Fretting technique

[Ben Davella]

Re: Fretting technique

I think EVH did ok holding his pick the "wrong" way you described. If you can play clean and accurate, there is no wrong way to do anything as long as you aren't causing excessive tension in your body. I also think the main reason for proper aim at right behind the fret is it takes MUCH less pressure to properly fret the note. Try it and see just how little pressure it takes by moving around in between the same frets and how little pressure is required. The other positive is AIM EXACT!! Slow most of the time. Speed comes with time, accuracy does NOT. Not saying not to push your speed, but accuracy in the beginning is critical, Use good technique to build on and don't ingrain bad habits. Have fun and crank er!!

 

[Ben Davella]

Re: Fretting technique

Willy, just wanted to mention, there are books by"L.Herman" that are available on Amazon. For me, these books along with the Troy stuff are awesome. Dont let the advanced title scare you off. Not saying jumping in and playing all the stuff is in your level yet. But the insights are off the charts. Too tired to play sometimes? Read this guy's stuff. As you progress some, the word mode wont be so scary. Explained so simply, was a huge help for me. Have fun! Everybody was a beginner, no need to be sorry!

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Fretting technique

I could take proper technique further, but it can almost sound offensive to players that got good at bad fingering. The number one is players that grip a pick with two fingers and their thumb.

I was taught to hold a 'plectrum' by curling my 4 fingers, placing the 'plectrum' on my curled 1st finger and gripping/holding it in place with my thumb. Over time, I found that position was too stiff to have good timing and articulate phrases in an expressive, natural voice-like way.

Beyond that, the only times I found myself gripping the pick with two fingers and my thumb was when I was playing so much the metal strings had worn my 1st fingernail down to the flesh (quite painful), so I was really gripping the pick with my 2nd finger and thumb as a workaround. I had less strength and was a little less stable on my timing that way, but I got through gigs. That's when I hit on the idea of using a couple coats of clear nail polish on my 1st fingernail. From then on I was able to do 3-5 hour gigs using any pick-holding form I wanted.

 

[Ben Davella]

Re: Fretting technique

Thanks for the tip. Thats why I keep trying all these different picks. My hands are slippery and again, all that tension SQUEEZING too hard. I like Tortex and now think Ultex even more.