Pinky on picking hand: Tucked or extended?

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 11 Nov 2010 6:36 am

I've had this discussion with a few folks on my blog about the pinky and I was wondering if anyone would care to offer their thoughts on this.

My personal preference is to tuck the pinky in. I think I may extend the pinky once in a while for specific things, but 98% of the time it's curled under.

Thoughts?

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 11 Nov 2010 7:47 am

Seems to be almost a subconscious thing. Whatever feels right.

Oh, yeah, extended ….

Ben Jones · Post by **Ben Jones** » 11 Nov 2010 7:54 am

tucked.... no wait! extended!

Bob Hickish · Post by **Bob Hickish** » 11 Nov 2010 8:17 am

Mike
I ask the same question to Mr. Anderson when he had a hot topic going - he said he has seen it work both ways , so its what ever works for you -- I'm a tucker

Ben Lawson · Post by **Ben Lawson** » 11 Nov 2010 8:43 am

Yes. I do both. It depends on things that I'm not even aware of. Now that this has come up I'll probably pay attention to where my pinky is and miss what I was trying to pick.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 11 Nov 2010 8:52 am

Jerry Garcia, extended.

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 11 Nov 2010 8:57 am

I don't know, Barry--his pinky looks tucked to me.

Jerry Byrd = tucked
Jimmy Day = curled but not tucked
Buddy Emmons = curled but not tucked

John Billings · Post by **John Billings** » 11 Nov 2010 9:03 am

Tucked. Use it for blocking and harmonics.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 11 Nov 2010 10:36 am

Jerry Byrd = tucked
Jimmy Day = curled but not tucked
Buddy Emmons = curled but not tucked

I've seen pictures where E and Day were either tucked or extended. I doubt they were thinking about it.

Twayn Williams · Post by **Twayn Williams** » 11 Nov 2010 10:42 am

Since I mainly pick block, extended. It's more manly

Mike Neer · Post by **Mike Neer** » 11 Nov 2010 10:48 am

Twayn Williams wrote:Since I mainly pick block, extended. It's more manly

Indubitably!

I pick block almost exclusively (except when I don't) but the pinky is tucked.

Joachim Kettner · Post by **Joachim Kettner** » 11 Nov 2010 11:59 am

I couldn't play anything with an extended little finger. That's why I keep it folded in. When I tried to extend it, it always sneaked under the first string. I somehow admire players that can stretch the pinky. Isn't that the best way to palm- block?

Stephen Gregory · Post by **Stephen Gregory** » 11 Nov 2010 12:19 pm

Ck. out Paul Franklin at about 2:05 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOZ0BY_VoWA and at about 00:12 here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2MTQeSc ... re=related and here pinky clearly NOT extended: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnCMFecn ... re=related

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 11 Nov 2010 12:46 pm

He didn't have an absolute preference but he said I was unusual in that I use 3 fingers and thumb and still extend my pinky. Most don't.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 11 Nov 2010 1:46 pm

Doug Jernigan and his little pinky!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV6HUEkXSh8

If I had to pick that way, I would quit pikun!

But in his hand he drives me crazy. TRULY one of THE all time greatests ever!

May Jesus richly bless him and the gifts of this incredible player and true brother in Christ,

c.

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 11 Nov 2010 1:52 pm

oh jeezuz carl!
mine just kinda hangs around limply.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 11 Nov 2010 1:53 pm

JayDee Maness is JUST the opposite!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAENUcHceZ4

And he drives me bananas! What a sound, what pickun!

May Jesus richly bless him and his incredible talents also, and that goes for each of you!

c.

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 11 Nov 2010 1:59 pm

Here's my humble take on it at Steel Guitar Insanity

Bill Hankey · Post by **Bill Hankey** » 11 Nov 2010 3:31 pm

I'm actually amazed that this many accomplished players haven't suggested using the pinky for picking in wide grip chords. Perhaps they do. I see no reference to doing so in their comments.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 11 Nov 2010 3:49 pm

I'm with you Barry.

Caption?

"Here I think I found something that fell out of your pocket."

or..

"Tuck This..."

EJL

Barry Hyman · Post by **Barry Hyman** » 11 Nov 2010 5:56 pm

I have a big callous on the last knuckle of my pinky where it rides the strings of my pedal steel, tucked under, helping to mute and getting abraded in the process. But then I untuck it to grip five strings at once maybe once every minute or two...

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 11 Nov 2010 7:44 pm

Extended. Thumbpick + 3 fingerpicks, my technique is heavily influenced by the fact that I play guitar (flatpick + middle/ring fingers) and banjo with the pinky used as an anchor, and hence tends to hang out naturally. I find it very useful for muting upper strings.

Carl, thank you for that clip of Doug Jernigan, whose technique is what I believe the Good Lord intended for me to aspire to. The level of control he exhibits is awe-inspiring, and has been since the first time I heard him on a JD Crowe record 30+ years ago, long before I ever thought about playing pedal steel.

C Dixon · Post by **C Dixon** » 11 Nov 2010 7:47 pm

I hear you Dave. All I can say brother is: AMEN!

Cal Sharp · Post by **Cal Sharp** » 11 Nov 2010 10:47 pm

When I anchor my pinky to the first string I'm using it as a reference point, and I don't even have to look at my right hand. If I tuck it under my hand, making a fist, I feel like my hand is just free-floating in space and I can't feel where the strings are.

The Steel Guitar Forum

Pinky on picking hand: Tucked or extended?

Pinky on picking hand: Tucked or extended?

I also talked to Reece