I'm new to the mandolin and have a question I hope someone can shed some light on. I've got two different "beginner" books and they both have different opinions on how to hold the pick. One says that you should rest the wrist on the bridge and touch your pinky finger to the pick guard when playing and the other book says to hold the pick like you would hold it for a guitar, and that doing what the other book says to do can cause "technical issues" and should be avoided.
Which is right, or is it a matter of "personal preference"? :)
Arnold
Which is right, or is it a matter of "personal preference"? :)
Arnold
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Re: Pinky out or in?
Thu, September 20, 2007 - 10:32 PMThe “technical issues” may refer to changing the acoustics by damping the top. That’s pretty minimal for a mandolin, IMHO. Whether you want to do so or not is your decision. I can’t tell a difference with my pinky on or off it. The other “technical issue” might have something to do with picking speed, but if you’re a beginner this isn’t an issue and won’t be for some time.
I don’t think resting on the bridge of any floating bridge instrument is a good idea. You might shift the bridge during play, or worse yet you might press too hard on it and damage the top. Mandolins don’t have soundposts (unlike e.g. the violin family) so you’re relying on the bracing to soak up any sudden changes in pressure. And having the bridge shift in the middle of play is not only annoying and embarassing (you go suddenly out of tune for example), it can also stretch or even snap your strings, and might even damage the finish on the top. So I don’t recommend putting any pressure at all on the bridge except for that exerted by the strings.
As for how you hold your pick, there’s no one “right” way. Just do what works right now and you can change it later when you have a reason and more feel for what you’re doing.
In the immortal words of somebody or other, “Just play!” -
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Unsu...
Re: Pinky out or in?
Fri, September 21, 2007 - 6:23 AMThat's what I kinda figured. Thanks for the advice! :)
Arnold -
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Re: Pinky out or in?
Fri, September 21, 2007 - 7:46 PMThere are certain muting effects that you can get with your right palm on the bridge, but they don't require a lot of pressure downward so it should be no problem in terms of the risks mentioned above. I know people coming from a guitar background are more likely to lay their hand on the bridge anyway.
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Unsu...
Re: Pinky out or in?
Sun, September 23, 2007 - 6:05 AMWell, I got to thinking about it. Since you would be putting your pinky on the pickguard (assuming the mandolin has one) and the pickguard is usually AWAY from the main body of the instrument...I don't see a problem with placing your pinky there to "help" with playing.
Does that sound right to anyone else...or is it just me?
Arnold -
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Re: Pinky out or in?
Sun, October 21, 2007 - 9:51 AMIt might help in maintaining position but it would also potentially limit your motion and thus impact tone. I'd go with whatever feels right for you with respect to the extent to which you can play and sound as close to your own ideal as possible.
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