I recently read that most teachers say strumming hand should be more like a fist than let fingers “dangle”. Having never heard this before I happened to have always ley fingers flop around, never knowing they “shouldn’t” really. Happened to be watching Justin’s Dua LIpa video and saw his fingers were flopping too. I find having fingers out like that helps with subtle muting whereas fist seems to rub outside of fingers uncomfortably on strings. I read fist is better becos (allegedly) more control, can pick/strum faster, etc. Is there any actual science on this - is it really better or it actually doesn’t really matter (in which case other guitar teachers should stop saying it does!)
All I can say is you can’t hybrid pick with a fists and who are these “most teachers”
Do what is comfortable man, as long as you are in control, and your technique is solid.
For me, making a ‘fist’ is a very unnatural stance. I like my fingers ‘flopping around’; for hybrid picking for one, which I use alot; as well as for muting etc.
I would be wary of any teacher stating that there’s only one ‘correct’ way to do something on a guitar.
A cursory look at a few of the greats will knock that theory on its head pretty quick.
Cheers, Shane
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You should provide sources when saying you read something somewhere, so that others can take a look and see if it’s actually credible. The long and short of it is that you should never take one person or one source at face value. Take the time to do proper research and you’ll get a far more accurate and balanced view of any situation.
As others have already pointed out, what you “read” is just plain wrong. Is fist strumming a thing? Sure it is. I do it all the time. But is it the only and/or best way of strumming? No it’s not, because as with so many other things with guitar (and life in general), it depends on what you’re trying to do.
My advice would be to stop dealing in absolutes, and start researching the best way to do the specific thing your are actually trying to do. There is rarely, if ever, only one way of doing things that trumps all others for every single person in every single situation.
The only place I have seen this is in discussions/videos of speed metal where the fingers being loose will be slow (moment arm and inertia) and they rub on strings making noise. Go see some Bernth Technique YouTube videos if you are curious.
If your knuckles are rubbing, then your hand is not in the right position somehow. If your fingers are so loose they are flopping onto strings, then your technique needs improvement.
I tend toward a bit of curl. no flapping, no rubbing, only mistakes are targeting the right string with the pick/finger doing the plucking.
Troy Grady has some videos on picking - a lot of them are about speed, but some of the research is interesting and relates to your question. I think I remember Justin mentioning this guy’s videos in a lesson.
Thanks everyone for comments already
Next time I come across this advice (curling fingers under) I’ll note the source - the last one I saw was a you tuber with an awful lot of followers so I did some googling and several others said same thing
I think the best advice is do what’s comfortable and no one size fits all!
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I never fist my hand and always recommend a relaxed, loose position with fingers out, not in a fist.
Be careful not to equate having a lot of followers with quality. The internet is full of voices spitting out garbage and too many people eating it up.
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That’s interesting. I never specifically thought about what I am doing like that. Which is odd, I think of way too many things.
I finger strum, no pick and tend to use my thumb and index finger. They are often softly pinched, like I was holding a pick, but no pick. Sometimes I separate them go various reasons, lighter looser tone or to use more flesh than nail.
The other three fingers, lately, tend to be loosely curled out of the way. Not a fist, but not open. I think I used to hold them fully open more.
This way they are primed for a “rasgueado” like strum if I want it. Of course that’s pretty rare at this point, I am no Flamenco, but a fun accent or finish at times.
Good response Joshua. I used to think about where those fingers should be, now they have found their angle of repose. I learned to curl them enough to keep stray fingers from tapping the body, but mostly keeping them relaxed.
I hadn’t thought of whether relevant to when don’t have pick!
Just so you can see what I mean and recognizing lot of rubbish on you tube look up Ben Eller video “How to fix your pick hand finger position”
After I saw that I googled some more and found several saying same thing. I’m not advocating doing that - just wondering if any truth to it
Thank you Richard. The only problem I have ever found with it is on a vigier guitar I own with volume knob near bridge pickup becos loose fingers regularly hit that knob and turn volume down!
Obviously if have fist that wouldn’t happen. Which also seemed to give some credence indirectly to idea fist was “right” - as in why would a guitar manufacturer but the knob in such a silly place ( unless it’s not silly becos most players don’t have their fingers flapping around etc)