palm blocking

Spencer Cullum · Post by **Spencer Cullum** » 1 Aug 2008 9:55 am

about two days ago i went back to my old winnie winston steel gtr book to to give it scroll over and learn some dittys (what a great book)

when i started on pedal steel i went from palm blocking to pick blocking and have really just stuck with pick blocking

but the sound of palm blocking started to interested me recently (i also dusted of my sweetheart of the rodeo LP)

now im getting back into palm blocking it aches my arm after about 10 mins of play (or if i run through a song), i play about 2 hours a day (looking for work you see)

is that poor technique or are the muscles building up in my arm?

any advice?

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 1 Aug 2008 10:07 am

Spencer,I'm not sure what is right or wrong,I do a combination of both.Years ago I had a steel guitar built with a second pickup,The second pickup got in the way of my picks so I figured out a way to block with my picks out of necessity,My friend Josh Dubin told me that was the same way Paul Franklin picked? I don't know about that it's what worked for me at the time.I've been playing a single pickup guitar for a long time but still mix the two techniques I had a friend of mine look at the way I hold my right hand and just shake his head.Stu

Spencer Cullum · Post by **Spencer Cullum** » 1 Aug 2008 10:13 am

cheers stu - i suppose if it sounds good thats what it boils down to

i also cant use double neck steel guitars as i get a shot of pain through my arm similar to RSI

someone put it down to me being 6'4 but i dont know why i get it when i play a D10

Spencer Cullum · Post by **Spencer Cullum** » 1 Aug 2008 10:14 am

cheers stu - i suppose if it sounds good thats what it boils down to

i also cant use double neck steel guitars as i get a shot of pain through my arm similar to RSI

someone put it down to me being 6'4 but i dont know why i get it when i play a D10

Darren James · Post by **Darren James** » 1 Aug 2008 10:20 am

I can't seem to make my ring and pinky fingers go straight so that palm blocking is easier. They want to curl up under my hand.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 1 Aug 2008 10:24 am

Sounds like you've got your arm tight, tensed-up, and being held up off the steel/strings. Relax...and only hold up your arm/wrist when absolutely necessary. (It will also help if you alternate the two blocking techniques.)

Watch a video of Lloyd Green playing, and notice how he "rests" between each phrase/chord.

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

Richard Marko · Post by **Richard Marko** » 1 Aug 2008 10:46 am

I bought a couple of CD's from Larry Behm and he covers using the ring finger as the source to block strings.
If it is natural for your ring an pinky to be bent under maybe this is the way to go.
Look up Larry Behm and send him a note on this and how he uses it.

I'm a palm blocker also and tried the ring block but am having a hard time with it.

I always want to get faster so I'm searching for the right or best technique also.
Most from what I hear is the combination of palm and pick blocking which I need to work on also.

Greg Cutshaw · Post by **Greg Cutshaw** » 1 Aug 2008 11:19 am

I use both all the time. I palm block a lot on C6th especially in places where people swear I am gutting with the volume pedal instead. To get all the old and new sounds you need all types of blocking. I can play some runs MUCH faster with pick blocking. Others need palm blocking to get the right sound. I played a few identical riffs on my web site with both types of blocking:

Identical riffs with different blocking

Palm Blocking Primer

Pick Blocking Primer

Greg

Richard Sinkler · Post by **Richard Sinkler** » 1 Aug 2008 11:30 am

Don't forget about the blocking techniques using your bar hand.

Lifting the bar up on it's nose (only a slight tilt is required) and have it just touching the string you are picking. Your fingers will block the note as you move to another string.

With the bar flat, playing a desending run from top to bottom strings, pull bar back toward you so the tip is on the highest string you are picking. As you pull the bar back, your middle finger (which most player have extending past the nose of the bar flat on the strings) will mute the upper string you just pulled off of.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 1 Aug 2008 3:16 pm

Donny,Yes!I got to watch Lloyd Greene at the 2000 convention in St. Louis.I sat in the front row and he confirmed a few things that I was guessing at,he's like a tennis player until the moment of impact he's got a relaxed grip on the racquet grip then pow! and then he's relaxed again.he also does this thing between his thumb and third finger that I was doing by accident...I was guessing at,and sure enough that's how he got those powerful harmony parts...It was like his thumb played cello parts,and his third finger was the violin.I think that it's good to be loose until it's crunch time,That's just my observation.Stu

Ron ! · Post by **Ron !** » 1 Aug 2008 5:08 pm

I can't seem to make my ring and pinky fingers go straight so that palm blocking is easier. They want to curl up under my hand.

I play just like you.My ring finger and pink curl up under my hand and it never effected my sound in any kind.When I pay attention to my blocking hand I can keep the fingers straight but I do what is most comfortable for me and that is curl them up.
I think that every player has his/her own style of palm blocking.

Ron

Roger Edgington · Post by **Roger Edgington** » 1 Aug 2008 5:43 pm

I tightly curl my fingers and palm block almost all of the time. I can't play any other way. My hands are small and my fingers are short. I don't know if that makes a difference. I've watched many great players both ways with excellent results. Seems to be a personal thing. Then there are guys like Maurice and others that use three finger picks. I can't do it. Maybe if I played a 12 string I would devote more time for the 3rd pick?

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 1 Aug 2008 6:56 pm

There are very few "absolutes". You don't have to keep your little and/or ring fingers straight, You don't have to use your ring finger for blocking, you don't have to use this or that, you don't have to use 3 picks, etc., etc. Try it the suggested way, but be ready to do something else if it's more comfortable or just plain works better for you.

Some people have differing physiologies, and will often have shun recommendations and find out what works best for them.

Jonathan Shacklock · Post by **Jonathan Shacklock** » 2 Aug 2008 7:26 am

Hi Spencer, I think a little bit of aching is natural as you build up the muscles. Don't push it though. Try to make sure your seat is high enough so that your forearm is parallel to the floor and that your right elbow is tucked fairly close in to your side.

The 'west coast' exercises on pages 50 and 51 of Winnie and Bill's book are what cracked it for me. Also, talking of Sweatheart, if you can nail Lloyd's little palm blocking lick at the end of the steel break in 100 Years From Now, you can palm block anything. Start it slow and build it up with a metronome a little each day. I tabbed the whole thing out here.

Have fun!

Spencer Cullum · Post by **Spencer Cullum** » 2 Aug 2008 5:09 pm

thanks Jonathan - thats great! thats given me something to do

its nashville to bakersville thats the tough one- thats abit of a work out!

Bryan Daste · Post by **Bryan Daste** » 2 Aug 2008 10:24 pm

Larry Behm showed me the "ring finger under" technique a while back, and it has served me well. It did take some time to get used to, but now I find myself using it when changing channels with the remote

. As with any technique, give yourself time to adapt to it and stay relaxed. You can always change your methods later on down the road if you don't like it.