Pinky finger issues

[imkeith]

I've been noticing this for quite awhile especially when it comes to alternate picking and stuff i've a habit of anchoring my pinky on the guitar top, yet i see many players who do it and dont so i would really like to clarify is this really the right way to go about picking?
another issue is that sometimes where songs have notes like for eg
---------------------------
-------------------------
-8-5-6h-5h-6--------------
--------------9-7-9-7-6-7-
--------------------------
--------------------------
so err.. fret 8 to fret 5 seems to be more than a step away so in this case do i rest my pinky or ring finger at 8?
and from 6 to 9 is another stretch so is moving down the neck and approaching 9 with my ring finger the right way or going with my pinky instead?
because then again i see some pros conduction vid lessons at times they just go with the ring but yet some go with the pinky, and i remembered someone telling me about having as little motion as possible with ur fretting hand so yes im alil confuse as of how my fretting hand should go about at times.
Or am i just being overly paranoid ? just preference?

 

[mrekoj]

i prefer to stick with 1 finger per fret.
so if within 4 frets, starting with 5th
5- index
6- middle
7- ring
8- pinky

some prefer to use ring if pinky can be avoided.

 

[imkeith]

but wouldnt that putting yourself at a disadvantage down the road?
than what about thepinky finger resting? anyone can clarify on these matters?

 

[mrekoj]

why is using 1 more finger at a disadvantage, care to share ur thoughts ?

 

[Breen]

You need to get comfortable with the one finger per fret technique, then move on to a stretch of 5 to 6/7 fret stretch with your 4 fingers. Try the exercise of pointer on fret 1 starting on the low F on the low E string, middle on G, pinky on A. Alternate pick this 3 notes per string up and down as well as along the neck.

Basically the idea is to gain pinky and ring independence and you can use what finger is more comfortable and fluid to play your lines.

For small handed guys like me, with a inbred, bent and diminutive pinky, training that pinky nonstop, a bootcamp/command school/ranger course training regime measures may need to be undertaken. I trained my pinky for like 6months to a year, plonking chromatics on a acoustic. Grind grind grind.

Resting your fingers will mute the string won't it? Just let your fingers stay off the string, ready to pounce on the next note.

You will realize different players use different approaches when using whatever finger. Blessed folks like Paul Gilbert don't use his ring finger too much, while others use all their fingers more evenly.

 

[imkeith]

so its preference eh ? anw i've big hands but im kinda worried esp when up to the higher frets where it gets smaller it's really gona hinder
ermm then what about anchoring your pinky ?yes?no? anyone?

 

[xfigox]

Individual preference for the anchoring part, take Michael Angelo Batio, he anchors 3 fingers and pick really insanely, sometimes I try not to anchor though, feels like its restricting my right hand movement especially when string skipping or changing strings.

 

[EngelFaeuste]

I don't really care as long as it sounds flawless, neither should you.

 

[imkeith]

Individual preference for the anchoring part, take Michael Angelo Batio, he anchors 3 fingers and pick really insanely, sometimes I try not to anchor though, feels like its restricting my right hand movement especially when string skipping or changing strings.

yea same but i feel that if i dont anchor it goes outta control but if controlled it really has the feel haha
but to me i find my picking more precise anchoring

 

[ace]

Preference bro. lols yeah i anchor my pinky too, on the pickups. i cant really describe it, you should see the way i pick, it's really quite weird i think. lols, but yeah i feel that anchoring allows me to have more control.

 

[ThisIsTheEnd]

Thats called muscle memory. Players like John Petrucci anchor so i guess it's really up to you. I stopped anchoring as i felt it restricted my movement. I guess it's your choice if you want to anchor or not.

 

[Jeff_SSG]

I do anchor my pinky on the guitar below the bottom string...

Its really helps my picking consistancy and control.. Especially during tremolo picking, 3 string sweeps, triplets etc..

But its true tat it will restrict the strumming hand motion.. but anchoring the pinky is the only way for me to play with control..

sometimes when i need to pluck up to the top strings, i may even cling my pinky on the bottom string...

different people different approach...

 

[imkeith]

Preference bro. lols yeah i anchor my pinky too, on the pickups. i cant really describe it, you should see the way i pick, it's really quite weird i think. lols, but yeah i feel that anchoring allows me to have more control.

i know what u mean i've seen ppl doing that but for me i anchor further away around 5cm away from pups :/i think that's wierder

 

[ThisIsTheEnd]

Last time i remember i couldn't play properly if i lifted my pinky. But slowly, you'll get used to it, that is, if you decide to stop.

 

[Breen]

It's also dependent on the style of your playing and music you create. Shredders tend to anchor as they need that stability to go fast. Speed is nothing without control aye?

Country guys and bluesmen usually don't anchor. Personally I need that pinky ready to pick the high E string or do some banjo rolls now and then, and when doing blues, especially Texas or Chicago blues, it's better to have more 'grind' in your sound, and anchoring your hand won't give you that.

But when playing slide, every piece of flesh on your picking hand better be there keeping everything silent!

So go with what you need and what's best for you.

BTW, seen how Marty Friedman places his hand? Acrobatic stuff man.

 

[fenderrules]

I usually anchor for control over my speed picking, and it helps. I grip the side of the bridge pickup slightly for more control.

Then again, it also boils down to personal preference.

Like what Engelfauste mentioned, as long as it sounds flawless, go for it.


Cheers

 

[Malcolm_7]

Hi! hmm different players have different preferences, i believe there's no RIGHT or WRONG way to pick, depends on you ultimately. look at players like Willie Adler of lamb of god even though his picking's kinda unorthadox but he still sounds great.

your music your style.

 

[ecneret]

i got a bigger prob man,
lazy pinky when i go fast. extra work for the 3 active fingers
but im more comfortable that way, and less errors

however i do use my pinky consistently when i need to
but not as fluid as i want it to. but stil workable.

i do notice when i dun use the pinky, it would be slightly curled by off the strings

 

[Rollercoaster]

Just a personal opinion.

I generally avoid that kind of thinking because it locks you into using certain guitar techniques, and that's what we're trying to avoid here.

 

[theunknown]

I generally avoid that kind of thinking because it locks you into using certain guitar techniques, and that's what we're trying to avoid here.

agreed. playing guitar is an art. however u do it, its up to u. there are only guidelines to follow.

personally i anchor my pinky or even sometimes my pinky and my ring finger. it helps me to pick the right strings.

give u a scenario: u're playing fast. first note u look at which string to pick, u dont anchor and the another note ur right hand moves too much u forgot where the each strings are. when u anchor, u can easily gauge where the each strings are. though if u're proficient and experienced enough, this may not be a problem.