palm anchoring

callen3615 · #1 12-11-2008, 01:03 AM

Ok, well I have been anchoring my palm on the bridge of the guitar for about a year now. I have been informed that it is bad practice and that my whole hand should not touch the guitar. I have been playing scales for about 2 hours trying to pick over the neck pickup and not touching the bridge, i do touch the strings a little though. Anyway It feels awkward compared to resting my had on the bridge. How important is this? can someone help me out with this?

thanks

**Ayrton** · #2 12-11-2008, 02:29 AM

2 hours?

I spent almost a year breaking myself of that habit.

chlamy · #3 12-11-2008, 04:00 AM

Is there such thing as "bad habit" as long as you sound good and can play what you want to play ? BTW, Paul Gilbert at the VIP, showed and told us he has "always" the palm on the bridge to controllably dampen/mute/soften strings when picking, he is pretty much resting his palm there all the time, he did call it a "bad habit" though lol

callen3615 · #4 12-11-2008, 10:34 AM

well I dont have any pressure on it i dont really "rest" my hand on the bridge i hovers above it and i touch it alittle for reference.

callen3615 · #5 12-11-2008, 10:47 AM

It totally looks like he is touching the bridge.

That looks like anchoring

That looks like he is anchoring his pinky on the pickguard

luke1010 · #6 12-12-2008, 05:40 PM

^^^^

If those guys rest their hands near the bridge then it cant be bad technique.
But I guess aslong as your not muting notes, or changing the pitch of notes (i.e resting ur hand too much on a floating trem) then I guess it really doesnt matter if your hand rests there. Thats just what I have always thought.

I always find myself hooking my little finger, just like Paul Gilbert is in that photo.

callen3615 · #7 12-12-2008, 06:59 PM

well watch gilbert its not slowing him down too much

callen3615 · #8 12-12-2008, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayrton

2 hours?

I spent almost a year breaking myself of that habit.

whats the benefit to not anchoring tho???

callen3615 · #9 12-12-2008, 08:35 PM

While i think this guy is a total deuche he is fast as hell and it looks like he is resting his hand on the bridge.

This guys alright too and it also looks like he has his hand on the bridge.

**Ayrton** · #10 12-12-2008, 09:58 PM

You guys are confusing anchoring with palm muting. I used to "hook" a finger to the guitar, and this greatly compromised my picking. I worked to break myself of this habit, and it worked for me.

However if you are getting the results you want with anchoring, then there is nothing wrong. There is no "right or wrong" way.

For the record, Paul Gilbert does not anchor his picking hand. In all of those above photos, it is hard to determine exactly what anyone them are doing. You would be better served watching some videos their picking hands vs live action photos.

callen3615 · #11 12-12-2008, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ayrton

You guys are confusing anchoring with palm muting. I used to "hook" a finger to the guitar, and this greatly compromised my picking. I worked to break myself of this habit, and it worked for me.

However if you are getting the results you want with anchoring, then there is nothing wrong. There is no "right or wrong" way.

For the record, Paul Gilbert does not anchor his picking hand. In all of those above photos, it is hard to determine exactly what anyone them are doing. You would be better served watching some videos their picking hands vs live action photos.

OHHHHH i have my pinky completely off the guitar. but my palm rests on the bridge. is that anchoring???

**Ayrton** · #12 12-12-2008, 11:15 PM

If you are not pulling the guitar sharp (floating bridge), then I say you are fine.

Witness the master

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YvsO...eature=related

callen3615 · #13 12-12-2008, 11:19 PM

cool.

JungleFender · #14 12-23-2008, 10:10 PM

I think it's alright to "palm anchor" lots of guitarist seems to do it
I rest my palm on the bridge all the time
Help builds stability and make palm muting easier
Just make sure that the strings don't go sharp when you play

Homebake · #15 12-23-2008, 10:34 PM

i was taught to kind of rest my palm on the bridge for support a bit when picking and using my pinky as support too. i don't know why people think its such sacrilege.

it's the best and most efficient way for me to pick. i guess as long as you don't keep accidentally muting strings or pushing the bridge down it doesn't matter.