The Steel Guitar Forum

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?

Seems to be almost a subconscious thing. Whatever feels right.
Oh, yeah, extended ….

tucked.... no wait! extended!

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

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.

Jerry Garcia, extended.

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

Tucked. Use it for blocking and harmonics.

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.

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

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.

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?

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

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.

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.

oh jeezuz carl!
mine just kinda hangs around limply.

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.

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

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.

I'm with you Barry.

Caption?

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

or..

"Tuck This..."


EJL

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...

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.

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.