Anchoring the pinky - Do you? - GuitarTalk Community

Anchoring the pinky - Do you?

Norman86

So as the topic states, do you anchor your pinky? I have been told that its bad technique to do so?

but then i see some of my favourite players do it and i think, well, it cant be that bad then?!

Personally, i feel more comfortable anchoring the pinky if not strumming :-[

(old forum) Poll Results: Do you anchor your pinky to the guitar? Explain why?

Yes: 4
No: 9
Sometimes: 18

Stoffeltoo

It depends
Pinky gets in the way on the strat then volume goes down or up at the most awkward of times :-[
On acoustic again it depends on the style I am playing. Finger style no, flat picking -yes

AlanRatcliffe

Fingerpicking, all of the time - on the bridge or on the bridge pickup. Strumming, depending on what I am doing, I often anchor my thumb on the neck or the neck pickup.

No, it's not strictly speaking, correct technique, but it works for me.

[deleted]

Never for classical, and sometimes for electric (when not strumming). My hand is in a completely different position on an electric, so I doubt the validity of classical technique applying to electric.

Sebber

Finger-picking: sometimes, used to all of the time but I found that as I got better at it it was easier to rest the heel of my hand on the bridge. I do anchor my pinky still if I'm doing fast finger picking, but normally only when its on the B and high E strings. Strumming: never, heel of my picking hand on the bridge all the way.

BMU

Yes.

Whatever works for you. If you're worrying about this, you're wasting time you could've spent practicing.

chris77

When I started out I did it ALL the time, even when strumming with my thumb. :-[

Nowadays only when I'm fingerpicking arpeggios on an acoustic. Hey, if it works, work it...

studmissile

Use to, took me about month to get out that habit, I started working that pinky (grew the nail a tad) now my pinky is a key picker, I actually use it create decent snaps al la Pete Anderson.

I suppose it's not important, but I did find that starting to use it was quite inspiring and fun, it just added new dimension into my playing. You might be surprised how useful it is...

schizo

I like the "look" of it.

Would have liked to be able to switch anchor and non according to style of music, but i never learnt to anchor and tried to teach myself to anchor the pinky, but with no luck. Guess some habits r set in stone ? Hasnt limited playing as of yet though

Josh-Hayes

I tend to mostly anchor with my forearm while doing strumming stuff. My pinky often finds itself stuck just below the strings during solo/lead work and fingerpicking.

Norman86

Is it even possible to anchor while strumming ???

Anyways, i just feel more sure when fingerpicking to do it..
So i suppose its really up to each individual!

Thanks though!

Squonk

Norman86 wrote: Is it even possible to anchor while strumming ???

Anyways, i just feel more sure when fingerpicking to do it..
So i suppose its really up to each individual!

Thanks though!

Maybe we should call it "resting" the pinky, Anchoring sounds a bit mechanical and permanent ?
And I do it as well!