Hand positioning
How to position the right hand.
Let your right arm hang at its side.
Note: Your fingers have assumed a semi-curled position.
Rest the right upper arm on the body of the guitar.
Note: The position varies with the length of arm.
Place a regular size hard pick on the 1st finger (top of pick parallel to 2nd joint of 1st finger.
Personal note: I use an extra heavy pick (1.21MM).
Place thumb flat across pick.
Caution: Do not stiffen or bend thumb.
Pull back 1st finger sufficiently to avoid touching the strings.
Note: Pick protruding slightly more than 1st finger.
Caution: Do not grasp pick too firmly (just sufficient to avoid dropping pick. (An inverted “V” is formed).
Note: As 1st finger is pulled back slightly to the right of the pick, the bottom tip of the pick and tip of the finger protrudes beneath thumb.
As 1st finger is pulled back slightly to the right of the pick, the bottom tip of the pick and top of finger protrudes beneath thumb.
Pick from elbow with fingers and thumb blended into one unit.
Note: All movement is from the elbow.
As the right hand glides across pick guard, fingers retain semi-curled natural position.
Please pay special attention to the following:
Do not close or open fingers from natural semi-curled position.
Do not anchor right hand on pick guard or bridge.
Eliminate unnecessary movement of right hand picking procedure.
Hold pick flat and parallel to strings, use tip of strings.
In picking from elbow, the distance of pick entering between the strings is rendered constant.
Custom made Stratocaster-type by Charles Whitfill.
How to position the left hand.
Use the first finger to bar 6 strings across the first fret.
Note: The left thumb is in the center of the fingerboard.
Caution: Do not press the left palm against the fingerboard.
Use the thumb as a support for the left hand.
Note: You should be able to hold the guitar suspended in the air with only the thumb and the first finger.
Custom made Telecaster-type by Charles Whitfill.