how to hold a pick

danglybanger

danglybanger

ReelItInologist
I'm self taught, and I often teach myself f*cked up ways of doing things, and it's too late by the time I reallize how f*cked up it is. I've always held my pick with my hand basically in a fist and press the pick against the side of my index finger with the tip of my thumb.

Now I see that many guitarists rest their pinkie on the bridge/pickup, and have their fingers straight out, holding the pick with their thumb and index finger.

I tried resting my pinkie on the bridge, nearly impossible to play. Tried resting it on the bridge pickup, better, more articulate, but I can't reach the low strings as much and my attack seems diminished from limited movement. I can't keep my fingers straight out yet, that will take some practice.

So my question is, if I really want to get "good", should I switch technique? Will holding the pick in a fist be bad in the long run, or should I stick with it? I ain't too bad that way (alright, my playing sucks in general), but is it worth it to switch to "normal" technique?
thanks,
dan

also, is it necessary to rest your pinkie on the pickup during chording?
 
Re: how to hold a pick

not neccessary during chording, since you want as full sound as possible

i cant really see how you hold the pick but i'll just say how i hole mine:

place the pick on my index finger, with teh tip oif the pick and tip of finger pointing in same direction, then put thumb right over it. not a fist, though. and i usually have my other fingers free floating when i do fast picking with my wrist moving mostly.
 
Re: how to hold a pick

this is how i hold it.. usually with extended fingers (not all the way like hammet, but in a natural position) i dont like making a fist as it takes my strenght and speed away. the muscles in your forearm are extended if you leave your fingers in an extended natural position, which enables you to pick with less force, so you have enough speed and energy left for really fast breaks (think metallica - one machinegun rythm)

hope that helps a bit

*edit*
picture
a picture of a couple of years ago.. i'm holding it like this usually. no forced position in either way
 
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Re: how to hold a pick

I used to hold it a little differently too, but not in a fist, i now hold it the way davey has kindly illustrated for us..

EVH seemd to have a way of holding the pick in a fist too like your, but he also had about 3 other techniques for holding the pick that he seems to switch to effortlessly from one to another..But not many have the gift he did..
 
Re: how to hold a pick

I hold the pick like that but with the tip of my index instead of the side, I find it works better and sounds better when the pick is at a 35 degree angle to the strings instead of about a 90.
 
Re: how to hold a pick

Sorry, thats for rythm, for leads the pick is parrallel to the strings, for the most part.
 
Re: how to hold a pick

for rhythm i use a very limp wrist and hold the pick exactly how davey's pic looks, except i give some way when im playing. I find that the more i play that way, the more dynamics variations i'm capable of playing. For leads same way except with a firmer wrist.
 
Re: how to hold a pick

i hold my pick between my thumb and middle finger. i find it uncomfortable in my index. it is easier for me to fingertap this way, since my index is free. when tapping i hold the pick in my middle finger as it is hooked.
 
Re: how to hold a pick

To threadstarter: There's no wrong way, really. Whatever feels right. However, there are some positions and grips that are easier to shred with. The easiest to shred with (IMO) is holding the plectrum between your thumb and index tightly, fingers floating near the guitar, or resting your palm on the strings or the bridge. That has downsides though. I can never get the right pick attack or note attack that I want. So the way I hold my pick is with the index and thumb, loosely.

I hold the pick loosely, and try to make a strong connection with the strings. I find I get the best sound that way, and shredding is also fairly comfortable in that hand position. Also, I rest the palm of my picking hand on the strings, near the middle pickup.
 
Re: how to hold a pick

I have been wondering the differences in playing it makes by the way you hold a pick. When I started playing I held it between the tip of my middle finger and my thumb. It has been fine on my strat up intill I started looking into some guitars with more shred appeal. Shredding on a bridge with less distance between the tip of the bridge and the strings is really difficult holding the pick like that. Hopefully I can work something out, because I would like a guitar with lower and faster action, and a better bridge for palm muting.
 
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