Well, if you just started playing, the best lesson is to keep at it, you will learn how to hold it naturally and comfortably for you.

But, having said that, there is a general way to hold a pic. Obviously pic is pressed between your thumb and index, but make sure only a smidgen of the tip is showing (this is not compulsory, but many many players prefer it this way), and angle the pic so that the tip is just an extension of your index. if that makes sense? Use the remainding 3 fingers to gently support the index finger thus forming a gentle 'fist' if I may even call it that.

There's a lot on this topic on Youtube. Watch a few of these vids....some are very informative.

Thx, let me try this and continue practise ?

Been gigging for 25 years and those damn twangs still gets dropped every now and then. Totally agree with Adrian. Don't worry too much about it. Find a pick -"thickness" that you feel comfortable with and that suits the style of music that you're playing and keep at it. Eventually it will become like a part of your hand.

I once bought a little tub of something called "Gorilla Snot" for making your index finger and thumb more tacky.
It was very effective, wouldn't wash off for about 48 hours, you stuck to everything, the pick, your steering wheel, banknotes, girlfriend etc..

On the other hand, Stephen Stills dropped his pick all the time so he would stick about 20 of them on his guitar, and throw a pick into the crowd after each song...

Fingerpicker wrote: I once bought a little tub of something called "Gorilla Snot" for making your index finger and thumb more tacky.

I discovered (by mistake) that a little beeswax on your fingers is useful for keeping things stuck to them.
Also useful for keeping left hand fingers stuck to strings.
But this isn't advice. Do NOT follow this. This just triggered a memory.
?

Keep things slow , so you can focus .

After almost 3 months after deciding to pick up my guitar practice again and struggling with every damn scale I tried, I finally learnt I was holding my plectrum the wrong way. Instant 30% speed increase, with less mistakes to boot.
I can't stop thinking about how much time I could have saved if I'd just sat down for 5 minutes with someone who knew what they were doing.

...Fuggit, I'm taking lessons. Thanks for the tips, Adrian.

I struggled with the pic as well until I had a look at the video on Justinguitar.com. That helped a lot.

I also had an issue with the pick slipping or moving when I was playing. I drilled a few small holes in the pic. Make sure you drill them off-center. That was the last of the pic slipping, unless of course I don’t grip it tight enough, then…:'(

RobbieZ wrote: I struggled with the pic as well until I had a look at the video on Justinguitar.com. That helped a lot.

I also had an issue with the pick slipping or moving when I was playing. I drilled a few small holes in the pic. Make sure you drill them off-center. That was the last of the pic slipping, unless of course I don’t grip it tight enough, then…:'(

You could also try Jim Dunlop maxgrips - I use the Jazz-III ones and they really are a lot easier to hold in place than the smooth picks. I've also cut grooves into picks with a Stanley knife when I couldn't get the maxgrips -has the same kind of effect.

And now for something completely different. ?

Trevor Rabin, Masterclass.

He holds the pick with 3 fingers, and it's the softest sharkfin, those red ones.

=

I hold my pick different to the norm (although there is no norm sure) and while I was in maa metal phase I could never nail sweep picking even though I sat with a metronome for hours I just couldn't do it...
Recently after going for lessons and seeing the other (the more preferred) way of holding a pick and messing with sweep picking I realise that if I had been holding my pick the other way sweep picking would have been easy!!

So moral of the story lessons, even youtube lessons do help and learning proper technique or maybe proper technique for what you would like to play is essential.

My 2 cents 8)

Tokai SA wrote: And now for something completely different. ?

Trevor Rabin, Masterclass.

He holds the pick with 3 fingers, and it's the softest sharkfin, those red ones.

There used to be a light green, nearly blueish Sharkfin that was even softer than the red ones, but I don't see them in stores anymore. I still have one in my 12 string's pickholder and I am dreading the day it follows it's lost brothers to wherever it is that picks go to retire. Useless for everything else, but great for strumming.
Rabin really is a great artist btw. Read an article in Classic Rock magazine the other day that mentioned his stint in Yes and how he was regarded as a creative genius by the other members in the band.
He thought he was joining a new project (Cinema) with John Squire and one of the other ex-Yes members, can't recall his name now, after Yes had split up. When hearing the new material from Rabin, Jon Anderson was so impressed that he joined the group and they were reformed as Yes again (much to Rabin's disapproval). Begrudgingly or not, Rabin found himself middle in one of the more successful bands of the era and remained the creative driving force of the project until they split for the second time. I knew he was in the band, but kinda alway thought it was more as a replacement player instead of such a prominent member of the group. Now I know.

Well, I have been playing guitar for a looooooooong time now, and only recently (like 3 months ago) I realised, I was holding my plectrum incorrectly. Or rather, lets say, I was holding my plectrum in a manner that was not maximising my speed potential.



I now hold my pic as demonstrated in the first image (although my pic doesn't extend as far out as this one). The benefits of this is that the 3 other fingers support the index, thus when the thumb presses down on the index it makes it go in an awkward left and right motion, which is not good for your finger muscles, but with the 3 other fingers gently supporting, it stops this motion. Also, those 3 fingers (picture 2) tend to weigh your hand down, it does make sense, it makes it go slightly off balance. Maybe its all in the mind, but as soon as I started adopting this new holding style, I could feel the increase in speed, accuracy on the other hand took a minor knock, but only because I have spent so many years perfecting one style of holding, and only a few weeks on this new style.

It's a matter of time till your fingers get correct touching, pressure, holding and picking. You need to pay attention all the time to pick holding, picking and etc. The most important is to hold it quite tough enough and keep your right hand relax as possible. Yes, it's tough but don't give up. ?
Also, to get good strumming you need to start slow. Practice with metronome with no rush. Play slowly. Fast and accurate speed comes after slow speed (only). Keep practicing on daily basis. Spend about 20 - 30 minutes to picking and rhythm training and everything will be fine soon.
I recommend using this resource for checking out the technique and related to it http://guitar-guide-easy.com/lessons/guitar-position

I found it in summer 2012. Used to study about simple but important things?