Added: 3 years ago
From: richarddeyn
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  • I actually don't understand how you can play like this. The pick always ends up being pushed up to my knuckle on my first finger. I can't alternate pick either. Although the way i hold my pick is wrong and I need to change it, I used to hold it with my thumb first down aswell as my first and middle finger print. Although then, most of the movement comes from my arm and not my wrist:/

  • richie sambora signature!

  • I've been playing for a few years now and I'd consider myself an intermediate player. I learned by holding plectrum with my thumb, middle and pinky finger. I've recently change my grip to the standard method as described in this video, but find my pinky seems to be positioned fully straight when playing. Is this normal and if not how would you suggest I fix it?

  • I use both pick and no pick.

  • Its wrong to hold the pick like that because is impossible to see her when we play.

  • Hello, really helpfull video there. I tend to play alot of metal and i have my guitar pretty low down while standing its not ridicoulosly low but still low. Do i still hold the pick the same way as when i am sitting?? And is the tip of the pick meant to point a little to the bridge?

  • Thank you. That was helpful.

  • Wait did you say medium to thick for beginners? I went to guitar center last week and I wanted the .88 greens and the guy that worked there told me beginners should use thinner ones, and he gave me .60 oranges.

  • quick question. I notice that when i play i tend to hold the pick with almost the print of my 1st finger instead of the side of my 1st finger.

    maybe ive just gotten used to it over the past few months but i play mostly thrash songs (lots of palm muting, speed strumming, etc) and it doesnt seem to bother me. i also noticed that it tends to make my wrist bend down just a tad as oposed to when i hold like you showed.

    is this bad and should i change it or is it just a matter of personal comfort?

  • i habitually use my middle and index finger to hold the top of the pick (thumb underneath of course). This seems to give me more power and speed, plus it feels a lot more comfortable. How ever other guitarists I know say I stop doing this. What do you reccomend??

  • i play lots of thrash so palm-muted 16th notes and gallops are a must. when i pick ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^­^^^^^^^^^ i tend to angle my pick (left side up towards my face) is this a problem or should i practice having my pick always parallel to the strings? HELP

  • @JawrL95

    problem? no

    challenge? yes --- LOL

    its my opinion that you should aim to angle the pick left side DOWN. the easiest way is to slightly bend your thumb. this way is more in natural sympathy to the flow of the hand and your physiology.

    You can keep it your way and many do (even zakk wylde) BUT - you are compromising flexibility and i would wager that there is an element of tension in your fore arm this way.

    hope it helps - let me now. Rich

  • @JawrL95 Only hold it parallel if you want a very clean note for those really fast 16th notes don't worry. You won't be able to play as fast if you don't angle it.

  • Awesome helped a lot thanks

  • To the fellow whose pick slips around...my "trick" with my 1mm Dulop nylon pick (the black ones), is to take a leather hole punch and punch a hole thru it - approx 1/8" diameter, in the middle of the word "nylon"..that way I have "skin to skin" finger contact. Works for me with no slippage. Works also for any kind of pick. Thanks Richard for the instructional video...always willing to learn more...mc

  • i got one of those as well, thanks man will try that asap. i got a 3 hole-punch/ ruler is that the same as ur leather one? if not it might be best for me to leave it alone, lemme know alrite?

  • I just use what I have - a simple hand held punch - the kind to make a hole in a belt - just experiment with size, any punch - the worst that can happen is you ruin a good pick - 30 cents - oh well. Glad to be of help.

  • thanks :)

  • i use heavy/extra heavy jim dunlop picks, and ive always had trouble keeping the pick between my index finger and thumb, it slips and slides while im trying to play thrash metal (Metallica, Pantera Etc), and i hold my pick in the middle of my index finger and thumb as if i were making a fist, but my Middle, ring and pinky are straight out. Am i holding it wrong? any input is appreciated. thanks.

  • Probably digging too deep/playing too hard, start out slow and work your way up to a thrash....it's basically just practice but you need to be attacking with just the tip..

  • ..that was for metallicametalgodsx but it didn't seem to reply to him :\

  • Comment removed

  • There are Many many many choices to choose from when it comes to choosing the right pick for you.

    I personally love the feel, and sound of a metal crafted. I use a pick called "Ice Pix" they are have different sizes, thin, med, heavy. I love the feeling of the Medium Ice Pix.

    I only recommend these picks to people who like picks that don't have much flexibility.

    Has unique sound and great for what I play.

  • Thanks, I've been playing guitar for years and years, and sometimes you just need a reminder to relax you're wrist and just someone telling you that makes a huge difference.

    Watching this videos gets me in the mood to jam.

