For teachers - Thumb's index/middle finger anchor

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HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

For teachers - Thumb's index/middle ...

hey teachers, and players..
When I play thumb lines, I usually anchor my middle finger.. my teacher anchors his index finger.. some players I see uses IMA fingers..
I dun usually have much problem..
but just wondering if anchoring my index instead of my middle would help with the high e pedal tone thing..
like thumb(bass) then a high e(index)..

Should i change it to index, or keep doing what I'm doing..

cheers

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2011 0:09:25

xirdneH_imiJ

Posts: 1896
Joined: Dec. 2 2006
From: Budapest, now in Southampton

RE: For teachers - Thumb's index/mid... (in reply to HolyEvil)

do what feels natural...i anchor my pinky all the time...all that matters is that you feel comfortable and you get the tone you're looking for...

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2011 0:27:14

John O.

Posts: 1723
Joined: Dec. 16 2005
From: Seeheim-Jugenheim, Germany

RE: For teachers - Thumb's index/mid... (in reply to HolyEvil)

What you wrote about the index on the high e is true. For this reason many guitarists anchor the index on the high e string and the m-a on the guitar body.

If your teacher doesn't correct it and you don't have problems then keep doing what you're doing, but keep it open as a possibility to try if you do have problems.

_____________________________

Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2011 7:02:10

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: For teachers - Thumb's index/mid... (in reply to HolyEvil)

i used to anchor with my middle finger until i saw a video of ricardo and noticed that he anchored with his index.

i tried it out and this was what i found:
-easier/more comfortable to get a perpendicular angle in relation to the strings.
-easier/more natural to use wrist rotation.

both of these things resulted in a brighter, cleaner, faster thumb/alzapua.

it did take awhile to get used to but im glad i experimented.

you may not get the same results but it's worth a try, imo.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2011 15:29:25

Ricardo

Posts: 14861
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC

RE: For teachers - Thumb's index/mid... (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

i used to anchor with my middle finger until i saw a video of ricardo and noticed that he anchored with his index.

? I do????

What video? And also anchor WHERE? And it also depends which pulgar technique exactly, there are many different things.

Ricardo

_____________________________

CD's and transcriptions available here:
www.ricardomarlow.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2011 16:28:38

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: For teachers - Thumb's index/mid... (in reply to Ricardo)

quote:

? I do???? What video? And also anchor WHERE? And it also depends which pulgar technique exactly, there are many different things.

Ricardo

i hope i didnt misread the original post. we're talking about anchoring a finger against the high e when using the thumb right? let me try to find the video.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2011 16:43:47

at_leo_87

Posts: 3055
Joined: Aug. 30 2008
From: Boston, MA, U.S.A

RE: For teachers - Thumb's index/mid... (in reply to HolyEvil)

ok, here's one instance but i remember seeing it another video,

@10 seconds

it looks like your middle finger touches the soundboard occasionally too. but the basic hand position i copied was having the index finger close to the high e with the other fingers sticking further out as opposed to having the middle finger riding up against the high e.

or here at 2:40

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Apr. 13 2011 16:45:29

HolyEvil

Posts: 1240
Joined: Nov. 6 2008
From: Sydney, Australia

RE: For teachers - Thumb's index/mid... (in reply to at_leo_87)

quote:

ORIGINAL: at_leo_87

i hope i didnt misread the original post. we're talking about anchoring a finger against the high e when using the thumb right? let me try to find the video.

yeah.. anchoring the index/middle finger on the high e.. akin to anchoring the thumb while playing most other things..

leo: funny thing is that I use both thumb and wrist for my alzapua..
and i find that because there is less distance to travel with the thumb when I anchor my index, I would have to use more wrist and it'll take more time for the wrist to move back to the start position for the next alzapua and it actually slows me down.
I also use both thumb/wrist for the thumb lines rather than just the wrist. For me if I use thumb alone, it is the most accurate but tires really easily and slower. Wrist = faster, go on forever but tend not to be as accurate. I use a combo of the 2.. didn't really make myself do it.. kinda naturally did it... I think..

ricardo.. do u mind giving your thoughts on this discussion of high 3 anchoring. I thought you and gerardo didn't really anchor your index, you guys mostly use your middle to 'anchor' on the soundboard but that was pretty flexible at time cuz the middle loses the contact at times. Also, the faster the thumb goes, the straighter/stiffer the middle fingers goes was what I thought.
I love watching your videos.. cuz I've got small hands and I always think if this guy can play like that with those hands.. there's hope for me..