Guitar pick holding position, technique, picking

[samsunguitar]

It doesn't feel like it's a good way to hold it, so you just pinch it at the end of the pick w/ your thumb? So most of your pick isn't held? That's very uncomfortable, if you ask me!

[Joetun]

Thanks for this!

Can anyone provide the link to Gilbert's leeson?

I'm not able to find it here.

[cradleofjohannes]

@Joetun Look in my video description, I have updated the link

P.S. Thx for pointing that out

[samsunguitar]

@cradleofjohannes Ok, I wanted to learn how to pick Petrucci's style for a long time, and your vid claims that you found a way, though i've yet to find Petrucci vid where he demonstrates how he holds it! Ok, then please explain how he picks his really fast parts where his thumb goes in his hand, you know what i mean? Also, i tried the way you showed and it still doesn't look like that's JP's way! 

[samsunguitar]

@cradleofjohannes Ok, I wanted to learn how to pick Petrucci's style for a long time, and your vid claims that you found a way, though i've yet to find Petrucci vid where he demonstrates how he holds it! Ok, then please explain how he picks his really fast parts where his thumb goes in his hand, you know what i mean? Also, i tried the way you showed and it still doesn't look like that's

[UltimateGuitarist17]

There is no "absolutely right way" to hold the pick, every player plays differently. Ever guitar should be taught how to play the right way but if they go their own way that is the best thing for them. By the way many guitar styles require different picking actions. The way you have shown is kinda how I do it and I find it works best for shredding.

[cradleofjohannes]

@xXMetAlliCAFaNXx1 no problem

[skaplis]

there is no right way

[WelcometoMidnight]

Nice video dude.

By the way what guitar is that, it looks pretty cool.

[cradleofjohannes]

Thx, it's called "First Act", haha

u can find it in wal-mart!

[CombatThrash]

thanks for the video dude good post.

[cradleofjohannes]

thx

[JHMartinsen]

Everyone's got a unique picking method they use, you just gotta do what feels right.

By the way, you should work on your anchoring, it's really harmful in length.

[222Slash222]

you can use pauls technice for other things as well

I´m just picking with the pick on the side

[GhostMan1408]

huh? thats exackly how i hold my pick....but nice explaining 5 stars

[89ziggy]

Thank you so much man. This really helped

[Hermdo]

hey, in your video it looks like you hold the pick in the "meaty" side of your index finger but doesnt paul gilbert hold it against his "nail side" of his index finger?

[cradleofjohannes]

nah, i use my "nail side". I put the pick diagonally from the edge of my outer side of my thumb, and when you look at it from front view, it looks like the pick is touching my meat but its not.

[chaincells]

I hold it between my thumb and index finger but between the inside(?) of them. (Opposite of where your nails are). Is that 'bad' picking, or is this way better. ?

[cradleofjohannes]

well, if you pick faster than 200 bpm with your technique, stick with that. If you can't, feel free to try mine or Paul's technique.

It all comes down to which one works best for you.

[chaincells]

Well i'm not playing for so long, but it feels like i have more controle when i play?

But i can't pick fast, because when i do i miss a lot of notes.

This 'technique just feels weird, i can't describe. But is my current way of holding the pick a bad habbit?

[cradleofjohannes]

oh i know whats your problem, i think you grip the pick a little strong. One important advice I'll give you is to relax your fingers AS MUCH AS possible(to the point where the pick is about to fall of your fingers).

If you have a good grip it helps you by giving you control but at the same time, it tricks you to not play with hyper speed.

Thus, I'm pretty sure u have a bad habit & you might want to try out mine or Paul's(your choice) before u make your technique a habit.

[chaincells]

That really helps! Thanks.

[sosippus]

man, i've been playing for some years, and to tell the truth, I DONT EVEN KNOW HOW TO HOLD A PICK CORRECTLY!

so, thanks a lot for showing me! That way actually gets me really picking fast, only with a few minutes of practice of the correct way of holding the pick. Thanks!

[cradleofjohannes]

glad I could be of assistance

[jimmis100gr]

anywayz just kidding very nice vieo man and nice guitar too !

[cradleofjohannes]

thx man =)

[jimmis100gr]

bob squarepants stickers? hehe awesome ! :)

[GuitarBrotha]

looks like you got your hands dirty trying to make us a vid.

[cradleofjohannes]

ha, yea i guess

[roel4nd]

I was practicing while watching this video and i went so fast my string broke lol.

