The Steel Guitar Forum

Way back in the 80's when I started to learn to play the faster bluegrass licks, I developed a bad habit of using my thumb that holds the bar to block the strings. I have since learned to use the palm of my hand and to pick block but I always catch myself still using my bar thumb. Back when I learned there was noone around to teach right from wrong so I did what came natural. I was always curious is thumb blocking something only I do or are there other guys that do it too. I don't think I'll ever completely stop doing that.

If an 8-year player could offer advice to a 40-year player, I'd say you need to look at it in the broader context. Does it actually diminish your playing in some way, or have you adapted to make it work fine?

More than once I have watched instruction video, or read the Winston book, and seen very specific description of how something should be done. I then watch a video with one of the top-shelf big name legends doing it "wrong".

Remember the ultimate goal is the sound you are seeking, not the road you take to get it.

If it works don't fix it

Blocking the string is important.
What you use isn't.

I remember what Joe Wright said, that he didn't know he was doing things wrong until he started reading the forum.

Pretty much what everyone has said here - Bad habits are the ones that keep you from playing the way you want to play.

“Way back in the 80’s” there was a band called The Lawyers that played around the SF Bay Area. The steel player’s bar hand thumb bounced up and down all the time. He was quite a good player, so that method of blocking didn’t seem to slow him down any. I have never seen anyone play like that since.

I block with the bar thumb all the time, and for years I didn't even realize I was doing it. For some reason I just noticed it one day. I've always wondered how that happened?? What part of your brain takes care of that stuff? Some co-processor running in the background? The human brain is pretty amazing..

I predominantly pick block, and once in a while I palm block, although I'm much more adept with pick blocking for sure. I noticed my bar thumb tends to 'follow' the picked string when I'm playing across the neck, low to high strings. It sort of creeps out and blocks as my right hand (and usually bar hand) move across the strings. That doesn't seem like such a bad thing to me.. it's already in the right spot???

I knew a player in the mid 70's, East Bay area of California, Joe Shelby, who did all his blocking with left thumb. He admitted it wasn't very efficient, but was something he'd taught himself, so there it is.

Saw a recent clip on YouTube of Gary Carter reaching out quite far with left thumb to kill a low string note to clear it out of the way of other voicings he was playing.

I conclude it's one more tool to use, but I would not recommend it as a main way to block.

I would agree. When blocking with my thumb even though I can block every note i play, it is not as "neat and clean" as using my palm or pick blocking.. Anyway at least I know I'm not alone

I realize I do it occasionally but only on the dobro for some reason. I use all three really pick/palm/thumb.