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How To Hold The Pick – Lesson 4

Alicia Willis

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  • Nov 11, 2019
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    I figured this would be the best place to ask this question (hopefully)

    So, I do in fact hold my pick this way for virtually everything I do.

    but, I find, when I am playing my acoustic using open chords, its difficult. the pick seems to slip out of my fingers or will literally move around until I'm playing with the pack of the pick lol (I don't have this issue when I'm doing other things) so wasn't sure if it was due to holding this way, or the pick I'm using itself, because obviously I use a different pick for my acoustic than I do my electric. I do tend to like a looser grip when I'm strumming on my acoustic so that may be some of it, but even when I make a conscious effort to hold more firmly, I still have this issue.. does anyone have any thoughts on this ?
     

    idssdi

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    Nov 11, 2019
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    I figured this would be the best place to ask this question (hopefully)

    So, I do in fact hold my pick this way for virtually everything I do.

    but, I find, when I am playing my acoustic using open chords, its difficult. the pick seems to slip out of my fingers or will literally move around until I'm playing with the pack of the pick lol (I don't have this issue when I'm doing other things) so wasn't sure if it was due to holding this way, or the pick I'm using itself, because obviously I use a different pick for my acoustic than I do my electric. I do tend to like a looser grip when I'm strumming on my acoustic so that may be some of it, but even when I make a conscious effort to hold more firmly, I still have this issue.. does anyone have any thoughts on this ?
    I change the way I hold my pick depending on what I play. For example, when I do fast picking stuff I'll hold my pick the way it's shown here. When I then strum or play gypsy jazz it may change a little bit depending on what's comfortable to do what I want to do. Sometimes I play without a pick whatsoever, look up videos of Marty Friedman playing and you'll realize that it's very much about what's comfortable for you and not so much a rulebook or whatever.
     
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    Alicia Willis

    Moderator
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  • Nov 11, 2019
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    Lexington, South Carolina
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    I change the way I hold my pick depending on what I play. For example, when I do fast picking stuff I'll hold my pick the way it's shown here. When I then strum or play gypsy jazz it may change a little bit depending on what's comfortable to do what I want to do. Sometimes I play without a pick whatsoever, look up videos of Marty Friedman playing and you'll realize that it's very much about what's comfortable for you and not so much a rulebook or whatever.
    Thanks ids ! I guess I just need to try some different things lol. I think it’s hard now because I just automatically go to hold it this way, since I’ve always done it like this lol
     
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    Saoirse Byrne

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    Nov 11, 2019
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    I held my pick “wrong” for 12 years 😂 I only realised there was a right way to hold it after watching this lesson, then I immediately changed it. It was awkward at first but that was a year ago now and it feels completely natural now. I’ve noticed my playing is less sloppy and easier to pick up speed since changing.
     
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    Kim

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    Nov 11, 2019
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    Very good and helpfull lesson for me. I used to hold the pick wrong for over a year and changed it few months ago, at same time I changed my hand (pinky used to rest on guitar). What helped me changing it, was to play stuff that was easy for me and then get used to how to hold the pick. After 1 week it got better and now it feels weird to play like I used to do.
     
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    ari.mac

    Hot Topic Tourer
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  • Jul 16, 2020
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    I figured this would be the best place to ask this question (hopefully)

    So, I do in fact hold my pick this way for virtually everything I do.

    but, I find, when I am playing my acoustic using open chords, its difficult. the pick seems to slip out of my fingers or will literally move around until I'm playing with the pack of the pick lol (I don't have this issue when I'm doing other things) so wasn't sure if it was due to holding this way, or the pick I'm using itself, because obviously I use a different pick for my acoustic than I do my electric. I do tend to like a looser grip when I'm strumming on my acoustic so that may be some of it, but even when I make a conscious effort to hold more firmly, I still have this issue.. does anyone have any thoughts on this ?
    this is what happens to me too (but with the electric)!!!
     
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    Ed Seith

    Supreme Galactic Overlord
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  • Nov 11, 2019
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    Hey
    What about angle of the pick?

    Ideally you want the pick to strike the string at a slight angle, but EXACTLY what angle will be up to you, and may change from style to style. It's about finding the tone you seek with your pick. But a slight angle (not flat pick against string) will generally allow for faster picking overall.
     
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    J. Vader

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    Oct 29, 2021
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    I have struggled for about 20 years to be able to do those quick successive alternate picks, like when playing Crazy Train, in that part when you play the A string 3x muted and strum the chords in succession, I could never get it. I tried it with this pick position, and got it with ease. My pick always got hung up when I tried to upstroke quickly. This is the stuff you miss when you just teach yourself and never have someone teach you the basics properly.