Finger anchoring - what do you think?

Al M · #1 01-02-2002, 06:24 AM

Lo again.

Im just checking to see what people do with their right hand when they are 'speed picking' (i hope thats the correct term of phrase). I have spoken to a few people about this and most seem to think that having at least your little finger stuck ot the pickguard gives much more stability and makes speedpicking much easier. However I have seen quite a lot of people who in effect have their hand floating above the strings with no anchorage at all. What do you guys think? what are the pros and cons?

Cheers again

Al M

**jemsite** · #2 01-02-2002, 10:30 AM

Whatever works best for you is what you should do

You see some "pinky extenders" using that when doing arpeggios and going accross strings... probably because it provides a reference point for complex picking. I don't personally see how it could enhance "speed picking" for any reason other than it was more comfortable and you practiced/learned that way.

For a newbie guitarists, I would try not to encourage "anchoring" on the bridge TOO MUCH. When watching guitar greats, their pick hands float effortlessly... glen

Kevan · #3 01-02-2002, 11:12 AM

Pinky Extenders: *Vai, Satch, Ken Burtch (talk about complex picking!).

Palm Pilots: *Petrucci, Me. *(holy craP! *Did I just point out a similarity between JP and I? Wow...)

Freelancer: *EVH

That's just off the top of my head. *I'm sure other folks will list others.

**jemsite** · #4 01-02-2002, 11:14 AM

vai doesn't pinky anchor.

jem7vwh · #5 01-02-2002, 11:39 AM

This is one of the first things I teach my students when they get into their "metallica phase". If you want to pick quickly and fluidly, I advise everyone to keep their hand floating. *Using your pinky to anchor your hand will do just that. *It will provide some stability when (as a beginner) there is not as much. *However, it limits your range of picking. *

The advantages to floating are pretty big

full range of motion
quick palm muting
quick transition to sweep picking
allows four finger tapping (since the pinky is floating too)
allows you to use the same technique as you pick up the neck (while tapping)

In the end, you can do what you like. *But I find there are a lot of advantages to keeping your hand floating.

Kevan · #6 01-02-2002, 12:29 PM

Glen- you might want to go back and watch your DLR and G3 vids. *Vai does pinky anchor (on the edge of that outrageous cutaway of the Flame, and just below the bridge hum on EVO), but not exclusively. *I might move him down to the "Freelancer" section. *:-)

Chris- I agree with you on most of the points. *I, however, found what works best for me is the "palm on the trem" setup. *My hands are large enough to get that full range of motion, and I have a plethora of palm muting options (just slide forward or back; I don't have to go up or down, causing unwanted noise). *Four-finger tapping? *Shane Regal I am not. *LOL
*
As Glen said, it's best to find what you're comfortable with, and work from there. *Maybe incorporate several methods- hand placement according to what's more comfy/accurate/speedy for that particular segment? *
That seems to be what EVH and SSV work with. *

**jemsite** · #7 01-02-2002, 12:38 PM

Yup, vai freelances alot w/ the pinky... *using it for volume, muting and the trem. It comes down to the definition of what we're talking about here. Overall you can classify him as someone who is comfortable with a full-floating pick hand (no anchors anywhere)... who uses technique (including pinky rests) to fit what he wants to do

remember too, pinky placement is critical for keeping a relaxed pick hand, and some people might be comfortable with an extended pinky, even if it not being used as a crutch/anchor exclusively.

Kevan · #8 01-02-2002, 12:50 PM

It's only considered a "crutch" if I'm the one playing. *
:biggrin:

If you want an example of non-textbook technique, watch Mike Keneally play.
Years of classical training with finger-picking masters? *No chance, but he's note-for-note, tap-for-tap, bend-for-bend, dive-for-dive with SSV.
At that point, who cares what it looks like! *:-)

caprile · #9 01-02-2002, 05:44 PM

i rest my wrist just above the neck pu, not in the bridge. i got this from paul gilbert videos, and works great for me. also the hand is always in the same position, palm muting, speed picking etc. i may be banned for saying this, but if you're looking for technique, vai isn't great at all. (i said technique) My advice is get a PG vid, especially intense rock II. No one beats Pablo when it comes to technique, in particular picking.

Giant Steps · #10 01-02-2002, 06:59 PM

Vai is one of those players that can pick as fast as Gilbert, and sweep like Yngwie but decides what to play based on musicality rather than, "Look how fast I can play!" If you get deeply involved in Vai-ness you find some less accessible videos and clips that show what he can really do.

[rant]
Another thing about Vai is that instead of mindlessly working on playing extremely linear, simple, diatonic, and in my opinion boring runs for hours on end until he could play them so fast it sounds like mush (which he CAN do anyway), he worked on things that were technically AND MUSICALLY insane. In other words, if you were to hear the same insane licks on a piano, violin, kazoo, whatever; they would still sound amazing. That's also why my 70 year old grandmother likes listening to Vai, but thinks Petrucci is noise on guitar (and I'm sure Paul Gilbert would appeal even less). As guitar players, we focus so much on mechanical technique that we forget that "shredding" is more *than that. I would be much more impressed with a player that's average shred lick consists of alternate picking, hybrid picking, legato, tapping, open strings (gasp!), and sweeps rather than a player who picks down a scale sequence really fast. It's about WHAT (and when) you play fast, not THAT you play fast. I've been there, it sucks, keep your mind open!
[/rant]

-VIG-

**jemsite** · #11 01-02-2002, 07:01 PM

ok,

stop the musician comparisons

before this thread is locked. thanks

...glen

Giant Steps · #12 01-02-2002, 07:03 PM

I'm sorry, I just realized my last post had very little to do with the topic. Use what's comfortable with your pick hand. It doesn't matter what Petrucci does with his pinky.

-VIG-

caprile · #13 01-02-2002, 07:21 PM

i'm sorry too, but i emphasized i was talking strictly about technique. Vai is my favorite musician too.

jem7vwh · #14 01-03-2002, 02:12 AM

I probably should have added that when I said "float" I wasn't being clear. *My hand usually touches the metal of the bridge too. *Although it's important not to *rest* your hand there with too much force as it would affect the pitch (when using a floating trem)

cmartin · #15 01-03-2002, 02:27 AM

I say absolutely do what is comfortable for you and develop that. If you spend too much time listening to what others tell you is 'proper', you'll waste a lot of time and effort trying to make your playing conform to others preferences when it's likely not the best/easiest way for you.

For just about any of the usual technical questions (alternate vs speed/economy/sweep picking, pinky anchoring vs floating, left hand posture, etc.) you can find absolute masters that utilise each style in a manner that goes waaay beyond the necessary ability level to play practically anything. As long as its comfortable and doesn't cause any pain/soreness/stress, I suggest going with what's natural.

BTW, unless I'm mistaken, I believe Steve Morse anchors his pinky, and in terms of pure speed picking, he is at least the equal of anyone listed in this thread thus far (IMHO).