Oct 18 2008
How To Hold A Guitar Pick
When holding your pick (Plectrum) between the tip of your first finger and thumb. Don’t hold the pick too far out nor too far back. Try not to hold it too tight or too loose. At first when you play the pick will move around in your fingers. That doesn’t mean you are not holding it tight enough. You simply need to practice the up and down (strumming) movement.
In this picture the player is showing you her pick, she plays with her hand closed.
While some others with leave the last three fingers extended. It’s really up to you, what feels more comfortable.
Some common errors we often see are people who hold the pick to high up on the index or leaving the pick stinking out too much. Doing so will interfere with the sound of your picking and slow you down.
I used to hold the pick like this myself. I felt I could control it better. Then one day something awful happened. Someone wanted to show me how to pick and use my third finger…It was a bad habit that was hard to kick off so get used top it right from the start.
Plectrums
There are a wide variety of picks to choose from. Different material, gauge and style. Plastic, shell, and stone; thick, medium-thick, slim and super-slim; triangular and not so triangular; long, and short.What is important is if the pick pleases you. Do you like the grasp and the sound? Try as many as you can and see what suits your style best.
Guidelines:
- Blues use thicker picks because it really helps to give a “heavy” pluck
- Heavy metal or speed metal use thinner picks because you can play faster
- Slim and super-slim are fine to play light funk rhythmic chord lines
- Slim and super-slim were never good for rock and metal because their strength of attack is insufficient
- Jazz need thicker picks due to the typical thickness of jazz strings.
- Soloing Jim Dunlop Jazz III picks. These are thick picks, very small.
- Heavier pick will also accent an arpeggio pick
