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  #16  
Old 11-24-2019, 07:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FrankHudson View Post
I do it, and I use a flat pick. Not that I'm a stirling example of anything.
including spelling LOL (just kidding but couldn't resist!)
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  #17  
Old 11-24-2019, 08:34 AM
JonPR JonPR is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fazool View Post
including spelling LOL (just kidding but couldn't resist!)
You never know, maybe he's from Scotland: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stirling
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  #18  
Old 11-24-2019, 09:46 AM
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I did more so in the past. I pretty much make contact for reference. As time has passed and my playing developed, the contact became more relaxed. Adopting/injection some Latin influenced strumming I think had a lot to do with relaxing any contact I make now..
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  #19  
Old 11-24-2019, 01:32 PM
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Yes, do what works for you. It's your journey.
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  #20  
Old 11-24-2019, 04:04 PM
Pitar Pitar is offline
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Pinky sinner doomed to drink grape Nehi it hot places. I never planted because I use it to finger pick, which is a good reason to change your technique.

Last edited by Pitar; 11-25-2019 at 02:55 PM.
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  #21  
Old 11-24-2019, 06:51 PM
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I tend to use my pinky when finger picking.
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  #22  
Old 11-24-2019, 07:59 PM
lpa53 lpa53 is offline
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You'll do just fine with the anchor, but I'd suggest trying to stop it for a few weeks if for no other reason than to prove to yourself you can do without it. I anchored for nearly 40 years before a teacher challenged me to stop. I'd been having pain in my anchoring pinkie so I took him up on it, and though it took awhile, I'm glad I stopped because it opened new doors for my playing. As many have pointed out, lots of great players anchor, but I'll bet they can also play without doing so.
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  #23  
Old 11-24-2019, 09:10 PM
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I anchor my pinky. I’ve been told that the best case scenario will be that I end up with a prolonged stay in purgatory.
I can see the advantage of being able to intentionally adjust the position of the picking hand up and down the strings to vary tone. Presently, I am unable to do that. Maybe one day.


Doesn’t Mark Knopfler anchor?
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  #24  
Old 11-24-2019, 10:30 PM
rockabilly69 rockabilly69 is offline
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I had to put a pickguard on my Epiphone Olympic reissue so that my pinky would rest comfortably
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  #25  
Old 11-24-2019, 10:43 PM
The Bard Rocks The Bard Rocks is offline
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Though I have never done this, plenty of outstanding performers do. And many of them have worn through the finish on the top where the pinky has been planted for years. You might say, it finally took root.
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Last edited by The Bard Rocks; 11-25-2019 at 09:28 PM.
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  #26  
Old 11-24-2019, 11:27 PM
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A lot of books I've read (by people who seem to know what they're talking about too) actually recommend this, so go ahead.

A big part of learning guitar is learning to keep track of all 10 of your fingers simultaneously, so nothing wrong with keeping a few out of the way at first.
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  #27  
Old 11-24-2019, 11:57 PM
PHJim PHJim is offline
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I had to pick up a guitar and check.
I rest my pinky and sometimes my ring when I'm doing 2 or 3 finger picking, Libba Cotton/Merle Travis style.
When I use four fingers playing arpeggios, I don't anchor.
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  #28  
Old 11-25-2019, 06:22 AM
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I don't know. I'll have to start paying attention. Ah …. never mind
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  #29  
Old 11-25-2019, 07:34 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by The Bard Rocks View Post
Though I have never done this, plenty of outstanding performers do. Ans many of them have worn through the finish on the top where the pinky has been planted for years. You might say, it finally took root.
I have fingerpicking nails on my right hand, I plant my pinky always and
I prefer cedar topped guitars.

So it;s not a big surprise that I put a moon shaped gouge from my pinky's fingernail in the top of one of my guitars A very thin nitro refinish I did and it wasn't very durable. I actually nicked a piece of the wood with my nail :O


Another reason I appreciate the polyester finishes on my Taylors - more durability.
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  #30  
Old 11-25-2019, 08:16 AM
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It may be worth saying that classical players never anchor. They train to keep the hand steady without anchoring, because then the hand can pick at various places along the string for different tones. Another reason they don't like anchoring is that it tends to inhibit the resonance of the guitar top, reducing volume and tone.

Folk, blues and country players, however, often do anchor (regarding the reduction in resonance as negligible). As I mentioned, Merle Travis anchored everything except his index - although that's quite unusual, because most like to use at least two fingers to pick. Some anchor by resting the wrist on the bridge, although normally that's to facilitate the damping of the bass (in Travis/Atkins style). Mississippi John Hurt and Skip James both anchored ring and pinky.

Personally, I don't rest my fingers anywhere, although I will sometimes use the bass damping technique on the bridge.
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Last edited by JonPR; 11-25-2019 at 08:23 AM.
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