right hand position/posture (for righthanded play)

I've come to a plateau in my skill level. #After complaining about it to my bandmates, they all told me they thought I was moving the mandolin too much when I pick through the solo sections. #You see, I am a recovering guitar player (never exhibiting excellent technique there either) and I tend to rest the outer-most part of the heel of my right hand on the bridge and even sometimes, I've noticed, on the edge of the saddle. #This wasn't so much of a problem with my Flatiron Cadet, a flat topped mandolin with a very simple bridge/saddle that kept the strings maybe 3/4" above the top. #But my loving wife granted me a Weber Beartooth on Valentines day. #For all its amazing tone and inspiring looks that business about the strings being WAY off the top has really magnified the weakness of my technique. #I am not unwilling (nor unable I hope) to drastically change my whole picking action. #But what is it supposed to look like? #Now I rest my forearm on edge/top of the instrument and my hand... as I mentioned above. #Is the entire arm/hand apparatus supposed to hover in the air above the strings? #Do I need to anchor my hand below the E strings with my ring finger and pinkie? #Is this a good excuse to buy the Sam Bush instructional video? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif

Thanks in advance for your wisdom.

[John Flynn]

Everyone plays differently and there is really no right or wrong as long as you can make it work. I would recommend that given the problems you describe, however, you learn to get your hand off the bridge/top. It can hurt your mobility and your tone.

This is not to say my technique is right, but I am happy with it and multiple instructors I have had have been OK with it: My forearm touches the edge of the top of the mandolin, lightly, at about the 7:30 position (if the neck is 12:00 and the tailpiece is 6:00). Mostly, my right hand does not touch the mandolin and I keep my wrist loose. Occasionally, I let my pinkie brush the pickguard during difficult passages. One thing I like about pickguards is that if you have to post or brush your pinkie, your wrist does not have to bend forward to make it happen. Anyhow, you have to find your own style, but I hope this helps.