Blocking Technique

John D. Carter · From: Canton, Ohio, USA

Hi forum. I am finding it difficult to block with my right hand while concentrating on plucking the strings. I end up doing all blocking with my left hand, the 'bar' hand. In the forum's opinion, am I developing bad habits or do some accomplished players also use this technique? Any insight here is much appreciated.

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

I am far from an "accomplished player" but I do about 90% of my blocking with the bar hand. I guess my playing philosophy is to block with the bar hand where possible, using the picking hand to block only when blocking cannot be adequately accomplished with the other.

Bob Stone · From: Gainesville, FL, USA

Having played acoustic reso for years before taking up electric lap steel, my tendency is do a lot of left hand blocking. My right hand technique is still evolving, but I have recently been curling my third finger and pinky under and blocking with them. To me, this feels much more natural than the more common "karate chop" position. I cannot (yet) get the hang of fast pick blocking.

[This message was edited by Bob Stone on 13 July 2006 at 05:42 AM.]

Danny James · From: Summerfield Florida USA

Correct way to block.----
Years ago in the 50's, Harlin Brothers Hawaiian guitar studio in Indianapolis, always taught to block with the left or bar hand.
It seems most of the country steelers prefer palm blocking with the right hand. Personally I use both.
I don't really know if there is an exact and only one way rule for this. I think it's a lot like beauty, in the eyes of the beholder.
I have watched a lot of steel players, how they hold their bar. Many of them do not do it in a way most teachers would deem correct. Yet their playing is beyond reproach.
So what determines what actually is correct if what your doing works for you?
That being said, I would reccomend giving what the pros do my best shot though, as it is hard to argue with success.
I think you will find most pro country steelers use right hand palm blocking.
Wishing you the best.
Danny

Bill Leff · From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA

I pick block without even thinking about it. However, I find that this causes a lot of pick noise and I am trying to train myself not to do it.

Rick Garrett · From: Tyler, Texas

I'm not a seasoned picker by any means but man I use it all for pick blocking. I use palm blocking with the right hand and also the left hand and I use the figer tips alot too on my right hand (pinky and ring fingers.) I love using the finger tips on my right hand for blocking too because you can develope an unbelivable feel for what the strings are doing when you block. It just depends on what I'm playing at the time as to which I use.

Not saying one way is wrong or right just what works for me.

Rick

Gerald Ross · From: Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA

On my right hand I naturally curl my ring and pinkie fingers. These fingers block the picked notes.

------------------
Gerald Ross
'Northwest Ann Arbor, Michigan's King Of The Hawaiian Steel Guitar'

CEO, CIO, CFO - UkeTone Records
Gerald's Fingerstyle Guitar Website
Board of Directors Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association

Stephan Miller · From: Silver Spring, Maryland, USA

I do a lot of pick blocking, or maybe "tip blocking", since I don't use picks. But I can see that most of what I'm doing could also be accomplished with better LH technique, tipping/lifting the bar just so & keeping the trailing fingers always in the right position. I'd like to be able to get to the point where I'm only doing the RH muting once in a while as needed, so the right hand only has to "think" about picking.

From what I'm told, Joaquin Murphey never palm-blocked, whereas Tom Morrell does it all the time. It's hard to second-guess ANY strategy that results in fluid, clean playing and (eventually) feels "natural" to the player.

--Steve

Dave Giegerich · From: Ellicott City, MD, R.I.P.

I use a combination of palm and left hand blocking on electric steel, but on acoustic it is mostly left hand.
I do encourage beginning students to try pick blocking as I think it is the way of the future, but I'm too old a dog to add it to my tricks.

Jeff, the only way I would think of you as "far from accomplished" is if on a 10 point scale "accomplished" was 1 and "one of the best" was 10!

Kris Oka · From: San Francisco, CA, USA

Jeff, when you block with the left (bar) hand, are you lifting the bar off the strings and letting the trailing left fingers block or are you blocking with the bar? Just a newbie.

Harry Dietrich · From: Robesonia, Pennsylvania, USA, R.I.P.

I use all three, but mostly I lift the bar.

Harry

John D. Carter · From: Canton, Ohio, USA

Thank you all for these very informative answers. These answers show that the end result, the quality of the music, is what matters, and not the technique used to get it. Does anyone know what JB taught and used in this regard?

Rick Aiello · From: Berryville, VA USA

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

I use Alaska pics. They come over the top of the finger and leave the flesh of the finger pad to dampen. Makes no noise as when you pick block with metal or plastic picks that come up from the underside of the end of the finger.

Gene Jones · From: Oklahoma City, OK USA, (deceased)

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[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 26 July 2006 at 02:13 PM.]

Ron Whitfield · From: Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA

In the JB style, you virtually never lift the bar off the strings, and the left hand middle finger is to extend about 1/4" past the bar's nose to automatically damp the string above as you desend.

Kris Oka · From: San Francisco, CA, USA

Mr. Hatcher, where can I get those "Alaska" finger picks.

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

Just do a web search. There are several online places that sell them.

Herman Visser · From: Rohnert Park, California, USA

I do left hand or bar hand blocking....works for me

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