What do YOU do wrong, but it still works?

[Mark Stone]

All guitarists have a "bad" habit or two. We all do something that other guitar players say doesn't work. What do you do "incorrectly" that sets you apart?

Me? I never wrap strings all the way around the posts. I never have. One day, way back in the 1970s when I rode a Gibson B-25, I finally needed to change strings. No one was around to show me how - so I just stuck the strings through the hole and cranked. I've done it for almost 50 years now, and it has always worked - I've never had a string slip. Taylor method? HA!

[Brucebubs]

Wow, that is 'minimal'!

For a while I was the exact opposite to you - I wound the entire string on the post!

[leonski]

You must play with a really light touch.

[YamahaGuy]

Not sure if it's wrong, but I play my A chord with my index and middle fingers only. My index finger covers the D and G strings, while the middle covers the G and B string.

[Jobe]

I don't humidify. Never had a problem in 40 years. Oh, and I place my little finger on the soundboard when I fingerstyle. (I am starting to think my pinky fingers are the quarterback of the game. They do their thing on both ends as if they have minds of their own!)

[Joe Beamish]

Originally Posted by YamahaGuy

Not sure if it's wrong, but I play my A chord with my index and middle fingers only. My index finger covers the D and G strings, while the middle covers the G and B string.

I’m similar, having seen Burt Jansch do so in videos. Plus it’s useful in freeing up the ring finger (that is, when also lifting up your second finger) to fret some licks, which JJ Cale often did.

[Lkristians]

Ok. At the risk of being ostracized...I always use the same gauge/brand of pick and strings.
And while I'm at it, I put ketchup on my steak!
Whew. That was liberating!

[dwasifar]

Originally Posted by YamahaGuy

Not sure if it's wrong, but I play my A chord with my index and middle fingers only. My index finger covers the D and G strings, while the middle covers the G and B string.

I came here to say this and you beat me to it.

I also play open Am with two fingers, open E with two fingers, and open Em with one finger. Not all the time, but more often than not.

[FoxHound4690]

When I was a teenager i had no idea how to string a guitar either I had an Ibanez electric and i used to basically just do what you do and I too had no one to show me....

I used to have alot of tuning issues with it though and not just because the strings were new it was because I didn't have enough winds around the tuning pegs so yeah i'm really amazed that you don't have frequent tuning problems....

[Mark Stone]

Originally Posted by leonski

You must play with a really light touch.

Nope. I do a lot of fingerpicking, but I also bang on the guitars pretty hard lol - As a matter of fact I've played in Bluegrass bands.

[Mark Stone]

Originally Posted by Lkristians

Ok. At the risk of being ostracized...I always use the same gauge/brand of pick and strings.
And while I'm at it, I put ketchup on my steak!
Whew. That was liberating!

OH NOOOOO!!!!! I'm telling the Moderators!! Hey wait -- you are a -- well, never mind

[Mark Stone]

Originally Posted by FoxHound4690

When I was a teenager i had no idea how to string a guitar either I had an Ibanez electric and i used to basically just do what you do and I too had no one to show me....

I used to have alot of tuning issues with it though and not just because the strings were new it was because I didn't have enough winds around the tuning pegs so yeah i'm really amazed that you don't have frequent tuning problems....

I'm a big guy, maybe the strings are skeered of me

[6 Strings MI]

Originally Posted by YamahaGuy

Not sure if it's wrong, but I play my A chord with my index and middle fingers only. My index finger covers the D and G strings, while the middle covers the G and B string.

I play two-finger chords quite often, especially when I'm changing to D.

Originally Posted by Lkristians

I put ketchup on my steak!

I put mayonnaise on my French fries, and I despise lettuce, so who am I to make fun of anyone else's eating habits?

And I almost certainly don't place my thumb on the guitar's neck in a conventional or correct manner.

[Mark Stone]

Originally Posted by YamahaGuy

Not sure if it's wrong, but I play my A chord with my index and middle fingers only. My index finger covers the D and G strings, while the middle covers the G and B string.

Yep, that's wrong!!

I use one finger - I lay down my forefinger across the D, G and B strings and bend it up so the high E rings. Most people don't mind, but other guitar players kinda look at it strange.

[hifivic]

When I make a D chord at the second fret I have only used my index and middle finger for over 5 decades now.