Right Hand Blocking Problem

Charles Fager · From: Novato, California, USA

I've been playing PSG for 6 months, and have been focusing recently on Jeff Newman's DVD on right hand blocking technique and feel like a total klutz. As I position my right hand as Jeff instructs, so that my thumb strikes the string at a right angle while my outer palm rests flat on the strings, I am failing most of the time to block the middle finger string. The middle finger string lines up with the indented crease between the end of my pinky and my palm, and because of this, I am having great difficulty blocking ringing for that middle finger string.

The only half-baked solution which has worked for me is to curl under my pinky and ring finger to block. This method has been somewhat effective but clumsy. Is this pinky curling technique a reasonable solution to my problem, or should I go back to the drawing board until I find another solution? I am a very physically adroit person and can't believe that I am having so much difficulty. Jeff Newman made it look so easy and what a great teacher he was... Any advice? Help! Charlie

Travis Bernhardt · From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Short answer: curl away!

-Travis

Dan Beller-McKenna · From: Durham, New Hampshire, USA

Someone offers an instructional course espousing the ring-finger-under blocking technique. I can't remember who it is and a quick search of the archives didn't turn it up. Hopefully someone else will remember. In any case, sounds like an accepted solution. I have tried it and thought it was too uncomfortable for my meaty paw.

Dan

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Dan Beller-McKenna
Durham, NH

Jack Stoner · From: Kansas City, MO

Palm blocking will come with time. When I first started playing pedal steel, I had to basically learn over as the techniques are different from lap steel.

It took 6 or 8 months of working at it before I got comfortable with palm blocking. I used to always have my little finger wrapped around the first string but in the last 15 or 20 years I find I'm doing it less and less. I went to a Jeff Newman/Paul Franklin pick blocking semminar in the early 80's and you don't do that with pick blocking and probably when I started wrapping my finger around the 1st string less and less.

David Doggett · Posted 12 Apr 2006 4:20 am

Reece Anderson uses three finger picks and blocks with his pinky curled under. Some of the best palm blockers I've ever seen do it that way. Other top pros keep their fingers straight out. You have to figure this out for yourself. A lot of practice can make either way work for you - so they say.

Donny Hinson · From: Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.

I think a lot of beginning players take instruction too literally. When anyone displays a technique, keep in mind that it's not the only technique. I abhor such suggestions as "hold your hand exactly this way", no matter who is talking. We all have different physiologies, and some methods just aren't comfortable. When something's not working for you - try another way!

I always urge players to learn from many sources, and not just one. There's about five basic right-hand styles, and one of 'em will probably work for you, but keep in mind you won't see any one player using all five. We should gravitate towards what's comfortable, and what works for us, and not accept something as gospel without a lot of study.

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

I've seen basically three right hand positions used by palm-blockers: 1) pinky rigidly extended, ring finger curled; 2) pinky and ring finger hanging loosely over the strings, and 3) ring and pinky curled under.

Just off-hand, I recall that Ricky Davis and Bert Rivera use method 1, Buddy Emmons and Mike Cass use method 2, and Buddy Charleton method 3. I personally use method 3 because that's how my hand naturally falls and works. Whatever method accomplishes the task for the player most easily is the correct one to use, IMHO.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Alan Rudd · From: Ardmore, Oklahoma

Bruce Bouton suggests holding the right hand as if holding a ball, so as to use the ring and pinky of the right hand to aid in blocking, vs. Newman's version. Whichever works for you!

Ken Williams · From: Arkansas

Count me as a #3 there Herb. However, let me propose a 4th possibility that I use sometimes on slower stuff. This would involve curling the ring finger, but allowing the pinky to hang relaxed, beyond the 1st string.

Ken

[This message was edited by Ken Williams on 12 April 2006 at 10:14 AM.]

Rick Jolley · From: Colorado Springs

After a year or so, blocking is turning out not to be as much of a problem as promised. There are some fairly rigid rules -- don't lift the bar (!) altho I've seen a couple of players do that a lot. On his video, Bruce shows you two kinds of blocking and then says the most helpful thing..."You have to work it out for yourself."

