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Author
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Topic: right hand blocking
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Terry Sneed
Member From: El Dorado, Arkansas, USA
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posted 26 February 2004 02:35 PM
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Does anybody else use their ring finger to block their notes? I think most players use the palm of their hand, but I've tried and tried, and just can't get it down.
is one way better than the other? |
Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 26 February 2004 04:48 PM
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Are you blocking just a few strings with your little finger, and the rest with your palm? That's perfectly alright. There's no "right way" to block. Different players have different physiology...use whatever works for you (unless you think it's holding you back).
I advise you to go and see some steelers close-up. Find one playing near you, and pay him a visit! |
Terry Sneed
Member From: El Dorado, Arkansas, USA
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posted 26 February 2004 06:24 PM
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Donny, I block all my strings with my ring finger, not my little finger. except occasionally I'll block the 8,9, and 10 with the outside of my palm.
my main problem is the 1st, and 2nd strings.
they give me a fit![This message was edited by Terry Sneed on 26 February 2004 at 06:25 PM.] |
Larry Bell
Member From: Englewood, Florida
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posted 26 February 2004 07:07 PM
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One technique you might find useful, especially for the first two strings, is moving the bar off the strings and blocking with the middle finger of your LEFT hand as you slide the bar back.In general, covering the minimum number of strings with the bar at all times is a good practice. It can lighten the load on your right hand for blocking and make your playing sound more fluid. If you're playing 6,8,10, the nose of your bar should be just over the 6th string. ------------------
Larry Bell - email: larry@larrybell.org - gigs - Home Page
2003 Fessenden S/D-12 8x8, 1969 Emmons S-12 6x6, 1971 Dobro, Standel and Peavey Amps
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Jim Cohen
Member From: Philadelphia, PA
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posted 26 February 2004 08:44 PM
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A lot of times, I'll block the notes I hit with my middle finger, by blocking with my ring finger coming down on the same string right after the middle finger hits it. I don't know if it's a "good idea" or a "bad idea" but it's one of several blocking techniques in my bag and seems to work pretty well, at least in those situations where I choose it. More recently I've started wearing a third finger pick, which restricts this technique, so I'm not sure whether I'll continue with that or not... |
Jeff A. Smith
Member From: Angola,Ind. U.S.A.
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posted 26 February 2004 09:36 PM
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quote:
Does anybody else use their ring finger to block their notes?
Terry, I'm curious: Are you bending your ring finger under when you do this, or just coming down with the tip?The ring finger-under style of blocking is something certain people, such as forumite Larry Behm, advocate. I have a video by Larry in which he discusses the technique. It looks interesting to watch him do it, but the palm style is what came naturally for me, maybe in part from years of doing that on lead guitar.[This message was edited by Jeff A. Smith on 26 February 2004 at 10:14 PM.] |
Terry Sneed
Member From: El Dorado, Arkansas, USA
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posted 27 February 2004 11:23 AM
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Jeff, yes, I fold my ring finger under and block my notes. those first two strings are my main problem. I'll try the method mentioned above on those two strings, with the middle finger of my bar hand. |
Larry Lorows
Member From: Cortland, NY, USA
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posted 02 March 2004 06:49 PM
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Terry, I'm with you. I have used this blocking method for years. Actually, it took me about a year to get so I could play with my finger tucked in that way. Yes, your right about the top two strings, it is a pain blocking them. I have to admit, I don't use them much when I'm trying to play B6th. Buddy Emmons showed us this technigue at a seminar he was teaching up in Syracuse, NY years ago. |
Terry Sneed
Member From: El Dorado, Arkansas, USA
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posted 03 March 2004 08:01 AM
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Larry, good to know there's somebody else out there that blocks with their ring finger doubbled under. after weeks of trying the palm blockin, I tried the ring finger folded under, and it was natural as could be. somebody mentioned blocking the first 2 strings with the middle finger of your bar hand a few days ago, and that seems to work fairly well. |
Jeff A. Smith
Member From: Angola,Ind. U.S.A.
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posted 03 March 2004 07:27 PM
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Terry, if you ever have any questions about the ring finger-under style of blocking, get in touch with Larry Behm. http://www.aracnet.com/~lcbehm/ He seems to be someone who isn't very concerned about making money from teaching, just doing it because he loves it. On his video "The Mechanical Advantage," in the section where he talks about the ring finger-under style of blocking, he mentions a few other "known" players who use the style, but I can't remember who they are right now. Larry is an excellent teacher, who knows how to explain something systematically and in a clear fashion. I think he enjoys just answering questions for people. He'd probably be happy to talk to you by phone or e-mail. |
Kevin Sowder
Member From: Kearneysville, West Virginia, USA
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posted 03 March 2004 07:55 PM
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I'm new at the steel...ugh. Anyway, I was just taking a look at why I can't right-hand block effectively/consistantly and I found what the problem was. I was sitting to far back from the steel. In all the instructional tapes I've watched, no one mentions posture. I did notice upright posture, but forgot about it. Right away I saw two benefits--MUCH easier blocking and my back doesn't hurt. The instrument is pretty darn cool again. Hope this helps. |
Terry Sneed
Member From: El Dorado, Arkansas, USA
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posted 03 March 2004 07:59 PM
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Thanks a lot Jeff. I might shoot him an e-mail. I've just about got it down I think.
I can block all the strings now, with my ring finger and a little help with the middle finger of my bar hand on the first two strings. the Hal Rug , Weldon Myric speed picking course along with Jeff Newman's "no Speed Limit? really has helped me. also Bruce Buoton's "Highway Forty Blues" and " Country Boy" really helped with my pick blocking. course I never could play those two songs up to speed.  |
Lincoln Goertzen
Member From: Rose Prairie, British Columbia, Canada
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posted 04 March 2004 07:07 PM
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Terry, you need to bypass your volume pedal (go straight from your steel to your amp), turn your amp up louder than normal, and all of a sudden you will find a very effective way to block ANY string!!!hahaha Seriously, I think Larry Bell hit it on the head. Do not use more of your bar than you absolutely have to, and use your left middle finger for blocking strings #1 and 2. Also, in the older pedal steel instructional books, they tell you to hang your little finger over the first string, as an anchor. Using an anchor was not very good for me, but you may want to give it a try. Lincoln |
Terry Sneed
Member From: El Dorado, Arkansas, USA
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posted 05 March 2004 07:39 AM
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Lincoln, I tried the little finger over the first string also, didn't work for me either.
seems the best place for me to place my hand on the strings, is place the crease where my palm and wrist meet, almost on the 10th string.
Oh, my volume pedal is in the shop, I'm using a 2x to put my foot on. I've almost scraped a hole in the carpet pushing down on the thing.  [This message was edited by Terry Sneed on 05 March 2004 at 07:39 AM.] |
kbdrost
Member From: Barrington, IL
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posted 05 March 2004 08:02 AM
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When I first started playing years ago, I found that I couldn't block well with just the heel of my palm because the crease in the back of my hand was too high off the 3rd & 4th strings. I then tried tucking the ring finger under and it worked! It also helped with harmonics to have the ring finger there. I didn't think anybody else did it. Then I got Larry Behm's video and discovered I didn't invent this technique. Dang! Maybe I should have made an application to the Patent Office  ------------------
Ken Drost
steelcrazy after all these years
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