A buddy of mine who exclusively played acoustic fingerstyle (and who builds his own guitars), just took delivery of a custom semi-hollow electric. He specified wide string spacing, closer to acoustic spacing than to conventional electric spacing. He contends that it works better for fingerstyle, and I'm inclined to believe him. I am certainly more "reliable" (i.e. play cleaner) in fingerstyle playing with that extra room. Question: Why did players like Jeff Beck and Knopfler stick to conventional string spacing, particularly after they were in a position to get any configuration they wanted?
String Spacing for finger-style electric guitar playing
- Thread starter Winky
- Start date
This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links like Ebay, Amazon, and others.
Any guitar but a Rickenbaker is fine.
10,000 hours.
I put in my 10,000 hours ( much more, I just turned 65!) and nothing has happened!
Seriously, you are right!
You gotta love, and play the hell out of the guitar- can't let up!
I play (gig) on acoustic & electric guitars, and now, since Summer, am working up simple fingerstyle instrumentals on a Classical ( 2" nut width), at home ( maybe to record later-right here)
* just saying my hands are in a constant state of adjustment ( nut width, neck size, strings, playing technique) but you get used to it!
LOSTVENTURE
Friend of Leo's
I've never had any problems fingerpicking with normal string spacing, but it's all based on personal preference. When I switch to my classical acoustic, it takes more than a little warm up to get to speed. But it happens.
Just takes practice. I hardly play with a pick anymore. I just go back and forth between electric and acoustic. Now saying that my dreadnought (Ibanez) and my parlor (Recording King) have small width necks so that helps. If I go to a classical with nylon strings it does throw me off for a little bit. Otherwise it's pattern memory. To be honest I've never heard of someone wanting a wider neck electric for that reason.
Like anything else, it makes a difference. But you get used to it...to a point...some of us more/less than others.
It also depends on the style of music. Classical players do not pick like Beck or Knopfler or Buckingham.
I fingerpick all of my seven guitars (acoustic and electric), but I will never be able to fingerpick an electric with the same skill/technique as an acoustic/classical with 2 3/16 to 2 5/16 at the saddle.
It also depends on the style of music. Classical players do not pick like Beck or Knopfler or Buckingham.
I fingerpick all of my seven guitars (acoustic and electric), but I will never be able to fingerpick an electric with the same skill/technique as an acoustic/classical with 2 3/16 to 2 5/16 at the saddle.
