Rick, George, all : which finger for which strings?

Judson Bertoch · From: Virginia, USA

I feel like King Dufus asking this Q, but so be it.

I'm following along George and Rick's "Basics" DVDs and I guess I'm not fully making the connection on which strings are plucked by which fingers.

My technique is eratic and I'd rather fix it now than fix it later.

So is there a best practice/habit? For example:

1) Say that you're are to play string 6 (bass), then 5, then 4. Is that always going to be, respectively, Thumb, Index, Middle?

2) suppose you play string 6 (Thumb) then string 2 - so which finger for 2?

3) bass runs: playing string 6, then 5, then 6, then 4. All thumb? or thumb, index, thumb, middle?

I see technique where folks use the thumb A LOT, or on consecutive strings, use thumb + middle.

Help me get centered on this if you would please.

Charley Wilder · From: Dover, New Hampshire, USA

I'm not familiar with these courses but in my case I just use what ever pattern or sequence that is the most comfortable. I'm sure with a pedal steel it would be much more structured into certain patterns. I use mostly thumb and first if I can and middle if I have to in all cases BUT that's because of the way I play. All patterns would seem a bit awkward at first to a beginner but if it seems extremely awkward it probably is extremely awkward, beginner or not.

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

Judson, it's as you seen it.
Try using your thumb primarily when picking, but utilize your middle finger 2nd most when needing a finger, and keep your pinky reserved for triple grips and other advanced picking needs.
I don't always stick to this rule, which was taught to me, but we all travel our own road.

You can check out more on this at my web page's tutorial section on pg. 4 - www.hwnsge.5u.com

George Piburn · From: The Land of Enchantment New Mexico

Rick Alexander · From: Florida, USA, R.I.P.

Judson, these guys are telling you right - like George says, whatever finger is most available.
There are no big rules with non pedal steel, that's one of the great things about it.

While it's always good to ask questions, lot of the questions you're asking are answered in the courses you're using.
Maybe not in a way that will jump off the page and make you know everything in a week, but in a way that will help you discover the answers for yourself in time by playing and experimenting.

Both George's and my videos have overhead cam that let you see the fingerings we use, but it's possible that some variation would work better for you.

Judson Bertoch · From: Virginia, USA

Thanks to all, more great info, as ususal.

I think I best fade away and lurk again, plus I have everything I need to get going for quite some time.

Don't mean to be a pestilence.

I don't claim to be MENSA or a village idiot, but your point about things not being obvious is more true than you probably imagine my newbie eyes.

I just don't want to learn things 'wrong' and then unlearn/relearn. Plus, I guess I don't mind asking the dumb question(s) because a) people reply with amazing answers that I would never discovered on my own and b) I'm guessing there's more than a few people like me but just lurk/occasionally post - however still benefit from those answers.

For example, it took me a couple times through the videos to realize that the fingerpicks were really bent over, unlike typical fingerpicking. So I searched the site and found a thread that discussed that and then bent mine and now things are much easier. That I found on my own.

The finger/string relationship was not obvious to me - I didn't see consistent pattern to takeaway to implement. I couldn't find a thread on this site or via Goggle that addressed it so I asked the forum. Now I know thanks to y'all!

Good pickin' and slidin' to everyone!

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

Don't get into any kind of patterns or rules when it comes to learning the steel. Do whatever you do out of the most natural way for YOU to do it.

Learn to use ALL your fingers.

Lynn Oliver · From: Redmond, Washington USA * R.I.P.

By necessity beginners start out very slowly, so sometimes you find out much later that a technique you used when playing slowly falls apart at speed. To avoid this, take advantage of every opportunity to see people play live, and work with a teacher if possible.

My method when learning is to break things down to the smallest possible units and concentrate on one thing at a time. Spending just a few minutes of focused practice time each day can really help you progress, as it forces your brain to create the wiring for specific actions.

I'd suggest working on single-note runs, either T-I-T-I... or T-M-T-M... as mentioned earlier. Practice on a single string and going across the strings.

Also, arpeggiate chords using simple rolls as mentioned earlier. Don't worry about speed for now--just work on getting them smooth and even.

Finally, work on grabbing three-note chords accurately.

All of the above should be done with the right hand only at first.

Judson Bertoch · From: Virginia, USA

To be honest - I'm really stunned by the answer. I'd never have come to the conclusion that "there is no rule."

This is the music education world, darn it, where there are only my ways and wrong ways.

I do feel a bit like the guy who walks into the wrong conference room at the hotel and everyone turns around and looks!

Not sure how y'all orgininally discovered what you just told me, but I'm grateful you did.

Mark Mansueto · From: Michigan, USA

Judson, you're smart for not wanting to learn bad habits like I did when I started. Unfortunately for me there were no forums around so I did it my own way. Luckily, I picked a tuning that works for me and someone must have clued me into using finger picks because that's what I used.

The problem is that I was holding the bar incorrectly and I got into the habit of picking single notes using only my thumb and index. I had trouble advancing to some of the more complex stuff I wanted to do so as of about a year and a half ago I changed my bar and picking technique. The bar grip technique happened quickly but the picking is an ongoing battle but is going well.

How I overcame my old picking technique was to pick with index and middle only for a while to get used to using both fingers. It was awkward for me but now I'm very fluent at it. After that I practiced alternating rolls: t-i-m / m-i-t on different strings across the neck. Then using every other string. These are good excersises for three finger picking. An advanced excesise I do is playing an alternating bass with the thumb and playing a scale with the i and m.

Hope this helps, have fun!
_________________
https://markmansueto.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/65dQ3EyZC2RaqawA8gPlRy?si=dOdqc5zxSKeJI9cISVVx_A

George Piburn · From: The Land of Enchantment New Mexico

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I believe JERRY BYRD recommended using the thumb and undex finger for a pair of strings 'inside'.......

If I recall accurately, he suggested using the thumb and middle finger for a pair of strings that are seperated by one or more strings.

Watching some of his video's.......you can see he was quite proficient in making some really nice single string runs by using his THUMB only. He was also adept at using the thumb with both a forward and backward picking action, like on steel guitar rag.

The above suggestions work great on six string steel guitars with their wider string spacing. Not sure just they would work with a ten or twelve string g'tar.

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

I seem to remember JB saying something about picking the first string with the thumb (for melody playing on the first string)as the thumb gives a stronger tone than the index finger?

Anyone recall this?

Jim Bates · From: Alvin, Texas, USA

As said above, don't rely on a hard and fast (or slow) rule for picking which string with which finger.

Here's an excercise I have done for many years that helps me pick any string with any finger: Pretend that your first finger is out of sevice and play with thumb, second and third fingers. Then pretend that you can only play with the thumb, first and third fingers. And as a real challenge try playing without any thumb. You will be surprised at how one finger can 'take-over' the function of the other.

I learned to do this several years ago when I had a bad burn on my first finger and had to play a dance using thumb, second and third fingers. It was very odd at first, but I was able to do a very passible job.

At least try it.

Thanx,
Jim

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