The Pinky, and what to do with it...

Christian Wadlington · From: Honomu, Big Island, Hawai'i

Hi fellas,

I've noticed a lot of the players I've seen isolate the pinky on their picking hand from the rest of their fingers, either by pinning it to the fretboard, sticking it straight out, etc.

What is the rationale behind this? Is it as an anchor, so as to affix the string locations into muscle memory? Or is it to minimize locomotive confusion when distinguishing between digits? Or do they just like it that way...

In any case I learned to pick by keeping the pinky close in, but I see so many great players isolating it that I am trying to relearn my technique. And that is painful. Mad

Is it worth it???

Thanks!

-Christian

PS sorry if this has been covered already, my search of previous posts yielded nothing

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

I see two purposes...one, to maintain a reference for the right hand enabling more accurate picking. Second, it can aid in string blocking.

Some hold the pinky straight out, ruler straight. That, to me, seems forced, and would seem to create tension in the hand. A relaxed right hand is very important. I prefer a more relaxed position where the pinky is curved such that it "feels" the first string for position reference.

Curling it in towards the palm is OK, though. The goal is good blocking. If you extend the tip of the middle finger of your bar hand past the tip of the bar, you'll be able to block the higher, unplayed strings, strings with it. So, extending the right hand's pinky becomes less necessary.

Hope that made sense. Smile

_________________
Best regards,
Mike

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

FWIW
I use it to make harmonics/chimes. Touch the string where I want and pick with the thumb. Some people use the ring finger for that.
I personally don't use the pinky as an anchor, only because the shape of my right hand must change to use all the strings and string grips. I try to hover my right hand, kinda letting it float, and keeping the same shape.

One man's opinion.

Roger Edgington · From: San Antonio, Texas USA

I curl mine in mostly because it is more comfortable. I do use it for blocking sometimes and positioning. My hand gets stiff if I leave it out straight. I've watched top players do it both ways. Seams to be an individual thing to me.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

As said earlier, it seems to vary - and I would not put it in any position that was painful. Find a comfortable position and either use it in that position or some other part of your hand as a reference point. Forcing a painful position because you saw someone else do it is probably going to be frustrating and potentially harmful IMO.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I use a thumbpick and 3 fingerpicks on index, middle, and ring fingers. So it feels fairly natural to me to keep the pinky extended pretty straight, and I use it for blocking on higher strings. Actually, the pinky would often interfere with my ring finger if I didn't extend it somewhat.

On guitar, I use the pinky to anchor for flatpick plus fingerpicks on middle and ring fingers. In that use, it's tucked in much more, so I don't really think it's that difficult to retrain it for a different purpose.

I, personally, don't try to force any particular technique, but often the needs of playing will channel things in one direction or another. I often need to spend some time training fingers to do something that is, at first, uncomfortable. I don't work at something so hard that it causes pain, but I have found some techniques interfere with what I'm trying to do. I never ignore what a real good player says - several times, I have found that if I'm patient, work slowly, and don't try to force it, I can get someone else's approach to work for me. On the other hand, sometimes, my fingers just don't work the same and I need to adapt it. I think it's important to keep an open mind.

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

Christian Wadlington · From: Honomu, Big Island, Hawai'i

For all the great input. I didn't think about having a pick on my ring finger (obviously I'm not there yet!), but I tried that and it made my pinky want to stick straight out. So like Dave says I will let the needs of my playing guide my technique.

I am but an egg...

-Christian

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I just noticed - my avatar picture is from several years back, before I went with the ring fingerpick. As you can see, I did tend to tuck the pinky in. I actually never made a conscious change to extend it straight out, but it did naturally happen.

BTW, I absolutely don't hold myself up as a model of technique - I'm a converted long-term guitar player. These are just my thoughts, for whatever they're worth, which may not be all that much. Wink

Forum Index > Pedal Steel		Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic

All times are GMT - 8 Hours	Jump to: