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Topic: To curl or not to curl; That is the question. |
Jerry Mason
From:
Reader, Wv
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Posted 19 Dec 2007 9:05 am |
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| How many of you curl your little finger under on your picking hand as opposed to anchoring, extending, etc.? I have been trying to change from anchoring over first string and curling it under my picking hand. |
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Brandon Ordoyne
From:
Needville,Texas USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2007 9:48 am
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I find curling it under helps me pick faster...
_________________
'74 Emmons D10 P/P 8x5,'15 Rittenberry D10 8x5, Peavey Nashville 112, 400 & 1000, Fender Twin Reverb Tone Master, Hilton, Goodrich L120, Boss DD-3 and RV-3 |
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Dale Hansen
From:
Hendersonville,Tennessee, (USA)
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Posted 19 Dec 2007 11:08 am
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I curl it.
Not for any reason of weighing the pro's and con's of both methods, and finding curling better.
It's simply more natural to me.
Your own hand will tell you what to do. Just play for fun, noodling around without thinking, and simply notice your own tendencies, and build technique on that.
I advocate allowing the body to teach itself.
I never bothered to learn how to pick block. It seemed too complicated, and didn't seem worth the effort.
Now, don't misunderstand, I didn't say I couldn't pick block. I can, and do, but I just allowed it to happen naturally, as a result of having a particular sound that I was after in my head, and letting it come in its own time.
One day I just noticed that I was doing it.
Twenty some odd years ago when I was just starting out, I spoke with Bruce Bouton on the phone and asked him," Do you palm block?, or pick block?" After a long thoughtful pause he replied, " I don't know; I guess a little of both", and then he went into examples of how he used each in some solos he played that I was familiar with.
What I took away from the encounter, subconciously, was not to get too hung up on the "how to's". |
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Dick Wood
From:
Springtown Texas, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2007 12:04 pm
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| Mine sticks out. |
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Gord Cole
From:
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted 19 Dec 2007 12:21 pm
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| Curl under. Started that way when taking lessons with Al Brisco. Tried sticking the little finger out but didn't like it. |
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Brandon Ordoyne
From:
Needville,Texas USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2007 1:28 pm
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Same with me Gord...I started taking lessons with Jody Cameron and he had me curl the finger in, and now I cant even hardly pick with it out...I am guessing what ever is more comfortable for the person...
_________________
'74 Emmons D10 P/P 8x5,'15 Rittenberry D10 8x5, Peavey Nashville 112, 400 & 1000, Fender Twin Reverb Tone Master, Hilton, Goodrich L120, Boss DD-3 and RV-3 |
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Bill Dobkins
From:
Rolla Missouri, USA
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Posted 19 Dec 2007 5:19 pm
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What Dick said.
_________________
Custom Rittenberry SD10
Boss Katana 100 Amp
Positive Grid Spark amp
BJS Bars
Z~Legend Pro,Custom Tele
Honor our Vet's.
Now pass the gravy. |
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Dan Burnham
From:
Greenfield, Tennessee
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Posted 20 Dec 2007 9:46 am Curl Under
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Unfortunately my curl under. I have Multiple Sclerosis and as weird as this is going to sound, I have a little trouble playing 12 string with "Pinky Boy" wanting to get in the way.
What is even more weird is when I play D-10 I don't have any problems with "Pinky Boy."
I wish I could teach that old boy to lay flat. Who said you could teach an old dog new tricks?
I still can't get this guy to do what I want it to, it has a mind of it's own. 
Dan
_________________
BMI S12 Zane Beck's Tuning
www.danburnham.com |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 20 Dec 2007 12:00 pm
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Most of the time it is curled under, even under the top strings at times. But, depending on what I am playing, it might be curled into my palm like a fist or sticking straight out.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Michael Haselman
From:
St. Paul
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Posted 20 Dec 2007 12:40 pm
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When I first started I'd watch the masters, BE, Crawford, Myrick, etc. and many of the locals and they all stuck the pinky out. I tried many times but could never feel comfortable. I think it's a less common practice than it used to be.
_________________
Mullen RP D10, Peavey NV112, Hilton volume. Hound Dog reso. Piles of other stuff. |
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Jody Cameron
From:
Angleton, TX,, USA
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Posted 20 Dec 2007 5:13 pm
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I stuck the little finger out for years, but just recently discovered that by curling it under, I am able to pick-block much more easily. I still stick it out sometimes when palm-blocking a slow ballad type song...it helps with palm blocking for me. I don't believe in the "there's only one right way" theory. I say use what you need when you need it.
JC |
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Gary Shepherd
From:
Fox, Oklahoma, USA
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Don Sulesky
From:
Citrus County, FL, Orig. from MA & NH
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 8:04 am
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I curl mine under.
It just came natural to me that way. I've tried to keep it staight and it feels uncomfortable. I find I use the curled finger to get harmonics as well. |
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Billy Wilson
From:
El Cerrito, California, USA
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 10:18 am
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| outie |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 1:34 pm
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| I don't use many open strings, so my little finger is almost continually palm-blocking. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 1:39 pm
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As Jody stated, it depends on the type of blocking I am using at the time. I find pick blocking easier when I tuck my little finger into my palm like a fist. And sometimes I just use whatever is working best for me at the time. There are times when I have trouble playing with my hand in certain positions, so I will use a different position for my hand to make it work.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 54 years and still counting. |
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Chris Schlotzhauer
From:
Colleyville, Tx. USA
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 8:05 pm
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| I kept going back and forth, so I just had it removed. |
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A. J. Schobert
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio,
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 10:20 pm
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| I hold on to the first string for dear life! |
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Steve Norman
From:
Seattle Washington, USA
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Posted 21 Dec 2007 11:38 pm
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this is probably wierd,, in for c6, and out hooked on the first string for e9.
I think its because I use more 3 string grips w c6, and its easier to block that way for me
_________________
GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS |
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