Anchoring Pinkie

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Beginner Bluegrass banjo players TWO years in

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Beginners bluegrass banjo players pickin around 2 years ! All Welcome

31 Members, Created 1/29/2011 -

Administrators: Pablo9364 (owner) , dgill , Jim T , jimh269b , rickshunter1

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From 501jaycash on 3/15/2011 8:11:12 AM

I've been making a conscious effort to anchor my pinkie, what a difference in clarity and speed.

5 Comments
	yopasjim says: 3/15/2011 9:21:59 AM Good reminder! Thanks!
	picKen says: 3/19/2011 1:57:06 AM I'm having a little problem getting my pinky to stay down now. My ring finger plants now and my pinky floats around. I think I may be starting a bad habit so I'm gonna go back taping my pinky to my ring finger again. Simple stuff seems to make a big difference.
	Pablo9364 says: 3/20/2011 1:41:39 PM Once Ive been practising for a while I try changing my hand position and anchor position a few times to try out new positions. I do notice the tone change but cant seem to find an exact ideal position. Its true simple little things make a big difference for sure.
	Dan Sparkman says: 8/7/2011 2:19:50 AM I have always had trouble with this issue. I think what is most important is that one be able to do the things that he/she wants to do, however one has to do them. If you cant't keep your little finger on the banjo head, there is no God-given law that states that you have to. As for tone, I would think having an additional finger on the banjo head would make for less vibration possibilities in the head, and therefore less loudness. I haven't noticed tonal changes that would make me worry about where my little finger was. I try to work on this because all commentators and my former teacher said it should be so, but it doesn't seem to improve my personal picking.
	mdavich says: 10/25/2014 10:22:51 AM I tend to agree with Dan. I've fretted over the issue and tried to keep my pinky anchored. Turns out I HATED it but I thought I had to do it UNTIL... I ran across a few youtube instructional vids from professionals that played exactly like I played. I think that if you're comfortable and successful playing anchored or un-anchored you should stick with what works. My banjo teacher never told me to anchor my pinky. You should certainly put a good effort into learning to play anchored though. It's one of those questions you have to answer for yourself.
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