I have been struggeling a bit with flatpicking lately. I kind of learned fingerstyle first, and now when I pick I notice my right hand staying somewhat stationary while my thumb and first two fingers "drive" the pick around. Is this a problem? I seem to be having trouble with consistancy. If I plant my pinky I can strum a bit and pick OK, but I end up muting the too often E and it feels restrictive. Is there a general rule on where the motion should come from for flatpicking? Elbow, shoulder, wrist, fingers?
IMO, 80% wrist and 20% from the elbow.
Thanks, I'll see how that works. I noticed, from samples at homespun tapes, that guys like Doc W, and David Grier each have different hand movements.
That is the beauty of guitar.
I was going to say there is no wrong way to play but that is not really true.
If you hold your wrist at a bad angle you could injur it.
But there are many right ways to play and in time you will develop a style that you are confortable with and then you will be on top of your game.
I play mostly fingerstyle myself but when flatpicking I use about the same motion as Tracker mentioned with the addition of maybe 3 or 4% coming from the finger joints at times.
I never ancor at all, just never developed that habit.
