases your risk of injury, I have no doubt that it decreases the range of motion in your picking hand, which I can't ever imagine as benefit. I anchored my picking hand for several years and had very solid picking technique (I could comfortably pick 16th notes at 240bpm), but I was constrained to playing very scalar Petrucci/Di Meola like picking runs (Al doesn't anchor, but his playing is very modal). I decided to try playing unanchored, and I must admit, I wasn't able to play as fast initially. I did notice a huge increase in my picking hand's freedom, which really helped when it came to picking licks that involved string skipping. I recently checked to see if I could play play 16ths at 240bpm (actually, 32nds at 120bpm, same speed), I could, and very comfortably. So, I have all the speed (and more, I think) I used to have, and I find string skipping lines much easier. It certainly been of benefit to my playing.

I know that there are many fantastic speed pickers that do anchor, Petrucci and Morse come to mind quickest. Impressive as they are, I think there are unanchored pickers that are more impressive, Lane didn't anchor, and Paul Gilbert doesn't.

[Homebake]

Originally Posted by Tom Gilroy

Whether you anchor or not, you are at risk of developing CTS or a RSI. I do believe however that anchoring increases the risk.

The greatest determining factor that determines your risk of CTS is genetic predisposition, however research does suggest that repetitive wrist motions, particularly those done with the wrist at a poor angle, is a factor. For this reason, I feel the best way to help yourself avoid a wrist injury is to keep your wrist as straight as possible when picking (and typing!).

Tension is more likely to cause a tendon injury. So, it seems fairly logical to me that we should try to have as little tension in our picking arms as possible, from the shoulder down to the fingers.

Anchoring you hand requires more tension than not anchoring, that's just an unavoidable truth. I'm not talking about your hand touching the guitar, by anchoring I mean actively pressing your arm into the guitar. I haven't heard a sensible argument that refutes this.

Regardless of whether or not anchoring increases your risk of injury, I have no doubt that it decreases the range of motion in your picking hand, which I can't ever imagine as benefit. I anchored my picking hand for several years and had very solid picking technique (I could comfortably pick 16th notes at 240bpm), but I was constrained to playing very scalar Petrucci/Di Meola like picking runs (Al doesn't anchor, but his playing is very modal). I decided to try playing unanchored, and I must admit, I wasn't able to play as fast initially. I did notice a huge increase in my picking hand's freedom, which really helped when it came to picking licks that involved string skipping. I recently checked to see if I could play play 16ths at 240bpm (actually, 32nds at 120bpm, same speed), I could, and very comfortably. So, I have all the speed (and more, I think) I used to have, and I find string skipping lines much easier. It certainly been of benefit to my playing.

I know that there are many fantastic speed pickers that do anchor, Petrucci and Morse come to mind quickest. Impressive as they are, I think there are unanchored pickers that are more impressive, Lane didn't anchor, and Paul Gilbert doesn't.

you pretty much summed up my whole argument there lol.

[callen3615]

I dont know if I anchor or not. I rest the side of my palm on one half of the bridge and one half of the strings, I slide it either way depending on what needs to be muted. I do not grab anything with my pinky. The side of my palm usually slides vertical on the bridge or over the strings on scalular stuff. If you have ever watched glenn tipton play my picking hand kinda resembles that.

[Homebake]

Originally Posted by callen3615

I dont know if I anchor or not. I rest the side of my palm on one half of the bridge and one half of the strings, I slide it either way depending on what needs to be muted. I do not grab anything with my pinky. The side of my palm usually slides vertical on the bridge or over the strings on scalular stuff. If you have ever watched glenn tipton play my picking hand kinda resembles that.

yeah, we're talking about anchoring a pinky or ring finger or something on the pickguard. you're pretty freaky if you're not resting your hand on the bridge. everyone does it.

[eviltwin]

Originally Posted by Homebake

you're pretty freaky if you're not resting your hand on the bridge. everyone does it.

I don't agree, there are scores of players who will only touch the guitar (ligthly) with the forearm, not anchoring, no pinky support and not touching the bridge in any way.