    Thanks

    -J

  • Thank you so much for your video! I really appreciate the fact that you're really explaining in great details the angles and everything else we should know about holding the pick. I've been playing guitar for a little while know when I recently realized it would be hard to perform the palm muting technique the way I was holding my pick. Your video was extremely helpfull for me to correct my technique.

  • i do your method exept i rest my pinkie nd wedding finger on the pick gaurd

    is that also fine ??

  • Its not ideal although it can still work well.

    I believe that there is no 'correct' way to do anything. With guitar, I have looked for the most effective and symapthetic ways to hold the pick. If you hold your fingers on the pick guard, you are compromising flexibility, reach and you are relying on your thumb joint for your movement rather than the wrist.

    Experiment for at least 28 days thoroughly with each way. I look forward to hearing to result...

  • cool

  • Owned.

  • that was just greate :) thank you for the video you are just GREATE!

  • very useful

  • i hold the pick by having my middle finger and index finger holding one part, and my thumb on the other, is that good?

  • No, you should be using ure index and thumb to hold your pick, and ure middle finger to support your index finger, it shud not touch the pick.

    hope this helps

  • thats right :-)

  • I like this lesson. I've been holding my pick the wrong way for way too long. One question though. I always hit strings with either my thumb (mostly) and my index. In other words, there's almost always flesh touching the strings, together with the pick (or before or after the pick hits them). Is this a problem?

    I also have trouble playing chords really fast, like tremolo picking powerchords and such... Please help me! grtz

  • I have the EXACT same proplems/questions as tomschelfaut, pls help us! xD

  • Hi do u think that style of holdin the pick is good for shredding?

  • its the best way ! esp for shredding where efficiency is key!

  • ok thanks and one more thing should the thumb lay flat on the pick? cauz i see some people shredding and their thumb is bent, its like they're holding the pick with the tip of their thumb?

  • dare i say it - using the tip of the thumb is poor technique! i compromises the natural flow of the hand and creates tension.

  • Ok thanks for ur time!

  • pleasure - have fun!

  • Awesome vid, check out my glass guitar pick posted on youtube!

  • Excellent, thank you... I just started about 6 weeks ago learning the guitar and I found you video very helpful.

  • I've been playing for 17 years and am still struggling with the ideal way for me to hold the pick, especially since I've hit a wall with developing speed. I really enjoyed your explanations, thanks for making this video!

  • this is off topic...

    but what would be a great starter guitar.....

  • Fender Stratocaster

  • fender stratocastor or gibson les paul.

  • lol gibson les paul? for a starter? he didnt say advanced player who has money to spare and is absoultely sure that playing guitar is right for him

  • fine,get an epiphone les paul so.

    i find its so much easier to play than a strat.

  • banjo

  • Very useful video, thanks very much. In my case will stop me forming bad habits from the start!

  • i do this and my finger is now crooked

  • lol is playing limp bizkit when show how to pick the strings

  • Nice Vid. Some people don't make a closed fist (they let their fingers sort of dangle). But I've found that the closed fist method cuts down on unwanted pick noise across the strings. It's all about technique!

  • So Great, Keep up the work, this helped me so much.Thanks

  • Same here!

  • When i hold the pick like the my index finger also hits the string or comes close. Any advice?

  • Are you curling your index finger slightly. Check out the part of the vid that shows the finger before the pick is placed on it.

  • when i'm holding the pick like i'm supposed to i can't seem to keep my other 3 fingers straight, they keep wanting to curl in toward my palm...does this mean that i'm not doing it correctly? or do i just need more practice?

  • Actually it's better if they are slightly curled as you are doing naturally. Nice one! Rich

  • thanks! phew, i was ready to give up!

  • I'v been playing guitar for a couple of years now and I hold the pick in a really wierd way but it is comfortable. Could someone give me advice whether to hold the pick proper or keep holding the way I do?

  • Well KalMac07 I suggest you to learn to hold the pick properly because maybe the way you're holding the pick now might seem confortable but it also might turn into an obstacle as you improve, the best when learning to play any instrument is to listen experienced players like Richard. Yes, doing things right can be quite a challenge at the beginning but believe me, these things, like how to hold the pick, can make a huge difference in your progress.

    Cheers

  • i have been playing for years also and i use to hold the pick with my thumb-first-and middle fingers.. it was so comfortable for me. but i always struggled with fast alternate picking.. and usually gave up and did other stuff.. i forced myself to use only my thumb and first finger ... it felt like i was out of control .. like trying to learn how to ride a bike all over again. but after about a month. i started to alternate pick fast and effortlessly... i was amazed .. hope this helps :)

  • I'm the same way mate. I've been playing for years and my strumming and picking ways of holding the pick are completely different. I thought it best to learn the proper way so I can strum and pick without ever having to adjust.

