fingerpicking again

Ok, before I get started I have been anchoring my right palm near the bridge, I have the claw going in my right hand but not sure if my palm should be anchored or floating over the sound hole. I know some folk use their picky to anchor but I dont want to start out this way. I want to get it right from the beginning so I need some feedback here. I went to goggle and other sites and I am hoping to get this right hand position cleared up, Thanks for listening, pete

It should be floating. Anchoring limits your mobility when finger picking certain things.

Also, keep in mind that over the sound hole is not the only place you can play. Yes, it is the "normal position" where you should be at, but experiment and move around and you'll see you get a different tone wherever you play. I play classical and flamenco guitar. In classical, you want to be over the sound hole because it gives it a fuller sound with more sustain. In flamenco, you traditionally play closer to the bridge because you get a brighter sound and less sustain, which is the sound you want for that type of music. If you are doing a fast alternate picking (er...fingering I guess) run, sustain can make the notes ring out too much and blend together. Play that same run closer to the bridge and your notes will be a lot tighter sounding. Experiment with the sounds and know what they give you. Then it will be as easy as moving your hand back and forth a few inches to get a completely different tone and mood for your music.

You're doing the smart thing by asking questions to make sure you are starting the right way. If you pick up a certain habit from the start and learn with it, it's going to be tough breaking out of that. On that note, I'm sure you know there isn't always a definite exact way you MUST play something, but there are general rules to start learning on. Once you know how you SHOULD play it, you can tweak it to what feels more comfortable.

Thanks Hunter, you guys who do the finger picking are the real guitar players. I have to find a teacher that teaches near me so I can get off on the right foot. I am also looking for a good beginners book, I just ordered Noans guitar player one book form Amazon. I have been leaning lots from you tube and the likes of this site. I am tempted to join for a while to see if that will help me get off the right way. The right hand is important in finger picking and I want to get that right if I am going to start drilling this info. I see Lisa has her fingers anchored when she is playing which is one of the free lessons, I was told not to do that. if she was not doing that I would take a few lessons from her for a month or so. Any way after playing 40 years with a pick I feel like a beginner again and in all reality thats what you are when you make the switch, Thanks for your advice, any books you can suggest thats starts from the very beginning please let me know, Thanks Pete

Noan? If you mean Noad, as in Frederick Noad, then I'd definitely recommend it. I'm going through his Solo Guitar Playing book right now actually. One of the all time standards as far as books in that subject go.

As far as anchoring, I looked at Lisa's "Getting Started: The Four-Step Pattern" free lesson if that's the one you're talking about. Ya she says to anchor to help orient yourself, which it does help with. Depends on what you're doing since like I mentioned there is no 1 correct way to do things. If you know you are only going to be playing with your thumb and first 2 fingers like the exercise she gave in that video, then sure, you can use the fingers you aren't using to anchor down. When you start getting into more complex pieces where you can be using any finger, anchoring will just get in the way and you'll want to be in a more "free" position for your fingers to move around. You'll see this when you start using your ring finger. Pinky isn't used as much depending on what style of music you are playing, but it has it's role. By the way, what style of music are you placing? :p

Getting a teacher in the beginning stages helps a ton since they can immediately correct any mistakes you are making. Problem is if you get a teacher that teaches you "wrong", so find a good one. After playing metal on my electric for 13 years, I picked up classical and flamenco about a year and a half ago and it was like going back to the 5th grade when I first picked up a guitar! Right hand technique is hard stuff. The best advice I can give is to (obviously) practice, but consistency is what is going to get you somewhere. I'm sure you already know this, but it's twice as important when you learn something new at this point. If you skip practice for 2-3+ days a week, a few months can fly by and you realize you aren't progressing much.

I actually just realized that I don't see any classical guitar lessons on the site. There is a "classical" section, but the guy is using an electric guitar. Anyone know if there are any lessons where the instructor teaches for a nylon string guitar?

I dont know what kind of music I am after with finger picking, probably classic rock pieces, Blackbird etc. etc. I just want to expand my playing as I am really a blues player, thats my first love when I play. I just fool around with riffs and such. Just trying to keep going on the learning to help keep my mind sharp. I started playing in 1963, everyone wanted to be a Beatle then but I was more into the Stones, Doors, Hendrix, Cream. I would say the sound of finger picking really soothes me, if that makes any sense, Thanks for your help and yes that is the book I have on order with the CD. I really dont know where I am going with my playing. I was always in different bands and now I just want to play for me. Again Thanks for listening, Pete

Lots of cool stuff in classic rock. Mark Knopfler is the first one for me that comes to mind. I'd give almost anything to play like that guy. There is a song in the Noad book that reminds me of Blackbird. Wiki says that Blackbird was inspired by Bach's Bourrée in E. The song in the book is called Andantino by Ferdinando Carulli. It's only the first 2 bars that reminds me of Blackbird though. You'll see when you get to it.

Originally Posted by: hunter1801Lots of cool stuff in classic rock. Mark Knopfler is the first one for me that comes to mind. I'd give almost anything to play like that guy. There is a song in the Noad book that reminds me of Blackbird. Wiki says that Blackbird was inspired by Bach's Bourrée in E. The song in the book is called Andantino by Ferdinando Carulli. It's only the first 2 bars that reminds me of Blackbird though. You'll see when you get to it.

We got to see Mark at a local fair a couple of years ago, he is still holding his own

I will never achieve that level of playing as you mentioned Mark, What about Sonny Landreth.This guy can play behind the slide, just unbelievable. Eric in this video is looking at him like, Where am I and where did this guy come from When I hear him play I want to back all my stuff up and put it away. Have you heard of him, not many know of him. I can send you a link if you lick, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A125h-WwmLY I am lucky to still have my hands moving as I have Rheumatoid Arthritis since 1982, Actually its induced with Hep C. which I took home from Vietnam. Like I said I love to play guitar and I know my limits but I have fun now and when I played out it seemed to become a job for me if you can understand that. I learn what I can and try not to get frustrated but I still do and when that happens I go onto a different piece and then come back to it a different day,Take care, pete,