hello everyone,
i own a gibson SG, its just got the 2 pickups on it. When every i play i tend to always let my right hand (picking hand) pinky rest on the guitar touching the side of the bridge pickup. i noticed the instructors on the lessons dont let their hand rest on their guitars.
can letting my pinky stay on my guitar slow my learning process and/or lower the maximum speed ill be able to achieve?

Some put their pinky there some don't. Just do what's more comfortable.
I think it looks cool, as if it's there to measure the distance to the strings for nano inch or nano millimeter precision.

Good question
It all depends on what you are playing.A good example of this is on the new metal lesson and it's one of the last 2 video's were dude talks about 2 ways he holds the pick to play.Sorry cant think of his name its the german dude that's funny .I guess if your pinky is in the way of strings your trying to strike it would cause a problem especially when soloing on the bottom strings.I rest my finger's right past the pickup on the bridge sometimes and it hasent caused me problems.I'm sure somemore people will give you some opinions atleast i hope

Shredmandan

I sometimes rest my pinky on my bridge pickup depending on what I do but its not something I do all the time. I dont think its a problem at all as long as its not interfering with anything at all or hindering your speed or technique.

Also the german dude you are talking about Shredman is Kai and he is funny as hell... and has sweet metal lessons.

I think the best way is to have a sort of "closed fist",in my opinion.
That way you same position while playing on lower and higher strings.
Leaving pinky on the body will bring you hard times while shifting through strings,
or doing some string skipping...

Do you always play with a closed fist?

Almost...
Only when I need to hit something harder,my hand goes a bit more open,not only pinky but all fingers.
But it's closed one in general,like when I'm playing alternate,sweeping etc.

I tryed using closed fist this morning after watching Kai's lesson.It's hard for me but i do se the benifits of it and will work on it.

I started with full open tho,like Kirk Hammet or som
But you'll get used to it,I'm sure

Thats who got me into playing in the first place Metallica.I have played this way for 10 years now it will be a hard habbit to break but well worth it in the long run

Shredmandan

Metallica gave a boost to me as well

I prefer keeping all fingers just like Muris in closed fist! Feel more control like that! But i do let my fingers out of the closed fist when playing rhythm parts, speed riffing and stuff! But for soloing - 99.9% closed fist!