To anchor or not to anchor?

[gambassachick]

Since I'm just starting out with fping, I'm not really married to either, although I do enjoy some of the stability of anchoring. However, I have heard that this can be a bad habit?? I was wondering if any experienced fpers could speak on this issue.


Thanks for putting up with all my questions,
gamba

[SMan]

Some strong opinions on this on the AGF. I met and talked to Chris Smither about this subject at a gig he did in Seattle back in the 90's (as a couple of my playing buddies harrang me for anchoring). I noticed he committed the Sin of anchoring.

His response? "You have to anchor to rock!"

[Rodger]

I anchor with my little finger and a bit with the ring finger... and fingerpick with thumb and first two fingers. That led to me anchoring while strumming and also anchoring while playing electric. I think it helps me gauge my fingers' position to the strings, both height-wise as well as across the strings. I don't know that I would call it a bad habit.

[mesa]

Don't think there is a "bad habit" here. I've seen gifted players doing it both ways. I just did what came natural and that was no anchored finger.

[cjjtulsa]

If you were planning to expand to using all five fingers, then anchoring now would start something difficult to undo later. I don't plan on using any more than four, so I anchor my little finger.

[konavet]

Jeez, I hope it's not a bad habit, cuz I've got enough already. I've been anchoring with my little finger for over 40 years. Funny thing is, I only anchor when I'm wearing picks. When I play bare fingered, I tend to use more fingers and use some different techniques that preclude anchoring. Really, I think it's whatever feels right.

[Eever]

I have never anchored but would be concerned that doing so would reduce vibration of the top. Makes sense doesn't it?

Because some great guitarists do anchor, the effect must be minimal if any. Perhaps the 'anchoring' touch is so light as to not stifle top vibration.

Can anyone shed some light on this?

[Billy Boy]

I don't anchor (used to) and made a conscious decision not to just in case I want to get my pinkie involved in fingerpicking...which, I occasionally do...but I've seen many, many a fine fingerpicker who anchor...

[Poetmonk]

I took classical music lessons when i started guitar many years ago and "anchoring" was forbidden in that realm. So was seating the guitar on your right leg (if you fret with your left hand). I say do what feels good to you and natural.

[Jeff M]

There is no right or wrong here.
It's whatever feels best.
I started out playing classical, so never anchored my fingers.
Lots and lots of folks anchor..and play wonderfully.

[grantgsc]

There is another thread on this very thing. I believe that putting a finger on the soundboard can cause hand tension across the palm and therefore inhibit the free motion of the fingers. In my opinion, the ultimate fingerstyle players are the classical guitarists. You don't see very many of them with a finger down.

[DaveG]

I agree, there is no right or wrong. Just do what feels and works best for you. In the Mark Hanson book I have he urges not anchoring, but on the Stefen Grossman DVD I just got he strongly urges anchoring. They're both great players and teachers, so take your choice .

[Thin Crust]

Ahhh.........the debate rages on.

Well, I used to anchor, now I don't. It was a very hard habit to break, but doing so made sense to me. There is much more involved than use of the pinky. Apparently the ring finger and the pinky share a common leader through the carpal tunnel, so isolating the pinky limits the mobility of the ring finger as well. Now, if you only want to use two fingers to pick, I guess that's a whole different issue. I agree that plenty of fine players are known to plant that pinky on the soundboard........no argument there. Now that I have learned not to however, it feels un-natural to rest that pinky anywhere close to the guitar top. Just my 2 cents.

[ForcesUndivided]

... and the response was just as divided. Since practicing I have found that my anchor has gone away a bit with time. When I play licks/patterns on a D chord or Am/A, bottom 4 strings, I tend to anchor those for speed purposes. If I am playing on a F my hand is loose and the thum and index are doing most of the work. I really think it is just personal preference, more of a feel thing. However, I am sure that struggling with learning NOT to use the anchor will give you better control and speed in the long run. Seems like you really have to train the muscle memory in the forearm to stablize properly for good speed and accuracy. Just my opinions, I am striving to get that muscle memory built up myself and lose the anchor.

[poorbs]

Anchoring gives a beginning fingerpicker a reference point for locating the strings with the right hand. It also makes "heavy handed" picking a bit easier (plucking the strings very hard).

The downside is that it is limiting. It virtually eliminates the use of the right ring finger, and limits which strings can be played by which fingers. Imagine trying to play the bottom 4 strings with the thumb, index, middle, and ring fingers with the pinky planted. You can also forget about downstrokes with the back of the nails with the right hand, not to mention the stress already suggested, that will limit playing time. Given a choice, I think most would agree not to plant any fingers.

You can try just touching the strings lightly with the right hand, as it hovers over them, for a reference point if you need it.