# Planting your finger vs. taking it off the string

**URL:** https://forum.troygrady.com/t/planting-your-finger-vs-taking-it-off-the-string/84808
**Category:** Playing Technique
**Created:** [January 29, 2025, 3:21am UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/planting-your-finger-vs-taking-it-off-the-string/84808 "2025-01-29T03:21:18Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 5

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### Author: ![Tom\_Gilroy](https://forum.troygrady.com/user_avatar/forum.troygrady.com/tom_gilroy/32/335_2.png) [@Tom\_Gilroy](https://forum.troygrady.com/u/Tom_Gilroy)
#### Post date: [February 1, 2025, 9:45pm UTC](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/planting-your-finger-vs-taking-it-off-the-string/84808/5 "2025-02-01T21:45:03Z")

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> [@wlefebvre](#):
>
> I was wondering if you guys had any input regarding planting the finger on the lowest note being played when playing a fast repeating sequence vs. taking it off?

Yes, I’ve written a lot on the topic.

> [@Efficient Digital Cycles](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/efficient-digital-cycles/18608):
>
> I have been preparing a post about the left hand postures and fretting strategies I use in my playing, after reading through the following thread: That promised post is still in preparation, and I will present it when I’m satisfied with it. In preparing that post, I watched through several instructional videos and CTC interviews again. While re-watching Shawn Lane’s Power Licks for the first time in a while, I realized something about his fretting sequences that I felt was extremely interes…

> [@The Fastest Lane - Video Lessons on Efficient Fretting Mechanics in Shawn Lane's "Power Licks"](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/the-fastest-lane-video-lessons-on-efficient-fretting-mechanics-in-shawn-lanes-power-licks/42471):
>
> It was suggested by our moderator @tommo that I come up with a title that more clearly reflected the content of my posts so they may be found more easily in future and which which may draw some more attention. The title I’ve come up with feels like clickbait to me, but I think it serves those ends specifically. I hope the content merits the lofty title. I present a series of videos on the concept of Efficient Digital Cycles, which is a principle I’ve discovered which underlies most of Shawn Lan…

> [@Higher Landrons - Eric Johnson's Fretting Mechanics and Strategies](https://forum.troygrady.com/t/higher-landrons-eric-johnsons-fretting-mechanics-and-strategies/84328):
>
> When asked what the name of his song “High Landrons” means, Eric Johnson has replied that it is a metaphor for reaching a higher state of consciousness. People here will know me for my analysis on positioning and mechanics for the fretting hand, including efficiency concerns and optimisations. What people may not know, is that I began my conscious study of these topics as a teenager when I began analyzing Eric Johnson’s playing. I’d like to share an article I have written about Eric Johnson’s …

> [@wlefebvre](#):
>
> Do you guys recommend leaving my index planted while playing the higher frets or do I play one finger per fret?

There really isn’t a simple answer to this question.

> [@compact\_caribou](#):
>
> However, in Tom Gilroy’s “Higher Landrons” post here (highly recommended), he talks about pressing down on frets below the current note, then “revealing” them by lifting up the other finger.

Sure, but it’s a 40 page article about how and when to do this, I’m not recommending it universally.

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