How do you hold yours?

[RadioElectric]

Your pick, that is.

I've always held the pick between my middle finger and my thumb, my index finger is usually on it too but I don't think it does much work. I did worry upon discovering it's not the "proper" way that'd it'd disadvantage me but apparently it's how EVH and Steve Morse hold theirs.

Does anybody here really do the "pinching between thumb and side of index finger" thing? It's all I see recommended in books etc.

[dafuzz]

I recently (last year) changed my pick-holding technique. I used to use my thumb and the pad of my first finger - consequently the pick angled upwards instead of down. It really held me back in terms of sweeping, alternate picking and pinch harmonics, so I relied heavily on legato techniques. On acoustic I always always played finger-style.

Now I use the side of the first finger - it was a bit uncomfortable at first but didn't take that long at all to get used to. Now my picking is better than ever.

[Nik Harrison]

I use a three fingered grip (thumb/ first and second fingers) like Steve Morse/ Pat Metheny/ Eddie Van Halen. Apparently it's common if you've played classical guitar first and then moved to electric (which I did). Don't know for sure whether or not that's just because it's closer to the position the right hand adopts playing classical guitar, but it makes the pick/fingers (hybrid picking) technique at best a pain in the arse, and in my hands - virtually impossible! That's one technique I just can't use at all!

[frankus]

The first three plus Nik's way .. also pinned to my palm by the little finger

[RadioElectric]

Originally Posted by Nik Harrison

I use a three fingered grip (thumb/ first and second fingers) like Steve Morse/ Pat Metheny/ Eddie Van Halen.

I was analysing my picking after making this thread last night. By the looks of things I hold the plectrum between my middle finger and thumb and then I use the first finger as a reinforcement and to adjust the angle of the tip. Do you have an arrangement like that or do both fingers do equal jobs?

Originally Posted by Nik Harrison

Apparently it's common if you've played classical guitar first and then moved to electric (which I did). Don't know for sure whether or not that's just because it's closer to the position the right hand adopts playing classical guitar

That makes a lot of sense to me. I started learning to play in school on a 3/4 classical guitar. I think when I switched to electric I just put a plectrum in my hand and moved the side of my hand down onto the bridge for muting.

Originally Posted by Nik Harrison

it makes the pick/fingers (hybrid picking) technique at best a pain in the arse, and in my hands - virtually impossible! That's one technique I just can't use at all!

I've found that I can bring the plectrum up into the palm of my hand and play without it quite easily, not as good as hybrid picking but it helps for some songs. (EDIT: Actually, it looks like I hold it with my index finger so it's not as good as full fingerstyle.)

Has anyone here ever tried using a thumbpick? I considered adjusting my style to use one all of the time once, but I was studying for exams at the time and must have completely forgotten about it. I have a set of metal fingerpicks as well but they're less useful in my opinion.

[musophilr]

1st poll option.

BTW I use a rigid pick. Light grip = soft tone, low volume, small transient. Tight grip = aggressive tone, high volume, big transient.

Picking action requires slight wrist rotation plus a downward shove with the thumb to maintain pick angle to string is parallel as possible, and NO forearm! Index finger tends to "pull" pick on an upstroke.

[thereformant]

Mostly thumb and side of index finger but can slip down to middle finger if I want to use the index finger for tapping or a harmonic.

[islater]

After years of using my fingers I've recently started using oicks between my thumb and the side of my index finger. It was really hard at first to get used to it but I'm gradually getting there and can hear the benefits of this technique when I manage to change the dynamics of my playing. Mind you I have enough problem hitting the right notes at the right time without worrying about dynamics as well.

[clare_bear]

Thumb and side of index finger for me too - although I did have to think about that!

[Nik Harrison]

Originally Posted by RadioElectric

I was analysing my picking after making this thread last night. By the looks of things I hold the plectrum between my middle finger and thumb and then I use the first finger as a reinforcement and to adjust the angle of the tip. Do you have an arrangement like that or do both fingers do equal jobs?



That makes a lot of sense to me. I started learning to play in school on a 3/4 classical guitar. I think when I switched to electric I just put a plectrum in my hand and moved the side of my hand down onto the bridge for muting.



I've found that I can bring the plectrum up into the palm of my hand and play without it quite easily, not as good as hybrid picking but it helps for some songs. (EDIT: Actually, it looks like I hold it with my index finger so it's not as good as full fingerstyle.)

Has anyone here ever tried using a thumbpick? I considered adjusting my style to use one all of the time once, but I was studying for exams at the time and must have completely forgotten about it. I have a set of metal fingerpicks as well but they're less useful in my opinion.

The way I hold my pick, I try to balance and support it as much as possible with equal pressure between my thumb, and my 1st and 2nd fingers. This is because I use different picking angles and vary the pressure so that I can control the tone better than if I had a more static or "prescribed" technique. If I'm going to play with my fingers I either palm the pick, or stick it in my mouth. I much prefer to play with just my fingers, or a pick, and I never use both at the same time. I've practised enough with my fingers so that I've got a strong technical facility which can accomodate the kind of playing that you would use the hybrid picking technique to achieve. I also fret notes with my right hand a lot, and if I hold my pick with the side of my first finger and thumb, I find it difficult to successfully "escape" from! I also use my index finger "i" and ring finger "a" to fret notes within linear passages on one string which means that I don't have to palm my pick because it can stay between my thumb "p" and second finger "m".

Regarding thumbpicks and fingerpicks, I've tried them but I find them very restrictive. I like the options and control that are available from a pick much better.