I am primarily a bluegrass player, but I mess around w/ old time flatpick, folk fingerstyle, and some other stuff too. I was just wondering where at on the strings you play in reference to the soundhole. I just love the sound of my D2H flatpicked about 3/4" to the bridge side of the soundhole. For some fingerstyle stuff, I find myself migrating directly over the soundhole. Anyone want to humor me w/ your preferences?

I play primarily fingerstyle with thumbpick and very short nails and I pick as close to the end of fingerboard as possible for a richer sound.

I once heard Doyle Dykes mention that the guitar sound the best when you keep a 12 fret distant between the fretted fingers and the picking fingers/pick.

Same as you Brett for the flatpick. I find the it sounds good and seems to provide the best angle for clean picking. Haven't found my sweet spot for fingerstyle yet but I usually find myself directly over the soundhole.

Interesting question, as it does make a big difference in the sound of the guitar and the mood you are trying to create. I am just a "picker" trying to learn over again after a short, 30 year, vacation. My music varies quite a lot, from jazz to southern rock and whatever. I find myself picking in different areas depending on the song, and the sound I am looking for. Most of the time I would say to the very front of the soundhole. but again, I vary it quite a bit, even within some songs to get a different tone and dynamic from the guitar.

I tend to keep my right hand over the right side of the sound hole (nearer the bridge). I get more interesting and varied sounds here by slight changes in angle of attact and small movements of the hand towards or away from the bridge. If I want a really mellow tone I will pick farther away from the bridge.

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Originally posted by Brett:
I am primarily a bluegrass player, but I mess around w/ old time flatpick, folk fingerstyle, and some other stuff too. I was just wondering where at on the strings you play in reference to the soundhole. I just love the sound of my D2H flatpicked about 3/4" to the bridge side of the soundhole. For some fingerstyle stuff, I find myself migrating directly over the soundhole. Anyone want to humor me w/ your preferences?

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Right hand placement changes the tone as you move towards aor away from the bridge. Many players use this as part of their playing, adjusting the tone slightly for passages, cadences, etc. Classical players do this all the time.