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Topic: Pinky on picking hand: Tucked or extended? |
Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 6:36 am |
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I've had this discussion with a few folks on my blog about the pinky and I was wondering if anyone would care to offer their thoughts on this.
My personal preference is to tuck the pinky in. I think I may extend the pinky once in a while for specific things, but 98% of the time it's curled under.
Thoughts?
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 7:47 am
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Seems to be almost a subconscious thing. Whatever feels right. 
Oh, yeah, extended …. |
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 7:54 am
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tucked.... no wait! extended!
Last edited by Ben Jones on 18 Nov 2010 7:41 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Bob Hickish
From:
Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 8:17 am
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Mike
I ask the same question to Mr. Anderson when he had a hot topic going - he said he has seen it work both ways , so its what ever works for you -- I'm a tucker |
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Ben Lawson
From:
Brooksville Florida
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 8:43 am
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| Yes. I do both. It depends on things that I'm not even aware of. Now that this has come up I'll probably pay attention to where my pinky is and miss what I was trying to pick. |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 8:52 am
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Jerry Garcia, extended. 
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 8:57 am
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I don't know, Barry--his pinky looks tucked to me. 
Jerry Byrd = tucked
Jimmy Day = curled but not tucked
Buddy Emmons = curled but not tucked
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links
Last edited by Mike Neer on 11 Nov 2010 9:10 am; edited 1 time in total |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 9:03 am
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| Tucked. Use it for blocking and harmonics. |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 10:36 am
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| Quote: |
Jerry Byrd = tucked
Jimmy Day = curled but not tucked
Buddy Emmons = curled but not tucked |
I've seen pictures where E and Day were either tucked or extended. I doubt they were thinking about it. |
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Twayn Williams
From:
Portland, OR
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 10:42 am
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Since I mainly pick block, extended. It's more manly 
_________________
Primitive Utility Steel |
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Mike Neer
From:
NJ
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 10:48 am
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| Twayn Williams wrote: |
| Since I mainly pick block, extended. It's more manly |
Indubitably!
I pick block almost exclusively (except when I don't) but the pinky is tucked.
_________________
Links to streaming music, websites, YouTube: Links |
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Joachim Kettner
From:
Germany
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 11:59 am
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| I couldn't play anything with an extended little finger. That's why I keep it folded in. When I tried to extend it, it always sneaked under the first string. I somehow admire players that can stretch the pinky. Isn't that the best way to palm- block? |
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Stephen Gregory
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Wayne Franco
From:
silverdale, WA. USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 12:46 pm I also talked to Reece
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| He didn't have an absolute preference but he said I was unusual in that I use 3 fingers and thumb and still extend my pinky. Most don't. |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 1:46 pm
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Doug Jernigan and his little pinky!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV6HUEkXSh8
If I had to pick that way, I would quit pikun!
But in his hand he drives me crazy. TRULY one of THE all time greatests ever!
May Jesus richly bless him and the gifts of this incredible player and true brother in Christ,
c.
_________________
A broken heart + † = a new heart. |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 1:52 pm
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oh jeezuz carl!
mine just kinda hangs around limply. |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 1:53 pm
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JayDee Maness is JUST the opposite!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAENUcHceZ4
And he drives me bananas! What a sound, what pickun!
May Jesus richly bless him and his incredible talents also, and that goes for each of you!
c.
_________________
A broken heart + † = a new heart. |
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Cal Sharp
From:
the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 3:31 pm
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I'm actually amazed that this many accomplished players haven't suggested using the pinky for picking in wide grip chords. Perhaps they do. I see no reference to doing so in their comments.
Last edited by Bill Hankey on 11 Nov 2010 3:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Eric West
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 3:49 pm
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I'm with you Barry.
Caption?
"Here I think I found something that fell out of your pocket."
or..
"Tuck This..."
EJL |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 5:14 pm
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Both ... whatever works best at the time. My pinky naturally extends - now *.
* When I started practicing my present picking style - 20 years ago - I used a ruler and tape to fix my pinky in an extended position clear of the strings. After a couple of weeks practicing that way, my pinky no longer needed "support."
Bill H., I'm probably not what one would call an accomplished player, but I have yet to sit down with a PSG neck I can't span from top to bottom string on with thumb, index and middle finger, without making an extraordinary effort. I only use my pinky to pick or sweep strings with - without a pick - when I want the soft attack-sound it produces. |
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Barry Hyman
From:
upstate New York, USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 5:56 pm
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I have a big callous on the last knuckle of my pinky where it rides the strings of my pedal steel, tucked under, helping to mute and getting abraded in the process. But then I untuck it to grip five strings at once maybe once every minute or two...
_________________
I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com |
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Dave Mudgett
From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 7:44 pm
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Extended. Thumbpick + 3 fingerpicks, my technique is heavily influenced by the fact that I play guitar (flatpick + middle/ring fingers) and banjo with the pinky used as an anchor, and hence tends to hang out naturally. I find it very useful for muting upper strings.
Carl, thank you for that clip of Doug Jernigan, whose technique is what I believe the Good Lord intended for me to aspire to. The level of control he exhibits is awe-inspiring, and has been since the first time I heard him on a JD Crowe record 30+ years ago, long before I ever thought about playing pedal steel. |
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C Dixon
From:
Duluth, GA USA
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 7:47 pm
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I hear you Dave. All I can say brother is: AMEN!
_________________
A broken heart + † = a new heart. |
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Cal Sharp
From:
the farm in Kornfield Kounty, TN
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Posted 11 Nov 2010 10:47 pm
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When I anchor my pinky to the first string I'm using it as a reference point, and I don't even have to look at my right hand. If I tuck it under my hand, making a fist, I feel like my hand is just free-floating in space and I can't feel where the strings are.
_________________
C#
Me: Steel Guitar Madness
Latest ebook: Steel Guitar Insanity
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