Question for Fingerstyle Players

[Sandstorm]

When playing fingerstyle, I never anchor the pinky.  Having the forearm rest on the lower bout gently provides a comfortable stability and keeps the right hand mobile.  I got into steel string fingerstyle after playing nylon string and while taking classical lessons so I learned and practiced without anchoring.  That said, I also play OM style seated in classical position...maybe it feels more necessary to anchor playing fingerstyle on the right leg.

[B0WIE]

My guess would be that flat pickers don't develop the steady forearm that is required for fingerstyle so, when transitioning, the sometimes need the pinky as an anchor. I know I did at first. Really took a long time for me to get the hang of no anchor at the hand.

[William2]

I am currently working on my fingerpicking. When I'm not using my ring finger I sometimes find my pinky planted on the e string with my ring finger. After that I try to plant it on the guitar but I think I'd rather have it floating. When I flat pick mandolin or guitar I don't plant anything, I just float.

I found this an interesting comment. I think when I was young and studied classical guitar, I planted on strings also. I never to me recollection planted on the treble strings but would rest the thumb on a bass string when playing on the trebles. For me now, I can play either way, planted or non0planted. I sometimes feel a sense of tension in the pinky finger as it dangles there doing nothing. I also think the acoustic and classical guitar are two different animals. The different tension of the strings on these two instruments has changed my picking and hand position. I find it less necessary to use supported strokes on the acoustic instrument to make the melody line stand out. I think it probably depends on your sound goals and what you play. My primary interest is song standards arranged by good jazz guitarists and some classical also. Toward that end, I want to be able to play full sounding chords with equal voicing on each note. To get there, my looking at my fingers of different lengths and the hand position I need to get them to work together and sound equal and get a good quality of sound. It's still a work in progress and probably always will be. My favorite jazz guitarist Jimmy Bruno said getting there is half the fun LOL. I find some of those Chris Whiteman arrangements using the 5-note plucked chord sound so good and require the pinky. You can leave out a note and it just doesn't sound as good. Or you could strum it, But I prefer the unison plucked sound. I'm looking at the Villa Lobos Etude #4 using repeated chords. It occasionally uses the 5-note plucked chord. Segovia never edited these for fingerings. I always wonder if it was these 5 note chords. It is my understanding Segovia never used the pinky considering it weaker. And when I listen to classical player doing the #4, on these 5 notes chords they break them up hitting the bass quickly followed by the other r4 notes with P,I,M,A, fingers.

[Sandstorm]

I found this an interesting comment. I think when I was young and studied classical guitar, I planted on strings also. I never to me recollection planted on the treble strings but would rest the thumb on a bass string when playing on the trebles. For me now, I can play either way, planted or non0planted. I sometimes feel a sense of tension in the pinky finger as it dangles there doing nothing. I also think the acoustic and classical guitar are two different animals. The different tension of the strings on these two instruments has changed my picking and hand position. I find it less necessary to use supported strokes on the acoustic instrument to make the melody line stand out. I think it probably depends on your sound goals and what you play. My primary interest is song standards arranged by good jazz guitarists and some classical also. Toward that end, I want to be able to play full sounding chords with equal voicing on each note. To get there, my looking at my fingers of different lengths and the hand position I need to get them to work together and sound equal and get a good quality of sound. It's still a work in progress and probably always will be. My favorite jazz guitarist Jimmy Bruno said getting there is half the fun LOL. I find some of those Chris Whiteman arrangements using the 5-note plucked chord sound so good and require the pinky. You can leave out a note and it just doesn't sound as good. Or you could strum it, But I prefer the unison plucked sound. I'm looking at the Villa Lobos Etude #4 using repeated chords. It occasionally uses the 5-note plucked chord. Segovia never edited these for fingerings. I always wonder if it was these 5 note chords. It is my understanding Segovia never used the pinky considering it weaker. And when I listen to classical player doing the #4, on these 5 notes chords they break them up hitting the bass quickly followed by the other r4 notes with P,I,M,A, fingers.

Your post reminded me what I meant to say, I also plant my thumb on a bass string that provides some stability as well.