RH anchor issue

[jmcguire14]

Guitar player for years started playing mandolin about two weeks ago. I’m having an issue with my RH bridge anchor. It works great for the D A and E but I’m noticing I have to shift quite a bit to hit the G. Is this just part of anchoring on the bridge or should I change how I’m approaching my RH?

[Jim Garber]

Are you resting your right hand or palm directly on the bridge? Do you usually do that while playing guitar?

[Skip Kelley]

Don’t anchor at all. My palm lightly brushes the strings behind the bridge.

[Stacey Morris]

Not a guitar player, but I don't anchor unless playing tremolo. Still a beginner, though.

[jmcguire14]

Yeah it’s pretty much right on top and I usually do it for lead stuff on the guitar.

[jmcguire14]

Don’t anchor at all. My palm lightly brushes the strings behind the bridge.

I was afraid I’d hear that but I guess it’ll be better to quit it now instead of later.

[Skip Kelley]

I was afraid I’d hear that but I guess it’ll be better to quit it now instead of later.

It’s better now than later!

[DavidKOS]

There are times on electric guitar I use palm muting, so then I do rest my hand on the bridge...but pretty much on guitar and mandolin I do not rest my hand on the bridge nor plant the 4th finger. I may let the outside of my 4th RH finger lightly touch the pickguard, but only as a spacing device, not an anchor...and it moves as I play closer or further from the bridge and/or across the strings.

A free floating picking hand will open up more possibilities on mandolin.

Not a guitar player, but I don't anchor unless playing tremolo. Still a beginner, though.

Try not anchoring, from an Italian style POV you'll get a better tremolo in the long run.

Of course other people will have totally different opinions, as per usual.

[ralph johansson]

Don’t anchor at all. My palm lightly brushes the strings behind the bridge.

That, I believe, is the standard technique at least in popular genres, like New Acoustic and Bluegrass, on a mando without pickguard. On a mando with pickguard the most common technique is to play with a slightly more open hand brushing across the guard.

[Stacey Morris]

A free floating picking hand will open up more possibilities on mandolin.



Try not anchoring, from an Italian style POV you'll get a better tremolo in the long run.

Of course other people will have totally different opinions, as per usual.

Thank you very much, David. I have been wondering if I am doing it wrong, and will go back to square one on Tremolo and see if I can get the hang of it.