I've recently had the opportunity to acquire a really amazing mandolin. However, I find that I'm struggling with right hand technique in a way I haven't before. Something about the way this instrument is configured makes it so that I have a hard time picking in the sweet spot just below the fretboard without damping the strings a bit with the heel of my palm. I have a McClung armrest on the instrument (I have used these armrests with all of my mandolins), but I find myself wishing it held my forearm higher off the top of the instrument. I should note that this mandolin has a flat fretboard (I'm primarily used to radius) and a pickguard (which I've never played with before). I've tried a bit of planting my pinky to try to keep my palm away from the strings, but I'm not used to this technique and it feels pretty awkward (and I'm not very good with it at this point).
Any insights or tips?
Thanks a lot!
Thane Glenn
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