Members nuke_diver Posted April 18, 2009 Members Share Posted April 18, 2009 Since I'm having a bad day playing and looking for something to blame it on I'll blame it on the way I hold the pick. I know its wrong and I've been trying to change to something more conventional...though it may already be too late for an old dog like me. So rather than struggle with my playing today (which probably has nothing to do with the technique and more just one of those days ) I'll post this in hopes of some good advice from the fine Members of HCEG The reason I decided I should change is because now that I'm doing a bit more lead with rhythmn playing the nail on my index finger often strikes the string before the pick while playing rhythmn. This has 2 effects, one is to wear down the nail unevenly and the second and more critical is often some unwanted noise. With a more conventional method I get less of this noise but I think I hear a difference in tone and it certainly feels different. So should I try and work though this problem and adapt the more conventional method (thinking like changing a golf swing initially you do worse but eventually you will get to a higher level of play) or is it just going to be a source of frustration? For the record my "normal" way to hold is with the pick pinched between the thumb and the index with the 2 forming a O. I think I developed this when I started taking lessons and playing leads, I don't recall this when I was only strumming acoustic guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wimpy77 Posted April 19, 2009 Members Share Posted April 19, 2009 if your nail is striking the string first you're holding the pick to close the tip sounds like. choke up a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nuke_diver Posted April 19, 2009 Author Members Share Posted April 19, 2009 bumping in the hopes of getting more wimpy77 it's true I hold the pick close to get the control during lead playing but the nail striking is also a function of the way I hold since on a downstroke the index finger is leading the pick and unless I leave a lot of pick exposed it can hit first...and a lot of pick makes switching back to a lead play more difficult...kind of I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members metallica_00 Posted April 19, 2009 Members Share Posted April 19, 2009 I think most people hold the pick between index and thumb. At least that's what I do. It honestly just seems like you need to work on your accuracy. I play using those tiny little Dunlop Jazz II picks, so I never have much pick exposed, but I never have trouble hitting the strings with my finger first. Picking is kind of strange - it needs to be very precise, but you need to be somewhat loose in order to be fluid too. Maybe you should look up some exercises. When I was starting out I did picking exercises with a metronome, only maybe 15-20 minutes daily tops, just picking muted strings and practicing downstrokes, upstrokes, alternates, and string skipping in different patterns and trying to lock in with the metronome cleanly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nuke_diver Posted April 19, 2009 Author Members Share Posted April 19, 2009 I think most people hold the pick between index and thumb. At least that's what I do. They do but most of you hold it with the thumb and index finger slightly crossed I think like this guy http://www.dolphinstreet.com/guitar_video_lessons/lesson-46.php I hold it with the tips of both thumb and index to the tip of the pick as if I was going to pinch it. I think it's pretty much like his "not recommended" potion. And I don't hit the strings when I'm picking like doing metronome drills I hit it when strumming (big motions not small ones if you know what I mean). Unfortunately I don't have any way to show this and am not doing a good job of articulating it it seems Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members metallica_00 Posted April 19, 2009 Members Share Posted April 19, 2009 They do but most of you hold it with the thumb and index finger slightly crossed I think like this guy http://www.dolphinstreet.com/guitar_video_lessons/lesson-46.php I hold it with the tips of both thumb and index to the tip of the pick as if I was going to pinch it. I think it's pretty much like his "not recommended" potion. And I don't hit the strings when I'm picking like doing metronome drills I hit it when strumming (big motions not small ones if you know what I mean). Unfortunately I don't have any way to show this and am not doing a good job of articulating it it seems No, it's hard to explain things like that verbally but I see what you are saying...while I hold it with those two fingers, they are sort of at an angle with each other, almost perpendicular. I tried holding it the way I think you are doing it (Maybe if you would say the fingers are crossed in the link you showed above, yours are more parallel? Does that make sense?). It seems like it would put your wrist at a funky angle that would be more awkward to play with. I dunno, I might consider adjusting. It depends on how much you feel it would set back your playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nuke_diver Posted April 19, 2009 Author Members Share Posted April 19, 2009 I am considering adjusting It seems to sound different to me which is part of the problem of adjusting, not as clear and clean. But some of that could be in my head and some of it real as I try to adjust to the different technique. On Friday I tried and more or less was ok, yesterday I tried my metronome drills and they suffered which was the reason for the original post. Later on I played using the more correct technique and seem to play ok. Today I was ok till the metronome again...stuggled and gave up and will try again in a few hours. Today though my right hand hurt some so I think I am gripping the pick too tight, probably cause I'm focussing too hard on holding it in a new way Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Maess Posted April 19, 2009 Members Share Posted April 19, 2009 choke up on the pick and make more of a 'v' shape than on 'o' shape with your thumb and forefinger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 9ball Posted April 19, 2009 Members Share Posted April 19, 2009 For the record my "normal" way to hold is with the pick pinched between the thumb and the index with the 2 forming a O. i dont know what this means. and "O"? ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Maess Posted April 19, 2009 Members Share Posted April 19, 2009 i dont know what this means. and "O"? ... pretty sure he means an o as in when you make the ok sign. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 9ball Posted April 19, 2009 Members Share Posted April 19, 2009 pretty sure he means an o as in when you make the ok sign. im not going to look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Saturn Posted April 19, 2009 Members Share Posted April 19, 2009 It sounds like you hold the pick the same way I do but I don't find it to be a problem. I actually will hit the strings with my fingernail on purpouse to get a kind of a chunck sound. If you want to play cleanly and not hit the string with your nail just curl the index finger in tword the palm of your hand then you can pick cleanly. Bringing your finger out you can dig in for pitch harmonic with the edge of your thumb or hit with the nail for that chunk sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members frankenstone Posted April 20, 2009 Members Share Posted April 20, 2009 Learn from the master: [YOUTUBE][/YOUTUBE] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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