Hey Fingerpickers ... How many fingers?

[Starshine]

Two plus the thumb. When I first started fingerstyle, I did only the middle finger and thumb, but found that limiting, so I added in the index.

[Jimi2]

I’ve had some classical training and have always used thumb, index, middle, and ring, with pinky unplanted. Then I got a cheap acoustic seven string, so I’ve been experimenting with putting that unused pinky to work covering an extra string. It’s been really hard to make it work so far.

[mcmars]

Originally Posted by Rozlynoz76

I think for the most part I only use 3 fingers...sometimes I work in my ring finger but not often. However, I'm also a banjo player (and a HUGE Piedmont fan) so.....

In a related vein...Piedmont pickers...do you anchor your little finger? I often anchor my little finger and sometimes my ring finger because I like the control and I'm used to it from picking banjo. I know John Hurt used to do this. How common is this anchorage among guitar pickers?

I used to be a pinky planter, but lost that habit years ago and it really opened up my ability get a bigger more versatile sound, kind of a "strum n pluck" that works better for dynamics and my timing. I lay my right palm on top few strings near bridge for damping, so I know exactly where my hand is without needing a pinky to help anchor my hand.

I started with classical as young teenager for a few months, so originally was thumb plus 3. But in mid 80's I learned piedmont blues with John Cephas, John Jackson, Etta Baker and a mentor friend that learned from Rev Gary Davis, so then it was thumb and index. It is easy to catch 2 or 3 strings with thumb or a finger in a brush stroke. But now I just let them fall where they go, which is normally either thumb and index or middle and occasionally all 3 when I want a different tone or double stop.

[Brushwood]

Originally Posted by zmf

Thumb and index 90% of the time. If it's good enough for Doc and Merle, it's good enough for me. But I need to do a lot of hammer-ons and pull-offs to get the sound I want.

Why only two digits? It feels good.

I also dig the songs that Steve Earle brings to the table with his two digits.

[Silurian]

Thumb and three fingers.

[runningplanet]

I’ve always used my thumb and three fingers. Thumb for low e, a and d strings. Index finger on g , middle finger on b and ring finger on b strings. It just feels natural to me.

[EZYPIKINS]

I don't know about you. but I use all 10.

Right hand Thumb handles 5&6.

Fingers 1,2,3, and 4 on strings 4,3,2, and 1, respectively, as a starting point.

Song, and chord progression determines how I alter my attack.

[E-OM]

Thumb and three fingers. Works for me...

[musicman1951]

I use thumb and three fingers. Worked for Segovia.

[edcmat-l1]

Originally Posted by EZYPIKINS

I don't know about you. but I use all 10.

Right hand Thumb handles 5&6.

Fingers 1,2,3, and 4 on strings 4,3,2, and 1, respectively, as a starting point.

Song, and chord progression determines how I alter my attack.

This. Depending on the song I use up to all 5 right hand fingers. I never plant. I'm a "floater". I have no problem including my pinky in the mix.

Started playing piano at a very young age and I believe that's how and why I took to finger picking so quickly as a youngin. I briefly took classical guitar lessons as an early-teen and adapted to the style quickly and that has carried through to other styles now.

[kakashi]

thumb + 3 fingers. depends on what i'm playing dictates whether my pinky is planted or not. ideally i want my pinky planted.

[ssstewart]

thumb + 3 fingers, occasional add pinky if called for.

[Elroy Bean]

As for myself it varies upon the song I'm attempting. But I'm not much of a fingerstyle player. But I've a more talented friend, who plays a fluid style using his forefinger and thumb only. He gets a lot of notes out with relative ease.

[hamburg325]

Four. And inclusive of thumbpick and 3 fingerpicks.

[Mycroft]

Dang, am I going to have to go all the way through this zombie thread and find out what I answered before?