[Tom Gilroy]

Originally Posted by Homebake

yeah, we're talking about anchoring a pinky or ring finger or something on the pickguard. you're pretty freaky if you're not resting your hand on the bridge. everyone does it.

Your hand never "rests" on the bridge. It requires effort on your part to keep your hand in contact with the guitar's bridge. Gravity after all works down, not sideways.

It's necessary of course that you dampen the strings with either the flesh below your thumb, or with the heel/side of your hand. Dampening requires you to exert almost no pressure, and is not the same as anchoring.

I lightly tought the strings lower than the string I'm playing on with the heel of my hand, no other part of my picking arm touches the guitar.

[callen3615]

No. Most of the time my palm is lightly touching the bridge and sometimes part of the strings.

[MattyG]

Originally Posted by Tom Gilroy

I lightly tought the strings lower than the string I'm playing on with the heel of my hand, no other part of my picking arm touches the guitar.

Do you not rest your forearm on the body contour?

[floraljem]

I've always rested the fleshy side of my palm on the bridge to mute the strings. I used to anchor when i first started at about 11 but that soon changed. The thought of getting CTS scares the **** out of me so regular breaks and varied practice sessions seem to help.

[kotornut]

I anchor. When I first read this thread I honestly didn't know if I did or not. I've got basically zero formal training or lessons under my belt. A few videos and the rest is just me so I never thought about it. I'm comfortable there. I don't do a lot of the technical things like the pros, and maybe that's my probelm, I don't hold my pick the Paul Gilbert way etc. All my Japanese guitar buddies are so into form and technique they all marvel and say, "you're doing it worong," but honestly I don't want to relearn and I think that a lot of people get stuck on that stuff and forget to actually play music. And it shows in some of them TBH.

My dad had a bout of CTS so hearing it's genetic bothers me, but he got it in his left (fretting) hand not in his picking hand. He didn't need surgery though. The doctor said to learn to play without as much tension and take a lot more breaks. That was good advice and it applies well to someone that isn't a pro. Plus, he switched to classical a while back and learned to play the classical style of finger picking that in turn helped a lot with every aspect of his technique. Not to mention the easy playability of a classical. He still plays electric enough to have fun with it, but he knows that after an hour of riffing his brains out he needs to stop, but I think all of us could use more breaks from riffing our brains out.

You know Satch always talks about how playing solos and melodies all night is a lot more tiring. Sometimes, I think that we are all harder on our hands by practicing soloing and so on more than rhythm so much at home that we are actually tougher on ourselves than a lot of pros. If you think about it, very few professionals play solos and melodic runs for 4-5 hours a day. That's tough on the hands. And I've even heard Paul Gilbert say that he practices less than people would think he does. Many pros say that you have to balance it and live life too.

I know Petrucci practices like crazy, but other guys practice less and are as good or better (depending on your view). I think it's up to the person and their own stamina, just like sports. I've never bought into that whole notion that everyone has to practice 6 hours a day just to maintain their skill. I believe you should practice a bunch, but not so much as to cause CTS and unneeded strain on yourself. If you get what I'm saying.

[Tubarão Guitars]

back in the day, 20 years ago when i started playing guitar, i was a anchorfreak and always used to use the pink finger.
name it: lack of technique.
today i mix two styles of picking:
80% of time: Petrucci style for relaxed and or palm mute stuff;
20% of time: Gilbert angled picking style for fast runs, sweep picking and KILLZONE MODE ON! LOL
Anyway i really think theres no right and wrong, just the best for the performance of your playing.

[fretboardpyro]

^^^^^ exactly as above ^^^^^

[kotornut]

Originally Posted by Tubarão Guitars

back in the day, 20 years ago when i started playing guitar, i was a anchorfreak and always used to use the pink finger.
name it: lack of technique.
today i mix two styles of picking:
80% of time: Petrucci style for relaxed and or palm mute stuff;
20% of time: Gilbert angled picking style for fast runs, sweep picking and KILLZONE MODE ON! LOL
Anyway i really think theres no right and wrong, just the best for the performance of your playing.

exactly, it's music, form and technique are part not all.