Plucking Hand, Fingerstyle: Curl unused fingers in, or let float?

[makkE]

Hello TB'ers,
the search yielded no results, so I have to ask for your expertise

I have noticed recently, that I strech out my ring and index finger when plucking. They sort of mimic the motion of the plucking fingers, epecially when playing harder or faster stuff.
Should I rather curl them in, or let them do what they want?
Are there any benefits or downsides to this?

[FromBeyond]

Originally Posted by makkE

Hello TB'ers,
the search yielded no results, so I have to ask for your expertise

I have noticed recently, that I strech out my ring and index finger when plucking. They sort of mimic the motion of the plucking fingers, epecially when playing harder or faster stuff.
Should I rather curl them in, or let them do what they want?
Are there any benefits or downsides to this?

I've heard that it's best to curl them in, as those fingers sticking out usually indicate a lot of tension in your plucking hand. Less tension=good It might take some getting used to though, so don't rush it.

[Phalex]

Just be relaxed. I think mine tend to curl in, but do what's comfortable.

[Fergie Fulton]

Put a coin on the table....now pick it up. Ask why did your fingers do the motion they did? In a healthy hand the use of the hand in such away facilitates the ulnar side(ring and little finger) to get out the way and let the dexterity side, the radial side (thumb, fore and middle finger) have complete control of the task. In a relaxed hand it has a natural curl to it, to make it straight requires muscle tension(in a good way) to keep them straight. That tension needs to be serviced as it is now a use, that use starts in the forearms. Do not have them straight then there is no use to service.

With the ulnar side out of the way the radial side works better, that is why we always when doing delicate things the automatic use to the fingers is to curl the ulnar side out of the way first. Try it with lots of things around the house or work place as see it happen. If some more power is needed the ulnar side will get involved if the brain thinks it is neccesary.

It is such a subtle thing you have may never questioned why it happens because you have had no reason to notice it.

[kenyk]

i play with my index and middle finger.... my other 2 fingers are "half curled." i know it sounds weird but i just let my unused fingers relaxed.

[Din Of Win]

I play with my index, middle, and ring finger... i get ragged on because my pinky tends to stick out like a dainty tea drinker in a Jane Austin novel.

[the general]

i just let my fingers float. don't know why it just seems comfortable to me.

[JimmyM]

i've done both, though i feel more relaxed with my fingers just hanging there, so that's what i do now. not necessarily a wrong or right answer...as long as you're not in any pain, it really doesn't matter.

[Etc]

Originally Posted by Fergie Fulton

Put a coin on the table....now pick it up. Ask why did your fingers do the motion they did? In a healthy hand the use of the hand in such away facilitates the ulnar side(ring and little finger) to get out the way and let the dexterity side, the radial side (thumb, fore and middle finger) have complete control of the task. In a relaxed hand it has a natural curl to it, to make it straight requires muscle tension(in a good way) to keep them straight. That tension needs to be serviced as it is now a use, that use starts in the forearms. Do not have them straight then there is no use to service.

With the ulnar side out of the way the radial side works better, that is why we always when doing delicate things the automatic use to the fingers is to curl the ulnar side out of the way first. Try it with lots of things around the house or work place as see it happen. If some more power is needed the ulnar side will get involved if the brain thinks it is neccesary.

It is such a subtle thing you have may never questioned why it happens because you have had no reason to notice it.

What would you suggest to someone who uses a three finger technique (index, middle, and ring)? How about if someone was to use the ring finger only occasionally, for the odd 16th note triplet, every few bars or so?

[makkE]

Thank you all for your tips - fergie's explanation makes sense, and I will try it for a while, though I feel more relaxed when I just don't care about the floating fingers. But that might change after a while, who knows. Having the fingers curled feels good too, yet in a diffrent way.

[Webtroll]

I play primarily with my index and middle finger, and sometimes with my ring finger (almost always when playing triplets). Usually my pinky is out, but if I am alternating with a pick in the same song sometimes I'll tuck it in and hold it with my pinky (for a minute at least before I drop it). I never pluck with my pinky so even when typing it tends to stick out more than my other fingers.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by Etc

What would you suggest to someone who uses a three finger technique (index, middle, and ring)? How about if someone was to use the ring finger only occasionally, for the odd 16th note triplet, every few bars or so?

That is me, three finger occasional, see the link.

http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?f...ogId=519267158

Again it about personal use of the hand and its history, so i cannot really comment just offer advice on how and why it works, but not in individual cases...unless you can come to me. As Jimmy says there should be no pain, or as i call it stress involved in playing.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by Webtroll

I play primarily with my index and middle finger, and sometimes with my ring finger (almost always when playing triplets). Usually my pinky is out, but if I am alternating with a pick in the same song sometimes I'll tuck it in and hold it with my pinky (for a minute at least before I drop it). I never pluck with my pinky so even when typing it tends to stick out more than my other fingers.

Where you put your pick is what i used to do way back when i first got into the body mechanics side, and like you i used to drop it. But i practiced with a 2p coin held in my little finger to practise and when it dropped practise was over. After a few weeks it would stay, the little finger and its components learned to curl and hold with no stress.
This was because the ligaments and the muscles involved learned to be kept to a minimum so not to get involved with the playing. It is a radial side verses ulnar side battle that you train to work better.





The pictures show an up dated version of the hold. Any one can use it in any practise or gig situation. When the coin falls out practise is over, why? Because the hand i so fatigued it can't maintain the function, so it drops the coin. So why practise with a fatigued hand?
With practice the hand gets better at the task.

[MonetBass]

When I'm not playing on the E string, I use my non-plucking fingers to mute the other strings. Just realized I was doing this recently. In other words, it wasn't a technique I consciously developed, it just happened out of necessity. Works well for me.

[Fergie Fulton]

Originally Posted by MonetBass

When I'm not playing on the E string, I use my non-plucking fingers to mute the other strings. Just realized I was doing this recently. In other words, it wasn't a technique I consciously developed, it just happened out of necessity. Works well for me.

As it is with with most i think.