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Topic: Bar Length vs. Hand Size (and how to hold the bar?) |
Dale Lee
From:
Down Yonder
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Posted 16 Apr 2009 5:51 pm |
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I had an expert player tell me that I am holding the bar in a way that is not helpful. I cross the tip end of my index finger over the bar, angling toward the front side of the bar. I have been working on getting my finger on top of the bar in the approved way, but when I do that my index finger overhangs the end of the bar by about ¾ of an inch, which doesn’t feel good to me. It’s like my finger is too long. This started me thinking longer bars might go with bigger hands.
I experimented by taping a few stacked nickels on the end of my bar to make it longer and that seemed to help. Then I noticed I am keeping the heel of the bar back up against the first line in my palm, just below the knuckle joint, instead of at the crease at the base of my fingers. Should I move the bar up along my finger so the finger overhang is less?
I guess I am asking if there is any correspondence between hand size and bar length, where to place the heel of the bar relative to the base of the fingers, and should the index fingertip overhang the end of the bar. Maybe I am over-analyzing this, but any insights will be appreciated. |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 17 Apr 2009 3:55 am
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| Quote: |
| Should I move the bar up along my finger so the finger overhang is less? |
Yes, I'd say you should certainly try that! 
While some players will prefer different diameters and weights, the length is usually tailored to the number of strings on the guitar. That is, your bar needs to be only long enough to cover all the strings. The 10-string bars are usually around 3 3/8" long, and the 12 string bars around 3 3/4" long. A few players do use the longer bar on a 10-string guitar, but it's best to start with what's "normal", and change only if it helps your playing or comfort.
The latest "fad" seems to be towards using bigger and heavier bars. |
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Dale Lee
From:
Down Yonder
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Posted 18 Apr 2009 7:04 am OK, I'll try that then
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| Thanks for the friendly advice and the additional info, Donny. Taking your first piece of advice, I last night started to try to get used to holding the bar a little more forward, with the bar heel not back toward my palm. Habits are a little hard to break. |
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Bo Legg
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Posted 18 Apr 2009 9:15 am
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This is very simple picture of one way to hold the bar if you are blocking with the bar hand thumb as you push the bar away and blocking with the bar hand fingers as you pull back on the bar which is all part of Advanced Pick Blocking.
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Dale Lee
From:
Down Yonder
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Posted 18 Apr 2009 11:44 am
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Bo, and anyone else who cares to answer, if you showed me your grip from the palm side where would the heel end of the bar fall? Right or left of the red line in this picture?
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Calvin Walley
From:
colorado city colorado, USA
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Posted 18 Apr 2009 11:48 am
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my bar goes about 1/4 inch to the left of the red line
_________________
proud parent of a sailor
Mullen SD-10 /nashville 400
gotta love a Mullen!!!
Guitars that i have owned in order are :
Mullen SD-10,Simmons SD-10,Mullen SD-10,Zum stage one,Carter starter,
Sho-Bud Mavrick |
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Bo Legg
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Posted 19 Apr 2009 2:39 pm
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I place the bar in my hand in a range from picture one which leaves 3 strings under the bar unblocked by the thumb to picture two which leaves 6 strings under the bar unblocked. The bar is angled aprox. from the tip of the index finger in a line toward the center of the palm and of course fold the thumb over the side of the bar.
picture 1
picture 2
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Dale Lee
From:
Down Yonder
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Posted 19 Apr 2009 4:03 pm Thanks, Bo!
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Both of those are more back in the palm than I would have guessed. I gather that you arch your fincer (as indicated in your original sketch) Higher or lower to compensate for where the bar is.
Any others care to say how you do it? |
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Larry Lorows
From:
Zephyrhills,Florida, USA
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Posted 19 Apr 2009 6:52 pm
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Hi guys, I too placed the bar up towards my palm for years, but for the last year or so, my hand has been falling asleep to the point where I have to stop playing. I have found that if I keep it to the right of the line in your drawings I don't have any problem. In other words, I try to keep the bar at the base of my fingers. I don't know if there are nerves in the palm that the bar is pressing on or what. Larry
_________________
U12 Williams keyless 400
Vegas 400, Nashville 112, Line 6 pod xt |
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