Using a Plectrum and the best posture recommendation

[Robbie M]

Hi Everyone, I have a quick basic question. I started using a plectrum recently. I used to played fingerpicking style since I was 15 now I’m 58.
I ankor sometimes my pinky and other times my ring finger on the guitar body to maintain precision. This habit comes from my fingerpicking. Should I stop it? Is there a problem with using a finger of my picking hand(right hand) as an ankor? I can still change this habit as I just started it using a plectrum. Any expert advice is appriciated here.

Thanks

[Robert V]

Here is my take, I am very similar to you. I started at 10 now I am 57. I always played finger picking and with a pick. I too anchor and I have no issues with it. I play banjo as well ands you anchor with those too. I do pick up for strumming and such, but anything intricate I am anchored. Stylistically it may not be correct form, but I don’t care – it sounds good!

[Robbie M]

Hi Robert, I agree everything you say and love how easy it is to do fills solos and rhythmic patterns that seem complicated to those who are not used to fingerstyle. Also as a singer/guitarist, fingerstyle enables me to play mindlessly guitar while I sing (e.g.Mark Knopfler). The disadvantage; however, in my experience is when you’re dealing with live performance either with a group or backing track, I’d need raise my volume as the guitar sound is not as loud as when you play with a plectrum. Another thing is, I can go up to 145 bpm for certain solos but just after a few days of picking was able to go up to 160 bpm, this is what I suspected was going to happen and why I decided to get used to a guitar pick. I am not too sure of how reliable is this assessement. Time will tell…

Thanks

[charjo]

Hi Robbie,
My understanding of picking is to angle the pick slightly to move across the strings more easily. You want to maintain the same angle across all strings. That requires some movement of the forearm from the elbow. It is perfectly okay to touch the body with your pinky (+/- ring) but it shouldn’t be anchored, it should lightly brush the body and move with the hand as the hand moves across the strings.
Here’s a link to a video by Jeff McErlain (one of my other favourite teachers) discussing good picking technique. Skip to 1:20.
John

[Robbie M]

Hi John, I watched the McErlain’s clip and I decided not to anchor while picking and it seems very coherent why you can’t anchor while trying to maintain the correct angle of pick against the string. I also started to implement few other technics that Jeff mentions and already see a slight improvement. Thank you for sharing this link.

Thanks

[Jean-Michel G]

I am also a finger style player, but I got a classical education where anchoring is usually considered an absolute no-no thing, so I never anchor my right hand.
When I am after the thick boom-chick sound à la Travis or even the muted sound à la Chet Atkins I use a thumb pick, but I still don’t anchor with my pinky (although obviously I do anchor with the palm).

When I started learning how to play with a pick, I also didn’t anchor my right hand.

I used to have strong opinions about anchoring in finger style, but I’ve come to think that everyone should use the technique that suits her/him best, as long as it doesn’t induce other faulty positions.
I suppose it’s the same with a pick.

[Robbie M]

Hi Jean-Michel, I also started with classical guitar training, but somewhere down the line I abandonned not anchoring, perhaps songs such as “Song for Sonny Liston” required me to anchor. Anyhow I agree now after posting the question to the forum, meditating on the feedback received, and trying correct posture, not to anchor anymore while using a plectrum. Reason being that in fact it will reduced my precision in terms of angle of pick and string if have a finger or two stuck to the guitar body. So that is my conclusion.

Thanks

[David R]

I always rest my pinky finger on the guitar. I don’t think it really matters, as long as it feels right for you then keep doing it.

[Robbie M]

Hi David, I decided to keep on anchoring my finger on the guitar while doing fingerstyle and not anchoring while using a plectrum. Because it feels right when doing the fingerstyle.

Thanks

[Richard G]

Hi Robbie, I think the advice above is spot on, ie, do whatever feels comfortable for you. If you check out some of the top players, both fingerstyle and plectrum style, you’ll quickly realise that everyone does what they feel. Mollie Tuttle, Billy Strings, Mark Knopfler, Jeff Beck all hold picks or use a technique of fingerstyle which will never be taught by any traditional tutors.

Richard

[Robbie M]

Hi Richrad, Probably the artist that caused me to anchor my fingers is Mark Knofler. And I don’t regret it for a second. After considering all the responses, my conclusion is to anchor while doing fingerstyle, and not anchr while using a guitar pick. Just wanted to let you know for whatever it’s worth. My final thought being that for us the mere mortal guitarists we need to keep it simple and in this case follow the basic instructions. By the way as far as the link that John sent me with Jeff McErlain, I found it very pertinent, short, and sweet explanation on the subject, I realize that this topic is a “can of worm’ type of subject, but since I intented to use a pick and psychlogically was ready for it I indeed enjoyed it.

Thanks

[GnLguy]

I’ve played fingerstyle for many years and have never anchored my little finger, largely because my hand won’t allow me too. Genetics gave me my Dad’s hands, except for my little finger lol. The only way that I can anchor my hand is if I’m playing a guitar with a pick guard like a ES-335, that gives me a higher anchor point
But if anchoring your hand works for you, continue doing it.

Since you have the ability to l!at fingerstyle, start using those skills to develop hybrid picking. In the blues and country. hybrid picking is so useful and will advance your playing exponentially

[Robbie M]

Hi Guy, After considering all the responses, my conclusion is to anchor while doing fingerstyle, and not anchr while using a guitar pick. Just wanted to let you know for whatever it’s worth. thanks

Thanks

[Mark H]

I learned to fingerpick both ways, anchored- and unanchored. I still do both but I’m unanchored most of the time. I tend to anchor when, for example, sitting outside at a festival with a cold wind blowing. My fingers are less cooperative when it’s colder and I find anchoring provides more strength & leverage to the index & middle fingers.

I use thumbpicks and fingerpicks sometimes. These are very useful to compete with louder instruments and ambient noise at a jam or when busking. I haven’t busked for years though, last time was in the Altstadt in Dusseldorf back in the 1980s

Re straight picks, currently I prefer a heavier gauge triangular flatpick, 1.5 mm. I find it easier to hang on to the sucker. I don’t obsess much about flatpick angles, maybe I should.

[Robbie M]

Hi Mark, I never felt the necessity of thinking about “To anchor or not to anchor” before I decided to play with a plectrum. I was very content with the way things went. but now I miss strings or I aim to pluck but simply miss. I get stuck beneath the string and wont make it to the other side lol …. yes it’s been humbling. lol I think I see a light in the back to the basics stratetgy. I don’t like to play in the cold either fingerstyle or anystyle. Even if you get an outdoor heater and warm up your hands then your strings go out tune with a fluctuating tempreture. Probably won’t do it again if I have to play for real.

All that said I feel a difference when I actively pay attention to my right hand, keeping the pick at a diagonal position like a speed boat and a string being the water surface. I have one of those thumbs (actually two of them lol) that bend backwards almost 45 degrees. Also keeping on moving my hand up and down by an elbow rotation has helped. I intend to continue this discovery and hopefully it becomes second nature like fingerstyle one day.

Thanks

[Mark H]

Yes, thanks for that. I do need to pay more attention to the pick angle and other details of using a flatpick. Achieving that “second nature” is indeed the goal of diligent practice.

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