learning to play unanchored??? :(

[robharries13]

 :(

hi everyone,
after a few months of trying to improve my guitar technique with my palm resting on the bridge, i think im going to try and learn to pick unanchored to see if i improve in speed and accuracy.
problem is - i dont know where to start, as dull as it sounds
anyone know of any basic warm ups/exercises i can do that would build up my unanchored picking technique.
also, what would be a great help is if someone could post a picture of themselves playing unanchored just so i can get the correct arm positions and all that.
thanks for any help and advice

[kevincurtis]

I'm going to show some ignorance here, but other than EVH's 'muscle spasm' fast picking on one string...I don't think anyone plays 'unanchored' - the arm then has another domension to move through and control.

Why do you feel it is holding you back, you only have to rest lightly on the bridge or other strings, but it gives your body a reference point that can only increase accuracy IMHO.

K

[horsehead]

a lot of country/bluegrass players play unanchored, and one of the best way's to describe it is to actually watch Brad Davies talk & show you how to do it. He was on the recent guitarist DVD showing some techniques off.

This may help anyway youtube linky thing


----------------
Now playing: Matt Schofield Trio - Pack It Up
via FoxyTunes

[kevincurtis]

I had a think about this while I had a guitar in my hands this evening and I realised I 'anchored' (in a gentle touch sense) in 2 basic ways with variations, the first is normal palm on guitar, the second is using the 3rd finger of my right hand to touch the body which from what I can see is what Brad Davies is doing in the video.

Reminded me that this is why I abandoned my first atempt at using a Les Paul because the strings were too far away from the body for my fingers to reach :(

[FELINEGUITARS]

I think you need to be anchored in some way to play
Whether you anchor your hand by contact with the bridge or body or whether your hand is free but your elbow or forearm is anchored on the body - you need to gain a reference point so you can articulate your hand/fingers

I find that i often alternate between the two depending on what is called for - whether it be palm muting or free strumming or certain picking styles. Sometimes the anchor is the lightest of touches with my forearm on the body but the touch is there.
It seems to really help my accuracy and guidance over the strings

[Muzzzz]

Michael Angelo Batio plays without anchoring his palm, he anchors by resting his 3 outer fingers on the guitar... thats probably as close to 'unanchored' as you wanna get