[cradleofjohannes]

haha, good to know the exercise is working out for you

[zakaero]

but damn thanks u helped alot! no joke dude

[cradleofjohannes]

your welcome

[zakaero]

i watched that vid berfor u and paul just didnt have a good enough view

[yasahiro86]

Nice video, you explained very well ^^

[cradleofjohannes]

thx

[skiierduuud]

Great! Dude, your video really helped me a lot, thanks a lot!!!! keep on rocking beibi!! :)

[cradleofjohannes]

thx, i will

[balla1314]

D secret is "DON'T HOLD THE PICK TIGHT"

[cradleofjohannes]

yup!

[nedsdead]

Hey can you use a thick pick? Or does it have to be a really light one?

[cradleofjohannes]

whatever suites ya, but i recommend a light pick just cuz it's light & feels great on my fingers

[jckbac9]

NIce job man. I see so many videos and explanations of people trying to show other ways, but this is by far the best way to hold the pick. I learned off of Paul Gilberts vid as well. Good thinking with the pen for explanation too.

[XguitrfreekX]

There's no right way to hold the pick. Just whatever is most comfortable to you as a player.  Maybe some other player absolutely despises holding the pick like that. Don't call it the "right" way.

[cradleofjohannes]

You're right. There's no right way, but this way of holding the pick is preferred by many famous guitarists and aspiring musicians. I'm just stating the obvious

[FlashCE]

Dude, your arpeggios were all over the place...

[M0shaWill]

so what.... this video isnt about how to play arpeggios, its about holding the plectrum which he explained very well

[cradleofjohannes]

thx

[markvalones]

Do i need to rest my palm in the bridge whjile picking?

[cradleofjohannes]

that's completely up to you...most of the time when my hands get tired or if i have to do a fast sweep i rest my palm on the bridge(it gives my hand a bit of support).

[brownbigb]

that picking is not working for you, you're missing most of the notes. might want to reconsider how you hold it.

[ascendantdeath]

Does your thumb brush against the strings as your picking the higher strings? seems to be a bad habit ive developed.

[cradleofjohannes]

sometimes...but its not supposed to. Try to use the end of your palm to get some air(space) between your fingers and strings.

[Mynameisjoel92]

having your fingers resting on the scratchplate is still bad technique, but you have the rest right,

[cradleofjohannes]

I'll try to work on that =)

[Ozzie9877]

Thank u my friend thats different from the way i hold it..do u think thats the best way to hold it if u wana shred?

[cradleofjohannes]

i think it's the best way 2 hold a pick especially 4 shredding cuz you'll have mobility b/w the strings, since you're using your thumb's muscle and not your elbows or wrist.

But when playing power chords u might wanna use your wrist & elbow, cuz the muscle that comes from them is a lot stronger than that comes from the thumb

[Ozzie9877]

ok thanks..one other thing,i usually lay my thumb flat on the pick but u seem to hold it with the tip of ur thumb i find that way a bit awkward wat should i do?

[cradleofjohannes]

At first i found it kinda awkward 2, but i kept practicing it and in few weeks, i got the handle of it.

Tip: Sometimes when the pick seem as if its gonna fall off, i quickly use my index finger to push it back to it's place.

If you prefer laying your thumb flat on the pick then you should try paul gilberts technique(he holds it the same way u do)

[SvenTwelve]

you're a very good teacher. i like how you use the marker to show exactly what you mean. excellent++

[cradleofjohannes]

thank you very much =)

[AirHendrix91]

Thanks man.

[AirHendrix91]

I have a classical guitar. Any good videos on how to finger pick?

[ferociouspokemachine]

lol when you did the arpeggios it sounds like a banjo =P

[cradleofjohannes]

lol yeah, I should have put on the distortion

[praziluk1000]

thanks alot

[cradleofjohannes]

your welcome

[bobgure]

Thanks for your help.

I'm trying to overcome bad picking habit that I started with a long time ago. Could never get my speed up. Now I need to train my wrist and RELAX.

Metronome time.

[bobgure]

Thanks for sharing this great info.

Question: Does the pick tip hit each string at a right angle [ __| ] or at 45 degree or 30 degree angle? [ ____/ ]?

In other words, Gilbert speaks of the 'pick angle', but i'm not sure what that 'angle' is exactly.

Thanks!

[cradleofjohannes]

For my style, i usually pick around 15-20 degree almost parallel to the string but not quiet.

Gilbert's picking angle is around 30 to 40 degree angle. The reason he gets that crunchy sound when he picks is because he is picking the strings at a higher degree.

p.s. use your elbow when picking tremolo's!

[szotyi6]

THX!!!! MAN YOU´RE COOL! I had always problem with holding the pick but i haven´t know why! But Know I see what idid wrong is my Thumb finger was! A haven´t Thought this so Thank You my Friend and God Bless You ! Yeah You Rule !!!

[cradleofjohannes]

you're welcome =)