Hand position when playing notes in all strings.

[Mystery123]

What's the best position when playing notes?
I read that people rest palm on low strings to play high strings but what about playing low strings?

Do you rest pinky next to sound hole for low or for all?
Do you not even touch the guitar and just go through strings?

How about electric?
There's no sound hole for reference.

I am practicing this simple riff and it's sloppy when going through low to high strings.
I think it's due to not having an anchor.

E|-------------------------------------------------3-1-0---------|
B|-----------------------------------------------0-------3-1-0-1-|
G|--------------------------0-2-0------0-2---0-2-----------------|
D|---------0-2-0------0-2-3-------3--3-----3---------------------|
A|---0-2-3-------3--3--------------------------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------------------------------------------|

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by Mystery123

I read that people rest palm on low strings to play high strings but what about playing low strings?

I would hope not in any situation (except when purposely palm muting strings).

Originally Posted by Mystery123

Do you rest pinky next to sound hole for low or for all?

Neither

Originally Posted by Mystery123

Do you not even touch the guitar and just go through strings?

Yes

[Big Band Guitar]

I don't rest any part of my picking hand anywhere when playing anything.

[fazool]

see my answer in post #17 of THIS thread

[Mystery123]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

I would hope not in any situation (except when purposely palm muting strings).

Neither

Yes

This video of Molly Tuttle shows she rests her palm on lower strings most of the time.

I tried floating fingers above the strings and I hit wrong strings half of the time.

Originally Posted by fazool

see my answer in post #17 of THIS thread

That's for fingerstyle.
Same goes for electric?

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by Mystery123

This video of Molly Tuttle shows she rests her palm on lower strings most of the time.

Most of the time not on the strings though on the bridge frequently. She's just on the lower strings when she wants to palm mute them.
Also she is a flatpicker and that is a whole other hand position for many. But if you want your default position to be resting your palm on
the strings then go for it.

[1neeto]

When picking individual strings, I do anchor my pinky, especially if there’s a lot of string skipping, I need that point of reference. My picking hand is muting strings I’m not playing to keep them from ringing while playing leads. This a habit of playing electric with gain, you don’t want open strings ringing due to sympathetic harmonics when playing leads.

[Mystery123]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

Most of the time not on the strings though on the bridge frequently. She's just on the lower strings when she wants to palm mute them.
Also she is a flatpicker and that is a whole other hand position for many. But if you want your default position to be resting your palm on
the strings then go for it.

It's not about what I want.
I want to learn correct way so the question.

[FwL]

Originally Posted by Mystery123

What's the best position when playing notes?
I read that people rest palm on low strings to play high strings but what about playing low strings?

Do you rest pinky next to sound hole for low or for all?
Do you not even touch the guitar and just go through strings?

How about electric?
There's no sound hole for reference.

I am practicing this simple riff and it's sloppy when going through low to high strings.
I think it's due to not having an anchor.

E|-------------------------------------------------3-1-0---------|
B|-----------------------------------------------0-------3-1-0-1-|
G|--------------------------0-2-0------0-2---0-2-----------------|
D|---------0-2-0------0-2-3-------3--3-----3---------------------|
A|---0-2-3-------3--3--------------------------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------------------------------------------|

Originally Posted by Mystery123

This video of Molly Tuttle shows she rests her palm on lower strings most of the time.

I tried floating fingers above the strings and I hit wrong strings half of the time.

That's for fingerstyle.
Same goes for electric?

You could do worse than following Molly's example.

I modeled my picking hand after Al Di Meola:

https://youtu.be/D7GddopmZtg




So I'm always resting my hand on the bridge pins or lower strings.


Part of the trick to getting clean lines that cover all the strings is you have to move the hand position up or down so you maintain a consistent wrist and pick angle.

.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by Mystery123

It's not about what I want.
I want to learn correct way so the question.

You have been given quite a bit of advice already but seem inclined to be non receptive (the flatpicker Molly Tuttle reference for example)
and thus my assumption. Watch some more youtube videos of pro players who are playing the style of music you want to play .

[fazool]

Originally Posted by Mystery123

...I want to learn correct way so the question.

The you have to first decide on the definition of the word "correct". This assumes there is one correct way, and therein lies your challenge.

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by fazool

The you have to first decide on the definition of the word "correct". This assumes there is one correct way, and therein lies your challenge.

There are different "correct" ways for fingerstyle versus flatpicking, plus their sub variants. Not sure anymore what style was the subject of this thread.

[fazool]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

There are different "correct" ways for fingerstyle versus flatpicking, plus their sub variants. Not sure anymore what style was the subject of this thread.

Yes for different styles, there are different positions, grips, techniques.

But I disdain the unilateral use of the word "correct". It may be more common among instructors or certain players but that doesn't mean it's an absolute.

[Big Band Guitar]

I learned many years ago, when I first started, to rest the pick on the string below the one just played (the one higher in pitch). Even for only a moment it gives you reference to where the pick is. A little strange at first but once mastered you won't be sorry.

[Big Band Guitar]

Originally Posted by Mystery123

What's the best position when playing notes?
I read that people rest palm on low strings to play high strings but what about playing low strings?

Do you rest pinky next to sound hole for low or for all?
Do you not even touch the guitar and just go through strings?

How about electric?
There's no sound hole for reference.

I am practicing this simple riff and it's sloppy when going through low to high strings.
I think it's due to not having an anchor.

E|-------------------------------------------------3-1-0---------|
B|-----------------------------------------------0-------3-1-0-1-|
G|--------------------------0-2-0------0-2---0-2-----------------|
D|---------0-2-0------0-2-3-------3--3-----3---------------------|
A|---0-2-3-------3--3--------------------------------------------|
E|-3-------------------------------------------------------------|

When you play the G on the low E string rest your pick on the A string, then play the open A rest your pick on the D string, go back up to the A string and play the B, rest on the D again, go back and play the C, rest on the D string, play the open D, rest on the G string, go back and play the E, rest in the G you get the idea.

Do this very slowly until it becomes automatic.

If the riff is all 1/4 notes then all down strokes, If 1/8 then down up down up down etc.