Right Hand Position

Mike Moffitt · Post by **Mike Moffitt** » 23 Oct 2012 5:15 am

I have been trying for months to get my right hand to operate in the way most everyone says is the "Right" position. But for the life of me no matter how long I practice this way it just does not feel one bit comfortable,and I can't obtain any real speed.I also have trouble getting the basic string combos.
However when I play with the palm of my hand resting across the strings,in a relaxed position things work much better,and my playing is much better ,and cleaner.
I am just wondering if anyone else here on the forum has had this same problem,and if so how they might have fixed it,or if maybe as an old steeler I knew back in the late 60's told me,"What works is what works" Any opinions???

Michael Douchette · Post by **Michael Douchette** » 23 Oct 2012 5:30 am

What works for you is what works.

My hand... I learned a long time ago that if I have a circle in the thumb/finger area, and my other two (ring and pinky) tucked under... that's what works for me.

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 23 Oct 2012 11:16 am

My pinky does not stretch out, nor does my third finger curl under as much of the idealized pictures show, but I have an alright thing going. I do find that I have to remind my elbow to come in a little bit. Sometimes I got a chicken wing flapping out there, but when I tuck it back in a bit more, I'm more squared up, my shoulder level and my palm blocking is much cleaner, my attack a little more capable. We each got our things, and when they start to sound good, that'll be our style.

Jack Aldrich · Post by **Jack Aldrich** » 23 Oct 2012 1:35 pm

For years I played with my pinkie parallel to the frets. Alan Akaka showed me that I was picking with the edge of the thumbpick which makes the steel sound thinner and slows rapid picking. I now keep my right hand at 45 deg from the frets, moving the fingerpicks so they make maximum contact with the strings. This took a while, but now I find that, not only has my tone improved (via Alan from Jerry Byrd), but I'm picking faster, too. - Jack

Rick Contino · Post by **Rick Contino** » 23 Oct 2012 1:51 pm

For me, practicing falls into two categories: "fun" practice where I play along with records, and "grueling" practice where I painstakingly try to change old habits. I suggest doing a bit of both to keep advancing but also keep your love of the instrument alive. If you really want to make progress just try to keep to a regular half-hour per day at that one technique and I'm sure after at least a couple weeks you'll see a big difference.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 23 Oct 2012 2:36 pm

Consider this:

http://youtu.be/xZteC9gapEI

Daniel Policarpo · Post by **Daniel Policarpo** » 23 Oct 2012 3:56 pm

Herb Steiner sent me a great PM several weeks ago, the reuslts of which advocate exactly the things you describe in your video, Paul. For me, pulling my elbow in helps me maintain stability, which helps with my accuracy and vertical movement, but I like how you advise Carter's positioning and the likely key to that result. Really excellent video.

I will lay waaste to your enemies for that Emmons. what a beauty.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 23 Oct 2012 4:05 pm

Daniel: If you saw the underside of my Emmons you wouldn't want it. There's tons of holes from me moving knee levers. I'll just have to play til I die, cause I probably couldn't sell it even if I want to, which I don't.

Thanks for the comments regarding the video.

Wally Moyers · Post by **Wally Moyers** » 23 Oct 2012 4:47 pm

I ask Buddy Emmons about right hand technic one time. He said if you have any sense you'll figure it out! It surprised me at first but the more I thought about it, I knew he was right... (:

Kevin Hatton · Post by **Kevin Hatton** » 23 Oct 2012 4:53 pm

Watch the Paul Sutherland video above. It says it all and is masterful. Great job Paul.

Jr. Watts · Post by **Jr. Watts** » 23 Oct 2012 7:47 pm

If I can figure out the Jeff Newman right hahd alpha couse I will put some suggestions on here about the way he showes you how to do it.Jr. Watts

Chris Schlotzhauer · Post by **Chris Schlotzhauer** » 24 Oct 2012 7:31 am

Paul Sutherland wrote:Consider this:

http://youtu.be/xZteC9gapEI

What is the Gary Carpenter video you refer to?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 24 Oct 2012 7:42 am

If anyone tells you...'You gotta do it this way", turn around and walk away. We're not all made the same, we don't all like the same things or players, and we're not all copycats. I don't go along with the angles, shapes, and positions some players suggest ("Your belly button must be here, and your knuckle must be here..."). I go for comfort and relaxation because I want playing to be enjoyable and fun, and not like a strenuous exercise routine.

