To Anchor or Not......

[Deathbound]

Howdy All,
I've only started playing the mando, after giving up the banjo. (please don't hold that against me, lol). I never did get very far with the banjo.
I find it easier to anchor my pinky and sometimes my 3rd finger. Just wanted to know what ya'll thought about this subject.
Thanks in advance for your replies.

[twaaang]

I played bluegrass banjo for many years, with my pinky anchored to the banjo head (never could get the ring finger to stay down, despite other recommendations about "greater stability", since I couldn't get the middle finger to move independently that way).

Also played flatpick guitar for a while, again with the pinky anchored.

When I took up mandolin, I decided to try keeping my right hand free. It has paid off I think because my hand is more relaxed, compared to how it used to be when I played guitar. So I'm perfectly happy to play "unanchored". It didn't take long to get used to it. The base of your right hand should have enough light contact with the strings, behind the bridge, that you don't feel lost.

The question comes up from time to time here, and some will argue it either way. -- Paul

[GVD]

twaaang Posted

The question comes up from time to time here, and some will argue it either way.

Paul is correct this question is asked frequently here and you will get about as many answers as there are questions. IMO you should do what feels the best for you. I personally don't post but I've seen enough great players that do that I sure wouldn't call it wrong. If there's one thing I've learned about playing these 8 string beasts it's there is no wrong or right way for everybody.

GVD

[swampstomper]

Read what Roland White has to say about this. Essentially, it is that he used a pencil grip and anchoring with the KY Colonels, but when he joined Monroe's band he switched to imitating Monroe -- free right hand and the fist grip. He says it made a huge difference in his tone and speed.


Here are some other thoughts: John Baldry

[Deathbound]

Thanks for the replys.

My problem is....that I worked sooooo hard to keep my pinky and ring finger down on the banjo, it's carrying over here. As for lightly touching the strings, thats a no, no or at least I was taught with the banjo. I know, this is not a banjo.....
Seems like I have a long road ahead if I'm gonna change the way I'm doing it. It does feel comfortable being anchored, but I can see where as it could slow me down in the long run.
I just want to start-out doing things right and not develope any bad habits. Although, it may take me quite some time to break this habit, hope I don't become bored with the mando before I can play something.
Thanks again,

[mikeyes]

I don't think there really is a choice, putting your finger on the instrument limits what you can do. If you ask any teacher in any genera of mandolin playing they will all tell you the same thing that fingers on the body of the instrument will not allow a good attack, will limit your tremelo (and move the instrument at the same time), and will eventually wear a hole in the finish.

Roland White re-told the story about learning good technique at a recent workshop in Madison, WI and his point was that as talented as he is (my interpretation)that using his original technique handicapped him. Now he has a wonderful tone and is very versatile, not to mention efficient.

You might consider getting an armrest to act as a reference point. What the finger on the banjo head does is act as a reference point so you know where you are at all times. If you do the same on a mandolin it restricts what you can do, inhbits the tone due to poor pick angle, etc. and greatly reatricts both volume and timbre because you cannot move your hand. In a five string banjo you make joyous noise with your fingers while the wrist is much more important with a plectrum instrument.

Ask this question in the Classical section and you will get some very interesting information.

Mike Keyes

3 Fingered pickin is very hard. Im learning myself. My fingers dont want to do what they are supposed to. Love clawhammer but that Scruggs stuff is gonna take me a while.

Not as easy as a nice mandolin.

[twaaang]

If your instrument has one, you might remove the pickguard/finger-rest as a way of pre-empting the option of touching down. #Sort of like your first swim in deep water.

The first mando I got (A Rigel A-Natural) did not have a pickguard, which sort of forced the issue with me. #The string height was much greater than I had dealt with in any of my other instruments, and I adapted just fine. #The next mando I got had both a lower string height and a pickguard, and I left the pickguard on because of its vintage mojo (a late-teens Lyon and Healy) and because it provided me a place to secure a strap -- but there was never any temptation to revert to posting. #When MAS forced me to get another Rigel, I took the pickguard off. #And in future MAS (sounding somewhat Dickensian?), if I have a custom instrument made, it will be up to the luthier to talk me into having the pickguard at all. #-- #Paul

[Tennessee Jed]

My right hand is in the same position as San Raphael's

[Deathbound]

PGAFan,
I really didn't have a problem with the rolls, my problem was with the banjo. It is a cheap one and didn't fret worth a dang. I'm having to go out of town to work every week and it's just too big to carry in my little truck. So I got a wild hair and bought a 'little guitar', lol. I really do like the mando and think that it is the instrument for me.

[Clyde Clevenger]

I don't know why, but, I can play fiddle tunes all day without anchoring and any speed, but as soon I start playing bluegrass the pinky starts boring a hole in the top of my Bush, for some reason I can't tremelo without anchoring, I'm not giving up, nor holding out much hope. I'm not planning to sell the Bush anyway, my kids can deal with hole. Has to be better not to anchor, but I've seen some awful good picker that do.

[swampstomper]

I just talked to David Long last night -- he did a show in Ithaca with his new band (Chris Sharp, Larry Perkins, Hidei Wantanabe). When I asked him about anchoring, no sooner were the words out of my mouth than he gave me a look of undisguised horror and said "Never anchor!!". Of course, he's talking about his / Monroe / Compton style playing. "It's all right here" -- pointing to his right wrist. Well, he had quite a bit more in his left hand (great double stops and slides) and in his head (great improvisations) but it's true, it's his right hand attack that really sets him apart.

[MandoJon]

In his book "Mastering the Mandolin", Simon Mayor says "Don't anchor the pinkie otherwise the bogeyman will get you" (and I'm not paraphrasing either). I don't anchor, and I've never been got by a bogeyman! QED

Seriously though, he goes on to add reasons like restriction of movement, the potential risk of damping the sound (though I think he was refering more to an earlier comment about anchoring the palm on the bridge) and the inability to make use of the different dynamics between playing at the bridge and near the fretboard.

I can't tremelo without anchoring

I can't tremelo with anchoring! I'll be honest, it's not true that I never anchor anything, just never the pinkie. My bad habit is to rest the palm lightly on the bridge and it's a habit I'm trying to break because it does restrict my movement.

I actually tried anchoring the pinkie because, being lazy, I wanted to see if it would help - afterall so many people do it. I found I just couldn't play like that. I'd not say that my technique is necessarily better than the anchorers, it's just that I can't do it. Well, that's one bad habit I won't have to break

[Jim_from_NC]

Hey Deathbound,
I feel your pain. I play banjo and guitar, and on both instruments anchoring was essential, for me. On the guitar, my hand was too little to effectively let it "float"- I saw Dan Crary in a workshop demonstrating how he anchors the "heel" of his palm behind the bridge on a guitar, but I just can't do it- my hands too small. The mando is much better sized for me, so I can rest my hand just behind the bridge.

I do highly recommend working on picking unanchored- it's improved my playing on the guitar, even, 'cuz I tended to "dig" into the strings too much. On the mando, you have to have a nice flat strum. It takes some time, but hang in there- if I can make the transition, anybody can!