Michael Gowell
Jan-02-2006, 12:21pm
I've been learning, very slowly, for many years. #Little inherent talent, just a love for the sound & a stubborn refusal to quit no matter how slow the progress.
I've always used a loose closed fist on my picking hand since that was recommended in nearly all my instructional books. #I've noticed that as I pick faster and more complex licks it's not unusual to brush a knuckle or the back of a finger against a lower string. It's physically irritating and with extended picking a fingerback or two can become sore. #I've tried curling those fingers closer to my palm but once again as the speed increases the problem returns.
In learning some new tab I'll frequently find that I've unconciously opened my fingers and braced my middle and ring fingers on the pickguard. #It always produces a faster string of notes and a much stronger tremelo, but when I become aware of it I go back to the closed fist since that's what I'm "supposed" to do.
Then I was watching an AKUS concert video & noticed that Dan Tyminski picks with an open hand and shamelessly braces a finger or two on the pickguard on occassion. #I'm sure there are other professionals that do that too, I just never noticed - the possibility of changing from the recommended closed fist has just occurred to me.
So whaddaya think? #And is/can/should there be a difference between your picking hand's form when flatpicking guitar instead of mando? #I wonder if I change my picking hand's form for mando maybe I should do it for guitar as well. I use the loose fist for guitar but read a comment that one advantage of extended fingers for guitar flatpicking can be that on an upstroke your little finger can touch the high E string (closest to the floor) and thus provide a reference which will improve accuracy. #I have noticed that a lot of guitar pickers extend their fingers.
I've always used a loose closed fist on my picking hand since that was recommended in nearly all my instructional books. #I've noticed that as I pick faster and more complex licks it's not unusual to brush a knuckle or the back of a finger against a lower string. It's physically irritating and with extended picking a fingerback or two can become sore. #I've tried curling those fingers closer to my palm but once again as the speed increases the problem returns.
In learning some new tab I'll frequently find that I've unconciously opened my fingers and braced my middle and ring fingers on the pickguard. #It always produces a faster string of notes and a much stronger tremelo, but when I become aware of it I go back to the closed fist since that's what I'm "supposed" to do.
Then I was watching an AKUS concert video & noticed that Dan Tyminski picks with an open hand and shamelessly braces a finger or two on the pickguard on occassion. #I'm sure there are other professionals that do that too, I just never noticed - the possibility of changing from the recommended closed fist has just occurred to me.
So whaddaya think? #And is/can/should there be a difference between your picking hand's form when flatpicking guitar instead of mando? #I wonder if I change my picking hand's form for mando maybe I should do it for guitar as well. I use the loose fist for guitar but read a comment that one advantage of extended fingers for guitar flatpicking can be that on an upstroke your little finger can touch the high E string (closest to the floor) and thus provide a reference which will improve accuracy. #I have noticed that a lot of guitar pickers extend their fingers.