How to hold a pick ! - no really !

[Jaden]

OK, so recently ive done a LOT of work on my right hand technique...
I HAD to change pick thickness from .60mm to minimum 1.0mm to accomodate these changes in style..
im playing better and clearer - but also slower so I will persist in the the style BUT...

Im having trouble just finding a decent picking position, one way I use - i keep rubbing my thumbnail on lower strings making them sound (muted) but they still sound....

I cant find a comfortable picking position, is there anything anyone can suggest ?

[Tom Gilroy]

Drop your hand down to your side so that it's completely loose. Your thumb should touch your index finger somewhere. Fit a pick in there.

[Eggy]

I play by holding the pick between my thumb and middle and index fingers of my right hand. My index finger controls the top of the pick and my middle finger controls the tip of the pick with my thumb directly in the middle of the back.
I do this because I find I can control picking attack and tone easily mid passage just by adjusting how much middle finger (tip,ie to dig in on upstrokes for pinch harmonics) or index finger (top, ie making the pick flatter for alternate/ chugga parts).

PS I'm left handed but play righty so this might only be applicable for us select few wierdo's

Ben

[Jaden]

Originally Posted by Tom Gilroy

Drop your hand down to your side so that it's completely loose. Your thumb should touch your index finger somewhere. Fit a pick in there.

that works well, thanks

BUT, I just lost my ability to do pinch harminics

I shall continue......

[andy7jem]

Hey Eggy, i noticed that on your vids.Looks really weird but it obviously works for you Did you start playing right handed from the beginning or change at some point??

Jaden, i really need to follow your example too How much time are you spending just on going back to basics??

[Eggy]

[quote=andy7jem;519950]Hey Eggy, i noticed that on your vids.Looks really weird but it obviously works for you Did you start playing right handed from the beginning or change at some point??
QUOTE]

I started playing right handed from the word go. My dad's a bass player (righty) and when I first got a guitar (age 8 ) my dad showd me some bass licks. About a year after that I got to have a turn with a propper left handed guitar but I couldn't play any of the stuff I'd been practicing all year on it.
I've had to work realy hard on my picking technique but I'm fortunate that I find legato easy so it kinda balances out.

Ben

[andy7jem]

I bet it's also a relief when you read all the lefties on here complaining about lack of decent guitars available to them!!

The way you hold the pick looks convenient for mixing right hand tapping notes between picking notes in a run The hand just looks in a natural position for it!

[Eggy]

Yeah it sucks that the lefties get the dirty end of the stick all the time. I managed to bodyswerve the whole thing though.
Using middle and index on the plec does mean you have a slightly different approach to tapping though yes as one or the other finger is never too far away.

Ben

[jb4674]

It's probably because your fingers aren't used to the thickness of the pick. In time you'll feel more comfortable using it. It's like playing a strat and then switching to a les paul. You will definitely feel the difference.

[Jaden]

im still working on the whole picking thing, ive straightened my thumb and got used to the increased resistance of a heavier pick..

I cant use anything less than 1.0mm now

[Amy]

I use many times 3 fingers at once to hold the pick, then I punched holes in the pick, and it helps for me to now use only index and thumb to hold it, and I try to have minimal arm movement, but my speed picking is just now, something new to me I am trying..
so between that and playing 3 hours a day it helps- it is just repeat repeat repeat and lots of work and time, like the other guys said-

Amy
Http://Amyschugar.com

[guitvai1]

Thumb and the side of the index finger at around the first knuckle seems to work for me. I can get Zakk Wylde style pinch harmonics at the drop of a hat like this.

[phantoms]

Originally Posted by Eggy

I started playing right handed from the word go. My dad's a bass player (righty) and when I first got a guitar (age 8 ) my dad showd me some bass licks. About a year after that I got to have a turn with a propper left handed guitar but I couldn't play any of the stuff I'd been practicing all year on it.
I've had to work realy hard on my picking technique but I'm fortunate that I find legato easy so it kinda balances out.

Ben

Ben, my son who's 18 also plays right handed although he's left handed. He picked up guitar very fast and I'm amazed at how quick he learned and wonder if having his dominate hand on the strings has helped or not. Like you, he tried a left hand guitar while we were at a music store and didn't like it.