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I am finishing a LP Special for my daughter. She is getting good at finger picking on her acoustic and said it would be cool to have a finger rest on her LP. I don't see many examples on the inner web. I guess the best way to design one would be to do some mockups to determine size and placement.
I'd appreciate any ideas and suggestions. Also, is it bad form to rest the pinky on something? I know nothing about finger picking. My kid's have the talent, I just make them.
Thanks,
Dan

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Define "wrong."

I honestly wouldn't recommend any of my students rest a finger to stabilize their finger picking.
Sounds to me like a crutch.

Others will surely disagree.

That is my take on it

Dave

Thanks Dave, kinda explains why I don't see any examples on the web.
I should enroll her in a formal class. The only thing she can learn from me is 70's rock.
Rush,AC/DC, and Judas Priest are considered oldies and not hip.
I made the back of the neck somewhat flat to rest the thumb on.
Dan

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Some of the early 19th Century guitars had finger rests. I have seen a few pics by different makers but they are all pretty much the same idea. They made an oval patch out of Ebony that was glued on the guitar much like a pick guard would be on present day guitars. Early guitars were mainly finger picked and not strummed with a pick so some makers put a pinky rest to anchor your hand while picking. I have never seen one on any other guitars and especially guitars with pickguards.

Here is a small picture of a guitar made by De Lorca who was a Spanish builder who put finger rests on some of his guitars.

This is the only picture I have but I have seen a semi close up shot of them and they resemble a chin rest on a violin, sort of an egg cup shape.

Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Bob

Why not do a clear one?

When a kid wants to learn the flute/trumpet/violin/piano... We get an instrument and enroll them in formal lessons with someone who has been formally trained so that the kid can develop technique and skills to help them produce the best tone possible so they can express themselves and draw their music from the instrument.

When a kid wants to learn guitar, we hand them a guitar, show them a G, C, D chord progression and call it good.

Even a little bit of formal training would go a long way to help young guitarists learn how to most efficiently draw music from the guitar.

Get that kid some lessons (preferably from some who studied)

Dave

Doesn't a LP have an elevated pick guard? That's a finger rest.

There are some very strong SS players that do plant a pinky. http://www.premierguitar.com/articles/I ... ort?page=2

Most all banjo players do it. I rest my case.

Yeah, the original LP pick guard was designed for just that purpose. In fact, it is officially called a "finger rest". Why reinvent the wheel?

I learned to play without resting my pinkie, but frankly a lot of american two finger picking styles work better if you do (arguably I suppose).

When a kid wants to learn the flute/trumpet/violin/piano... We get an instrument and enroll them in formal lessons with someone who has been formally trained so that the kid can develop technique and skills to help them produce the best tone possible so they can express themselves and draw their music from the instrument.

When a kid wants to learn guitar, we hand them a guitar, show them a G, C, D chord progression and call it good.

Even a little bit of formal training would go a long way to help young guitarists learn how to most efficiently draw music from the guitar.

Get that kid some lessons (preferably from some who studied)

Maybe this is why people enjoy playing the guitar more than other more formal instruments?

I think most of the best non classical fingerstyle players rest lightly on the guitar top.

Yeah, I don't think it's really a crutch. As she gets better she can pick up her finger and plant it again at will. That's how it worked for me. And les pauls don't need a pickguard really, because the strings are high enough off the top. It's definitely intended as a fingerrest.