Holding the pick

giggsy

After reading a number of books, it seems that I hold the pick wrong - instead of between the thumb and index finger, I hold it between my thumb and my middle finger. Now as I am trying to 'relearn' how to play the guitar, should I adjust the way I hold the pick? I tried last night to do it the right way, but it didnt feel natural. Im inclined to just carry on playing the way that I have been, but are there any advantages to holding it with the index finger?

Bob-Dubery

giggsy wrote: After reading a number of books, it seems that I hold the pick wrong - instead of between the thumb and index finger, I hold it between my thumb and my middle finger. Now as I am trying to 'relearn' how to play the guitar, should I adjust the way I hold the pick? I tried last night to do it the right way, but it didnt feel natural. Im inclined to just carry on playing the way that I have been, but are there any advantages to holding it with the index finger?

Depends on what you want to do. Holding the pick with the thumb and forefinger frees up more fingers for hyrbrid picking - so if you want to embrace that style then you want to make the change of grip.

A change like that is not going to feel natural instantly. There will be an adjustment period.

Explorerlover

I wouldn't say there's a right way of holding it. I use only the thumb and index finger, James Hetfield uses the thumb, index and middle finger. There is probably advantages [ or it may be easier to achieve certain things ] but I can't think that one can be wrong and another is right.

Heath

I agree i dont believe theres a right or wrong way just which way you feel comfortable . I often find myself holding picks in the oddest way but it feel comfortable

Bob-Dubery

Tailon. wrote: I agree i dont believe theres a right or wrong way just which way you feel comfortable . I often find myself holding picks in the oddest way but it feel comfortable

It's not a matter of right or wrong, but it can be the case that the textbook methods are well considered and were arrived at through much experience and experimentation.

I suspect that you may have slightly easier movement of the wrist using thumb and forefinger for the pick than with thumb and any other forefinger - because of the way the muscles in the forearm tense with the different grips.

The textbook is not the only way to do things, but it's often worth paying attention to.

DonovanB

read this article by Tuck Andress http://www.tuckandpatti.com/picking_questions.html

It's a little long but explains the different methods of holding and using the pick.

chris77

I am not qualified to give advice on technique, but heres my 2c worth anyway... If you want to be a better technical player, take the plunge and learn to do it the "right" way. I learned myself to pick acoustic with my ring finger anchoring my hand to the guitar. The result is I can only fingerpick with my thumb, middle and forefinger now, so my fingerplaying sucks! It severely limits the things I can do because I learned a bad technique. Better, or rather more classicaly correct technique will always get my vote because I see how not having one has hampered my progress, BUT if you feel comfortable with something different and youre happy with the way you play, then stuff what other people say and do what feels right for you. No use changing what works if it doesnt limit you. And besides, differences in technique is one of the things that sets apart your Tone from the bloke next to you.

shadow1

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The textbook is not the only way to do things, but it's often worth paying attention to.
[/quote]

THat sums it up pretty well ? well said. I for one had the same problem i now hold the pick 3 different ways! LOL depending on what music i am playing. I dont pick very well and thought it was the way i held the pick so i learnt the "right way" but it didnt really help as i thought it would. So i just know that i am not a picker! hehehe

My conclusion "textbook" is usually the best method for flexiability BUT rules are meant to be broken...thats called progression ? imagine if no-one made a humbucker and we all still used single coils...musically we would have ALOT less genres i think ?

giggsy

Thanks all - great to hear your perspectives. Yeah, I guess I'll carry on playing the way I am, but, over time, practice and learn the right way.

Frans-B--Cocq

Hey, look at the bright side of it - you can play fretted harmonics with a pick and without changing your grip. ? Or without tapping.

Doesn't EVH hold the pick like that?

singemonkey

I was just watching this documentary about metal. I noticed that Van Halen picks (at least sometimes) with his thumb and middle. He seems to have muddled along despite his handicap.

giggsy

singemonkey wrote: He seems to have muddled along despite his handicap.

? So I should be okay then

Keira-WitherKay

different styles and techniques is what makes us individuals as a player .. i would only get one of my students to change a technique if it was hampering playing in some way.......... and yeah sometimes it does...... but if your playing is not effected and you feel comfortable.... just stick to it .........

arjunmenon

Frans B. Cocq wrote: Doesn't EVH hold the pick like that?

Yup, and so does Steve Morse.

Guy-Onraet

Arjun Menon wrote:
Frans B. Cocq wrote: Doesn't EVH hold the pick like that?
Yup, and so does Steve Morse.

...and Micheal Romeo, and Tony MacAlpine, and... ?

BMU

Giggsy, I would think long and hard before changing that. I went through exactly the same thing. My natural style was thumb+index finger. Then I decided to change to thumb + forefinger because it's more "correct". But holding with index finger has a hidden advantage: it keeps the index finger out of trouble. It's the longest finger so playing thumb+forefinger, leaves the index free to wobble around and in my case I sometimes accidentally brush the strings with it - very sloppy I know. ? This is something I still need to pay attention to, and I made the change many years ago.

SO like I said, think hard before you change that. Your body/subconscious may have a reason to prefer that method... Thumb+index also leaves your forefinger free for tapping, which I think is easier than tapping with index. And like everyone says, EVH seems to have scraped bye like that.

My 2c.

Renesongs

I hold my pick between my thumb and 2nd finger when I want to get pinched harmonics or when I have a cut on my first finger. The one advantage of thumb and first finger grip is that you have more fingers left over to do hybrid picking. 8)