Right Hand Basics

[Alan Ford]

After being away from playing for 30 years, I have taken up playing again, and I am re-starting at the very beginning. In doing so, I took notice that in every instructional video I watch, the player picks the string nearest his thumb with his index finger, and the string furthest from his thumb with his middle finger.

After years of fingerpicking six string guitars, my muscle memory is accustomed to just the reverse for picking. I tried to follow their example but it just does not feel comfortable or natural. I have no problem picking chords, double stops, or single strings the way it feels natural. After doing some online research, it is appearing to me that it really won't have an adverse effect on anything down the road, just as long as it doesn't interfere with proper palm muting.

Here are my questions:
1. Are their any other players out there that pick the way I do?
2. Are there any reasons I haven't thought of that should make me change?

Thanks in advanve for your feedback,
Alan Ford

[Bill McCloskey]

i'm trying to understand what you are saying. If you are picking string 8, 6, 5 you would play 8 with the thumb, 6 with the middle finger and 5 with the forefinger? That would seem very awkward to me, even as a regular guitarist. You might want to look at Jeff Newman's Right Hand Alpha video which is available online https://youtu.be/W9B9Kc7-sdw?si=ciMNRpXmKcfHnyei

[Alan Ford]

Bill McCloskey,

I appreciate your reply. I have viewed Jeff Newman, Jeff Rady, and many others. You are correct. That's the way they play. And for me, that is just not natural or comfortable.

With that said, thank you for the link. I am going to follow along with Jeff on this is see where it takes me. I'll post a followup later. Thanks again brother!

[Bill McCloskey]

As Jeff points out. It will seem awkward at first but stick with it

[Doug Taylor]

Johnny Up on YouTube has a new series of videos on palm blocking. I just watched the first 2.

Looks a little different than Jeff Newmans approach. I have spent a lot of time with Right Hand Alpha but this might be worth a look!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ_KdbliT_4

[Alan Ford]

Thanks Doug, I'll take a look.

[Colin Boutilier]

Ain't stupid if it works.

[Fred Treece]

1. Are there any other players out there that pick the way I do?

Not many, I’d guess.

2. Are there any reasons I haven't thought of that should make me change?

Probably. Close chord grips might not be much of a problem, but wider grips like 10-6-4 and 8-5-3 might give you some fits.

Everyone’s anatomy is different. My index finger is a full knuckle-length shorter than my middle. I couldn’t pick the way you do to save my life. As long as you can position your hand comfortably, play as tension-free and accurately as possible, can play everything you want to play and get good tone, go for it.

[Dave Magram]

...in every instructional video I watch, the player picks the string nearest his thumb with his index finger, and the string furthest from his thumb with his middle finger.
After years of fingerpicking six string guitars, my muscle memory is accustomed to just the reverse for picking.
Here are my questions:
1. Are their any other players out there that pick the way I do?
2. Are there any reasons I haven't thought of that should make me change?
Alan Ford

Hi Alan,

If I understand your question #1 correctly, you might want to consider Buddy Emmons' "hybrid" picking technique, in which he primarily used his thumb and middle finger.
In answer to your question #2 about "reasons to change", I'd say that Buddy did pretty darn well with it.

But there are more choices available...
I have done an extensive analysis of the four major variations that major-league steel players (including Jeff Newman, Lloyd Green, Emmons, and many others) use to palm-block, and also how Paul Franklin and a couple of others "pick block" in my "Blocking Guide", in which:

• I list over 30 YouTube videos that show top players in action, along with several instructional videos.

• I include step-by-step explanations of how to palm-block and "pick block", with exercises to practice these skills.

• I do not preach any "The One Way" to do blocking; I just analyze the techniques used by the legendary players and suggest you use whichever one or combo that works for you.

Over 95 Forumites have requested my 31-page "Blocking Guide" so far, and I've received many positive comments from them about it--including some professional players, who are always on the lookout to hone their skills.
More info at: viewtopic.php?t=411888

I do not charge for the "Blocking Guide", it is my way of giving back to the SGF.

If you are interested, please send me your email address via a Private Message; just click where it says "Contact" under my name on the right side of this post.
(Please do not post your email address on this thread; there are bad actors out there with web-bots scraping up personal information with nefarious intent.)

- Dave

[Alan Ford]

Dave,

Thank you so much for the very detailed reply. It is great that so many have offered good advice for this.

I have made another attempt at picking in the traditional way, and this may sound kind of crazy, but I found that the ergonomics of it feels much more natural with no picks. Being very accomplished with Travis picking on an acoustic my fingers are used to it. My plan is continue with no picks until the muscle memory kicks in and then go back to the picks.

[Donny Hinson]

There is no right or wrong. Players have different physiologies and mental approaches, so you should do whatever is comfortable to you. We're not all built the same, and we're not all wired the same, so stick with what is working for you - until you find that what you're doing slows you down or begins to limit your own playing (compared to whoever it is you're trying to emulate).