Stan Paxton · Post by **Stan Paxton** » 24 Oct 2012 7:59 am

I need the exercise routine now, to try to keep my belly button out of the way LOL

Brett Day · Post by **Brett Day** » 24 Oct 2012 10:50 am

On Tim McCasland's Pedal Steel Guitar video, Tim covers right hand technique. He says you kinda gotta experiment and do what works best for you. He also says there is no right or wrong way, you just have to find what's comfortable and works best for you. All of us steel players have different techniques-sometimes I might keep ring and little fingers tucked in, but sometimes I play with them extended out.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 24 Oct 2012 10:54 am

Chris: I goofed repeatedly during the video. His name is Gary Carter, NOT Gary Carpenter. His video is on YouTube; it's entitled Lighthouse Tale. Really great playing!!

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 26 Oct 2012 2:27 pm

It's imprtant how you "address" the guitar,,,,, where you sit. My elbow rests against my side, my arm is straight, and very relaxed. I wear my picks on an angle, and I "palm" block and pick block as needed.
Sorry for the fuzzy pic!

Rick Contino · Post by **Rick Contino** » 26 Oct 2012 4:02 pm

John, is that a double sided pick on your index finger?

Wally Moyers · Post by **Wally Moyers** » 26 Oct 2012 6:53 pm

In the late 70s and early 80s Jeff Newman had a monthly article in Guitar Player magazine.. One month he had a great article about right hand technic. It really helped me figure it out... I remember him explaining two things. One was that the crease line across your palm and below your little finger should be at the highest string you are playing. The other was that your thumb and first finger should look like a backwards C and to not play flat handed.. From some Paul Franklin tapes of that time I remember Paul saying to always pick hard to build up your hand strength... These things as well as some great exercises got me on the right track...

Frank Montmarquet · Post by **Frank Montmarquet** » 26 Oct 2012 6:58 pm

Chris, the Gary Carter video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TI56hQOsmos

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 27 Oct 2012 10:56 am

Rick,
Yes, it is double-sided. Made it myself. Always was doing double duty on the bandstand. Steel and Tele. Putting picks on, and taking them off got to be a pita. I can put my short-bladed thumbpick against the index pick, and use the double-sided pick just like a flat pick. Allows seamless changes between the two styles on six-string, and some interesting strums on steel. Works great!

John Scanlon · Post by **John Scanlon** » 31 Oct 2012 12:09 pm

Mike Moffitt wrote:I have been trying for months to get my right hand to operate in the way most everyone says is the "Right" position. But for the life of me no matter how long I practice this way it just does not feel one bit comfortable,and I can't obtain any real speed.I also have trouble getting the basic string combos.
However when I play with the palm of my hand resting across the strings,in a relaxed position things work much better,and my playing is much better ,and cleaner.

I'm surely not as experienced as others on here, but I learned that the "right" way was indeed the relaxed-position way. My playing and blocking got much better once I learned to relax. Jeff teaches this in Right Hand Alpha, and it certainly makes the most sense for many reasons, including the economy of motion. Ask any classical guitar guys (I realize steel and classical guitar are worlds apart though, but those guys are all hard-core on technique) and I think they'd agree on the economy of motion bit, for whatever that's worth.

Eugene Cole · Post by **Eugene Cole** » 31 Oct 2012 5:48 pm

I do not know what you think you should be doing but I had someone take a few pictures at different angles while I played.

Perhaps folks can comment on these hand positions.

This works for me.

Jr. Watts · Post by **Jr. Watts** » 3 Nov 2012 4:34 pm

After studying Jeff Newman's Right Hand Alpha, I realize that the arthritis in my hands will not let me utilize some of his techniques. I am trying to use what is the most comfortable for me while using his technique as much as possible. Great to get old.

Bill Miller · Post by **Bill Miller** » 3 Nov 2012 5:33 pm

If anyone tells you...'You gotta do it this way", turn around and walk away. We're not all made the same

As usual Donny, you summed it up neatly. Just recently I read something on a thread here about your right hand needing to be held perpendicular to the strings as though delivering a karate chop. Out of curiosity I tried that a bit later and found playing in that position to be a physical impossibility. People have varying finger and thumb lengths, varying ranges of articulation in their wrists etc. Just because some instructor plays well doesn't mean their way of doing things is the only way. If they're too pushy about it maybe they need the karate chop.

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Right Hand Position

Right Hand Position

Re: Right Hand Position

I had someone take pictures while I played

right hand position