im fairly new to playing guitar, maybe like 4 months or so. My question revolves around my right hand ( the picking hand ). i play the guitar with my pinky resting on the pick shield but no other fingers are touching the guitar. the pinky finger gives me alot of balance and control when i rest it there.
when i try to play the guitar like so many other people do ( not resting the pinky there ) i cant. i would have never made this thread but i ran into a problem 2 days ago. when i was playing tremelos and palm muting, i have to take my pinky off the pick shield, cuz i got small hands. i cant keep my pinky on the shield and mute the low e string and on tremelos i cant get speed with my pinky there. im just wondering if any of you guitarists play like i do and how did you deal with this situation. should i start all over from scratch and keep all fingers off the pick shield, im assuming this will let me be more free and better for speed. or should i stick it out and keep practicing the way i know, and hopefully this is just a hurdle along my journey. thx

there is a proper way of doing everything, which is almost always the most efficient, fastest, and least damaging.
in this case im not exactly sure what it is, but i do know that an awful lot of people dont do it.
for example micheal angelo batio rests some fingers on the scratchplate below the strings and copes fine.
as far as muting the low e, your anchor is the palm of your hand so you dont need the fingers to do it too.

i usually tell my pupils to do what ever feels the most natural to them.
keep practising and in time you will get it.

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You'll grow out of the habit with time. Just practice palm muting more and you'll have to throw the habit.

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using a finger or fingers as a brace does make it easier for sure. However! This is one of those "shortcut" things. Using a finger as a brace will place a limit on the skill you can reach. Learning to play without a brace takes much longer, but the results are far better. There is no problem having fingers resting on the pick guard, or brushing it every now and then, but if you require the finger to act as a brace, it becomes a "crutch". Well, i would advise taking the time to learn how to play without this crutch.

I personaly have my pinky touching the pick guard, or if i'm on the lower strings it touches the higher strings. Its not a brace, but a feeler for gaugeing the distance and getting the pick to be at the right depth. I used to brace a finger like you are now, I'm doing allot better now that I don't need to do that.

Not only does bracing mess you up when you can't do it like your experiencing, but it will also cause you problems when you get to a point when your changing between strings quickly.

And if your bracing a finger, chances are your trying to play too fast. Take your time, slow down, learn proper technique, and let speed come with time.

That is probably all there is to it.

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I used to play the same way and sometimes I still do. But its never been a problem because I got used to it. But I don't ever notice myself doing it, my friend always points it out.

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I do the same thing, but it really isnt a problem for me. I can tremolo pretty fast and with it anchored like that I get mush more sontrol. Ive tried resting the side of my palm on the bridge but that took away alot of speed. Id just go with whatever you can do to feel the most comfortable and play the way you want.

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thats how i play, with my pinky on the pickguard. for the trem thing, i dont use it cuz my trem sucks. but u just need to practice with wutever makes u comfortable. for me im comfortable with how i play, and i can play good enough for ppl to think im good, lol. naw im just playin.

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you never actually rest it there, you end up using muscles to hold it there, which adds to hand tension. You should never anchor your fingers on the pickguard and relax your hand as much as possible (look at paul gilbert picking). I used to anchor mine and when i stopped i always missed strings and stuff but i got used to it in a few days and now it takes a whole lot less stress to play.

the only people i see playing with a finger on the pickguard or bridge for support are almost always the inexperienced ones. I dont think you should need any support because it will restrict your playing. The longer you do this, the longer its going to be before you are comfortable playing without support. Unless your doing some acoustic picking or palm mutes then you could use it.

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thats not completely true in my opinion. everything ive tried to play, ive never had ne restrictions. but i also dont leave my pinky there the whole time, especially when i play guitar solos, i just bring my pinky up like i would to palm mute.

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