Right Hand Technique

[Peter Hackman]

I am a guitar player first; using the mandolin for
variety, to hear different things, different intervals,
etc. When I learned playing the mando 38 years ago
(just picking it up and starting to play!)
my instruments had pickguards, and I had been
playing the guitar for 8,
which determined my technique.
I curl my right hand and brush it lightly against the
pickguard.

Now I am looking for a high quality instrument and I've
noticed that most instruments come without pickguards.
That includes my Flatiron A5 for which I had a friend
make one as I never managed to adjust, or was too
lazy to even try.

Now, habits are hard to change, especially at my advanced
age. Does anyone here have advice to offer or experience to share
on this topic?

Or should I stick to my habit and
include a pickguard in
my order (which may be a Collings)?

[Bluemando]

I would say " if it works for ya, keep it"

[AlanN]

Opinions on pickguards are like elbows, everybody has at least one. Grisman uses them, Dempsey Young says "nah". Both great pickers. Do what your conscience, fingers and psyche say.

[Tom C]

If I touch the pickguard or not usually depends on what I'm playing. Fast tunes (at least for me) -no. When I tremelo or maybe play a waltz I may touch the pickguard so my palm does not brush the bridge at all to give a nicer tone. But I've been applying this to faster tunes and getting more of that Mike Compton type tone.

[John Flynn]

I like pickguards. I try not to actually touch mine with my fingers or my pick and I can play without one, but I do wind up touching it anyway and I find it keeps me honest. Without one, I have a tendency to roll my wrist too far forward. There are multiple models of "floating" pickguards out there that attach to the side of the neck with two screws. It is a nice compromise, since they are very easy to remove and/or replace, so you can experiment.

[boatman]

It seems to me that the crucial issue is not so much the presence of a pickguard but rather whether one "plants" the right hand (pinkie) upon it. A gentle caress doesn't seem to affect my speed or fluidity, whereas anchoring it definitely does and also seems to tire the right hand more. I believe that a well executed pickguard enhances the looks of the instrument as well.

[John S]

I really need a pickguard to play well. My hand's natural position is to curl the fingers up, so having my fingertips or fingernails brushing across the pickguard really helps in keeping my hand in the right position. I tried for a while playing without one and it never felt right. I would suppose that if your hand tends to be loose so that your fingers are extended and brush the top of the mando, the pickguard adds nothing and probably just gets in the way.

But if you're in the former category, my advice is to put a pickguard on the mando, which is what I did with mine when I first got it.

[mandoman4807]

I started out playing without one. The mandolin`s either had the fretboard extension scalloped, or were nonexistent. This put me in the habit of diging deep with my pick hand.
I now have a mando with a fretboard extension. The pickguard helps me play higher on the strings to alleviate any pick click on the extension. Having to make this change has not been a problem, and I feel more connected to the mandolin when playing single note leads.


Darrell

[MANDOLINMYSTER]

I like pick guards mainly because they give me a refrence point
and help to keep my right hand in the correct plane. sounds weird I know, also they protect the top from wear due to a runaway pick and or spastic hand movement http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif I don't mount to it or touch it , I just sense it and stay real close http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif