Basic question on right hand picking technique

Malcolm Leonard · From: Rhode Island, USA

I am learning(slowly,but,hopefully,surely!)to play lap steel with the Dewitt Scott course.

One thing not mentioned in the instructions and about which I am a little confused is:

Is it better to support the right hand by resting the tip of the little finger on top of the guitar,or forget about hand support and just hold the hand and all fingers above the strings....or how about resting the edge of the hand(or the wrist) on the plastic or metal pickup cover that seems to be a common part of some vintage lap steels?
How do you experienced guys do it?
Thanks,
Malcolm

Bob Hoffnar · From: Austin, Tx

I don't rest my hand anywhere on the steel. I leave my fingers in position to pick and move my hand over the strings I want to play. My hand sort of floats over the strings.

I'm not sure if that is the best way but it is what I was shown when I got started.
_________________
Bob

Robert Murphy · From: West Virginia

I do not rest my hand on the guitar. I mostly play acoustics and one can vary the timbre from mello to twang by changing your picking position.

Andy Sandoval · From: Bakersfield, California, USA

I've seen players that rest the lower part of the palm on the lower strings for a reference but then you have to be careful and not mute the lower strings with the palm when your playing them.

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

Hover.

Roy Thomson · From: Wolfville, Nova Scotia,Canada

Here is my picking and blocking position.

Here a graphic from a Jeff Newman technique
presentation.
The hand rests on the strings and is lifted slightly
to pick the strings THEN straight down to block or
mute.
Note the position of the thumb in both of these
examples above and hereunder...out and away from the fingers. Very important!

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Custom Tabs Various Tunings
Courses Lap Steel, Pedal Steel

Charley Wilder · From: Dover, New Hampshire, USA

This is another of those individually aquired techniques I think. I had to actually sit down and play awhile before I could comment on my way of doing it. Like many self taught sliders my way of doing it just evolved. I do all sorts of things depending on the instrument configuration I'm playing. I lay my palm on the bridge or pickup cover sometimes if it's possible. Brace with my ring finger and pinky and float sometimes. And whatever. I don't block with my right hand except on open strings once and a while and then I use my pinky only. I'm,sort of, all over the place actually. (Not much help am I?) Very Happy

Randy Reeves · From: LaCrosse, Wisconsin, USA

float and rest is what I do. it all depends on what I am trying to play.
most times my right palm rests on the strings near the pickup and /or on the bridge area. I like this most as I can damp or full mute. it is kind of like having a leash on a wild dog. the lap steel being the wild dog.
on the down side, my wrist is cocked creating stress on the muscles on top of the forearm. after a long session I am sore.

Steve Norman · From: Seattle Washington, USA

I got in the BAD habit of hooking my pinky on string 1 to stop the godawlful sound of hitting it or string 2 by mistake (e9). All the good blockers I've seen hover and just pick accurately. On dobro I use the the palm rest doohikey and raise the bar leaving my trailing fingers down for sticato. Im all screwed up man....
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GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

Picking the strings halfway between the bar position and the bridge brings out the best tone. It take some practice to do it,and remind yourself to work at it.
Picking with the hand on a bridge cover may be OK as long as the strings aren't picked too close to the bridge, which gives crappy/tinny sound.

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