  • we found a speaking pick, and it was strange,the one that made the video disapeared

  • Hey, thanks for the lesson. How about having your pinky touch the guitar ? Is that a good idea ? I have been playing since 4-5 years and its only recently I found out that anchoring is not good. If you see my videos, I have _two_ fingers fixed on the guitar body :(

  • No, stop anchoring.

  • Orbit is right, man! Anchoring isn't a MAJOR issue but if you can let go of the comfort blanket, it's worth doing. Especially for your rhythm playing.

  • Hiya man (: Well i'm having some problems with this, i'm holding the pick correctly though sometimes my indexfinger slips out from the 90 degree angle (Against the guitar) and i end up hitting the idexfinger against the strings.. And sometimes the edge of my finger points out in the other direction of the pic but at the same length, i've tried to lenghten the pick but then i cant play fast so what should i do? / Vick

  • Sounds like it's just about getting the right angle and the right direction of pressure when you grip. Is there any way you can post a video and I can see exactly what's going on?

  • oh god!

    i´ve been playing e-guitar with a pick for nearly 3 years and i´ve been holding the pick totally wrong from day one

    i mean i´m a good guitarist for my age (i'm 14) but i´m afraid that i will get serious problems with some new tecniques i´m going to learn

    is it still fixable?

  • Yes, it's always 'fixable'. Remember that to make an omelette, you will need to break a few eggs! In other words, the switch over to a new way of playing may mean that you live in an in between like state for a while where everything may go a bit crazy! Also, remember that if your way of picking is working and getting the results you want, you may be fine as you are. This is the recommended way to pick for most people. Check out Zakk Wylde he gets great results and breaks all the 'rules'.

  • Richard do you have any tips on doing pinch/artificial harmonics while using this technique? I've only been playing for 2 months so it shouldn't be THAT hard to correct my bad habit since is isn't completely engraved into my fingers, but I just can't seem to get a pinch harmonic while in this position.

  • Dude!

    I have 2 ideas:

    1. Make sure that you only have a bout 1mm of the pick point showing.

    When you pick, make sure that the side of your thumb (some where close to the digit knuckle or lower) catches the string as you pick. Follow the picking motion through (as in golf!) rather than an stabbing attack and note that although its called a pinch - its not really!

    2. Play around with point 1. as much as you can!

  • Hi Richard, great video; by far the most thoroughly explained one I've found. Just one quick question though, I use an acoustic, and I find that when using this particular grip on the pick that it sounds too hard, and I struggle to be honest. I find to combat this I change my grip have 3 fingers facing perpendicular to the strings, but then I struggle to play any lead with this grip. Should I just percervere with strumming with the grip you suggest?  Many thanks : )

  • Yes, It will get easier and as you relax in to this way of playing, you will find that experience takes care of so much. BTW Sorry for the late reply - oops!

  • I'm starting to sound pretty good...  Thanks for the help

  • This video helped me with almost everything...

    I'm having trouble with my 3rd,4th,and 5th fingers.He talked a little about a karate chop.

    I want to play (among other things) shred.

    It's really bothering me does anyone have some advice?

  • i've been playing guitar for about 6-8 years and i'e had problems using a pick from the very beginning so basically been ignoring using one, mainly focused on fingerplaying etc.

    And yours (this) video is the best one ive seen so far explaining how to control this good.

    Thank you!

    (Subscribed)

  • i have been playing guitar for 6years and for all this time i thought i was doing everything correct but recently some one told me i hold the pick wrong so here i am serching on youtube to find the correct way, i would just like to say that your videos the only one out there that actually explains it. thanks for taking the time to make such a great video. hopefully ill be playing better again soon, ill never go back to the old way i held the pick!

  • I am so pleased that the video is helping so many folks understand the reasons for picking this way.Just thought I would offer some advice if you are in the 'change' of picking styles. You may find that for the next month or so you loose all ability to play anything - ha ha. Reason is you will be loosing your old ways and still be digesting the new ways! You may find it interesting to know that a new habit takes 21-28 days! Stick with it for at l;east 21 days.Enjoy the journey and Happy playing.

  • you're the only person who's actually explained why this way of picking is good, as well as the problems that beginners see with this style and how to overcome it. This is extremely useful, and now I have a better view of how to accurately strum as well. Thank you very much!

  • Thanks for all the kind words. Very pleased that you have got something out of the vid.

  • Thanks, best picking video out there.

  • Great vid. Thanks for the info.

  • Nice video, thanks.

  • very informative, thank you.

    =]

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