What to do with the right hand fingers that aren't holding the pick?

[1987]

Hey guys,

For those of you that play with a pick, what do you with the other fingers that aren't holding it? I'm curious as mine tend to want to curl in towards the palm whereas I see many players whose non-pick fingers are fanned out. Also, what are your thoughts towards anchoring the pinky on the G string? I ask these questions as I find that sometimes when picking the other fingers seem to get in way.

Thanks in advance.

[bggeezer]

I kind of stick them together (not literally), like your holding a glass.

Also I wouldn't anchor your little finger on the G. That would seriously restrict your speed and movement. and your angle of attack

[totallyfrozen]

Originally Posted by 1987

Hey guys,

For those of you that play with a pick, what do you with the other fingers that aren't holding it? I'm curious as mine tend to want to curl in towards the palm whereas I see many players whose non-pick fingers are fanned out. Also, what are your thoughts towards anchoring the pinky on the G string? I ask these questions as I find that sometimes when picking the other fingers seem to get in way.

Thanks in advance.

Well, if you're not using them, just put 'em in your pocket!

Seriously, the important thing is that your hand should stay as relaxed as possible (without dropping the pick). It will take mental focus and physical awareness to develop this but it probaby won't take too long if you practice daily. Often, teachers will discourage you from curling the fingers under because it's easier to get tension in your hand that you're unaware of. The players you see whose fingers are fanned out play that way because their right hands are relaxed. Their fingers aren't stiking out! They are just kind of hanging there loosely. Make sure your hand is relaxed (same goes for the left hand too).

Anchoring on the G string? NO! With guitar and bass, IMO you should never have your hand anchored unless you are doing a palm mute (like on a guitar) then you are resting your palm on the strings by the bridge. Yes, many of us rest our right hand thumb on the E when we play finger style. That's often because we use that thumb to keep the E string muted when it's not being played. The thumb isn't actually anchored there; meaning, there isn't any pressure or weight on it. The right hand floats. The thumb touches the E to give the brain some spacial awareness as to where your hand is (so you can pluck the correct strings without having to look at your right hand) and to mute the E when it's not supposed to ring a note.

The biggest problem with the anchoring your fingers on the G is that:
1) It will cause that hand to flex and increase the tension in it.
Which leads to...
2) It will slow you down.

Relaxed hands are fast hands.

You said the other fingers "get in the way". What do you mean exactly? Are they striking the D and G strings when you don't want them to? Are they messing with your volume and/or tone controls?
How are they "in the way"?

[varunkapahi]

i have seen some people mess with the knobs using the other fingers while picking

[1987]

Originally Posted by totallyfrozen

You said the other fingers "get in the way". What do you mean exactly? Are they striking the D and G strings when you don't want them to? Are they messing with your volume and/or tone controls?
How are they "in the way"?

I guess by 'in the way' I mean that if I leave my fingers in their natural semi-curl, they end up coming into contact with the other strings. Also, if I leave them in their natural position, the pinky is naturally positioned underneath the D or G string. I should also note that by anchoring I mean that the pinky is only very lightly touching the string and maintaining a point of reference.

[Fergie Fulton]

Great question. I have never gave it any thought but it is function verses comfort verses practicality for any technique you care to employ. As why are the fingers of those who have them straight..straight? Look for similarities in what you do in others.
Resting the little finger on the G is not a problem that i am aware in any player with finger style, so i would assume its no different for a pick a player, maybe even desirible in some situations.

All playing aside......and letting brain take over try this.
Balance a coin on its edge at arms length. Now reach out and pick it up. If you picked it up with your fingers tucked in hold the pick like that. If you picked it up with your fingers flat, hold the pick like that. The hand to brain function of the hand and fingers gives us many options to maximise many tasks. One of these options is the way the hand is designed, power or dexterity.
For power or strength we will use the middle, ring and little fingers, for precision and dexterity we use the thumb, index and middle.
These functions use different muscles groups and are related at the hand through the middle finger which takes a bit from either of the muscle groups involved.

If it works for you...use it, if it does not.... change it. But remember the three points to weigh up, function verses comfort verses practicality, don't change because it does not look right.