The Steel Guitar Forum

Herb, in an earlier post you wrote: "I often block the just-played note with either the ring finger or thumb of the left hand, with the rear end of the bar raised just slightly. This is an old Hawaiian technique that John Ely showed me years ago".

Would you elaborate on this technique a little more? Thanks.

BTW I'm still working on excercises John Ely gave me. He's a great steel player and a nice guy.

Andy
The technique is typically used when going from the lower strings to the higher strings. The bar is at a 30 to 45 degree angle to the strings, with the tip of the bar touching only the string you want to fret. As you move the bar over the strings laterally, your ring finger and pinky will be resting on the strings behind the bar. These are the fingers used to block the notes. I can do this maneuver with my right hand held straight up in the air, so there's no palm blocking whatsoever involved.

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Texas Steel Guitar Association

Thanks, Herb! I get it and in fact, I use this method most of the time along with palm blocking or ring finger under. My bar is almost never flat for single string work. My central nervous system can't figure out pick blocking for some reason. I was had hoped there was a "secret Hawaiian blocking trick" that had eluded me.