LazyLightning
New member
Hi Folks,
Back when I first started playing I began playing a Fender Jazz Base ( yes original, vintage and had no idea till I went to sell it for a guitar set up aprox 9 months later ) Anywho.... I was learning to play bass with fingers instead of a pick ( just loved the sound and flexibility it opened up )
Fast forward I quickly decided I wanted to play guitar, and getting used to a pick took some time. Now picking, be it alternate or other I have no issues. When it comes to any type of strumming, with a gun to my head I would be unable to keep the pick from turning within 30secs. It always turns inward ( towards palm & bridge ) and needless to say it is seriously frustrating. Now I realize A LOT of it may be due to poor technique combined with completely learning how to play all over again. That said I will continue to try and work on my grip so I can keep the pick under better control. I currently use a set of Dunlop .73mm which for what I play is a good in between gauge IMHO!
I do have a few disabilities, one of which is Multiple Sclerosis, which you may or may not know can cause numbness as well as a plethora of other nervous system issues. I don't want to use it as a scapegoat and just continue bad technique, but at what point am I trying to work through something that is literally never gonna happen.
So to shorten this before it gets WAY out of hand, I decided to modify a couple of my current picks. I have taken one of those very thin ( aprox 1mm thick ) rubber textured jar openers, cut out a small dime sized circle and super glued it to the wide my thumb grips.
Before I tried using an emery board to scar up the top of the pick with limited success. I also took a razor and did some crosshatched scoring on both the front and back of a pick ( this helped a bit more, but still ended up turning )
The above mentioned mod with the rubber grip seems to have solved the issue completely.
I am asking for hard honest input/answers, am I taking the easy way around an issue I may conquer with practice, or am I just making the best of the cards dealt ( in respect to the MS )?
If the latter I have found a set of prefabricated pics that just may be exactly what I am looking for:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Dava-Grip-Tips-Delrin-Medium-108746348-i1123804.gc
The problem I see with theses is the "grip" goes way to far down and may impact playing. The two I have mod'ed I have not let the rubber go below halfway so there is no interference.
I have also heard some with similar issues say that drilling holes in or buying already drilled picks helps dramatically as well.
I still have about 8 of the Dunlop set I have to mod myself, but would love some input from those of you more experienced!
Sorry for the depressingly long post!
Take Care & Hope to hear some helpful feedback soon, you guys have yet to let me down!
TIA
Chris
Back when I first started playing I began playing a Fender Jazz Base ( yes original, vintage and had no idea till I went to sell it for a guitar set up aprox 9 months later ) Anywho.... I was learning to play bass with fingers instead of a pick ( just loved the sound and flexibility it opened up )
Fast forward I quickly decided I wanted to play guitar, and getting used to a pick took some time. Now picking, be it alternate or other I have no issues. When it comes to any type of strumming, with a gun to my head I would be unable to keep the pick from turning within 30secs. It always turns inward ( towards palm & bridge ) and needless to say it is seriously frustrating. Now I realize A LOT of it may be due to poor technique combined with completely learning how to play all over again. That said I will continue to try and work on my grip so I can keep the pick under better control. I currently use a set of Dunlop .73mm which for what I play is a good in between gauge IMHO!
I do have a few disabilities, one of which is Multiple Sclerosis, which you may or may not know can cause numbness as well as a plethora of other nervous system issues. I don't want to use it as a scapegoat and just continue bad technique, but at what point am I trying to work through something that is literally never gonna happen.
So to shorten this before it gets WAY out of hand, I decided to modify a couple of my current picks. I have taken one of those very thin ( aprox 1mm thick ) rubber textured jar openers, cut out a small dime sized circle and super glued it to the wide my thumb grips.
Before I tried using an emery board to scar up the top of the pick with limited success. I also took a razor and did some crosshatched scoring on both the front and back of a pick ( this helped a bit more, but still ended up turning )
The above mentioned mod with the rubber grip seems to have solved the issue completely.
I am asking for hard honest input/answers, am I taking the easy way around an issue I may conquer with practice, or am I just making the best of the cards dealt ( in respect to the MS )?
If the latter I have found a set of prefabricated pics that just may be exactly what I am looking for:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Dava-Grip-Tips-Delrin-Medium-108746348-i1123804.gc
The problem I see with theses is the "grip" goes way to far down and may impact playing. The two I have mod'ed I have not let the rubber go below halfway so there is no interference.
I have also heard some with similar issues say that drilling holes in or buying already drilled picks helps dramatically as well.
I still have about 8 of the Dunlop set I have to mod myself, but would love some input from those of you more experienced!
Sorry for the depressingly long post!
Take Care & Hope to hear some helpful feedback soon, you guys have yet to let me down!
TIA
Chris
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