I think that if you concentate on the sound you are trying to get, you will make better progress than if you spend all your time looking at your right hand. (!!) i.e. Scotty says "practice staccato" -- and boy, I did, a lot, but I made better progress when I was just listening to the sound, and trying to get a clean stop when I needed it.

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Rick Jolley

(Rick Zahniser/Rickey Zahn)
Dekley S10 3/3, Session400LTD
http://belizenorth.com

Kevin Hatton · From: Buffalo, N.Y.

Charles. i go with Travis. This happened to me when i first started. Try shifting your whole hand more towards the first string, crease included with a little more curl. Almost like you are approaching the strings from behind but not quite. There's a happy medium there. I find that a combination of pick and palm blocking does the trick.

Jeff Agnew · From: Dallas, TX

Herb,

Actually, Charleton waffled back and forth between ring finger loosly extended and ring finger tucked for many years. We had many, uh, "discussions" about it. His instruction methods would vary depending on which technique was the current favorite. Last time I saw him he was back to the "tucked" camp.

Didn't matter, though. His blocking was flawless using either one and he always sounded like Buddy.

Charles Fager · From: Novato, California, USA

Thanks to all of you who have checked-in on this conversation. Your advice has been most helpful and makes me realize that palm blocking is not easy from the get go, and that I need to be more patient. I am happy to report that after driving my wife and daughter nuts with two hours of palm blocking practice last night, I have made significant improvement compared to where I was before posting my message...Thanks again for all of your great advice...CF

Ron ! · Posted 13 Apr 2006 8:39 am

Dave Marshall · From: Ontario, Canada

Charles Fager says:

Herb Steiner · From: Spicewood TX 78669

Jeff
And Buddy Emmons plays that way as well.

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Herb's Steel Guitar Pages
Texas Steel Guitar Association

Charles Fager · From: Novato, California, USA

Maybe I'll try a bandaid or perhaps some plastic surgery to fill the gap between the pinky and palm. Does anybody know a good hand plastic surgeon?

A quick update that might be of value to other beginners like me...I have been practicing for hours and am starting to get the hang. When I am getting into a rhythm on blocking, I am experiencing a sort of bouncing effect with my palm (and curled pinky)just before I pick my next string. It comes off as one motion but two separate things are happening really quickly. I have been starting really slowly picking string 6 with my thumb, I bounce down with my palm before I pick string 4 with my middle finger, and bounce with my palm before picking string 5 with my index finger. I then start to speed this process up as I get into a groove. The ringing stopped once I start repeatedly bouncing my palm.

A question for the experts - Is this repeated bouncing effect what I am supposed to be experiencing? The tone could be better, but at least most of the residual ringing has stopped..that's a start I suppose...CF

[This message was edited by Charles Fager on 13 April 2006 at 12:27 PM.]

Michael Haselman · From: St. Paul

My advice would be to not think too much when practicing it. For me, it was like learning to ride a bike. You practice for hours, not getting it then all of a sudden it just came and has been natural ever since. Remember: if you keep practicing, you will get it. I also might suggest turning your wrist counterclockwise a little so the "meaty" part of your palm is even with your picking fingers.

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Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E

John Bechtel · From: Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.

I've never given blocking much thought, but; someone mentioned filling in a crack in the extented~finger. You might go to your local Pharmacy and buy a small package of an item called a Finger Cot. They l©©k like balloons (or whatever)! Choose the size that corresponds to the size of your aah finger and just unroll it over your finger. It is made of surgical~latex and is intended to keep moisture out of a wound while around water. That should fill the crack¡
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“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
Current Equipment

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 14 April 2006 at 11:29 AM.]

Dean Richard Varga · From: Arizona, USA

Hello Charles

Had the same problems. Best advice ,someone said do what works. If you care to email me at owcaitd@aol.com I will give you a run down on some things that helped me, and some things tp avoid that almost made me give up

regards,dean

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

Try instead of a complex passage.
Just a scale, pick-block pick-block slowly
for practice, then the rest will take care of its self in time.

Ken Metcalf D-10 Carson Wells

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