Chugga chugga picking style

[Isaac Elekes]

Hi guys! Nowadays I really started to focus on my rhythm playing (fast galloping, downpicking etc). I holded my pick with 2 fingers but today I tried holding the pick like James Hetfield with 3 fingers. First it was weird, then I got used to it. Should I stick to my old picking style or is the 3 finger picking style more beneficial for rhythm playing? Rock on!!

 

[Ed Seith]

I don’t think how you hold the pick matters tons for that, except for where your comfort zone is. Het’s grip works for Het, but that doesn’t mean it’s especially good or great for anyone else, and it’s certainly not “best” for fast downpicking, in a general sense.

 

[Calvin Phillips]

I use 3 fingers. 2 and the thumb. One thing that troubles me is palm muting. The middle sometimes brushes the string.

 

[Ethan Keeling]

I used to use 3 fingers but my guitar teacher old me off and said I needed to use 2 fingers if I wanted to alternate pick easier, so now I use 2 fingers

 

[Calvin Phillips]

I definitely feel the advantages when I try with 2 but ideally to change my style is have to start from square one and so far I havent found enough struggles to do it.
Sometimes mid playing I’ll try to lift the middle finger to play with 2. 8 feel the 3rd fingers merely for extra support.

 

[idssdi]

I usually use two fingers because it make it easier to switch to something I need my other fingers for(hybrid picking come to mind) and it feels more comfortable to me which is probably the most important thing.

 

[Dominik Gräber]

I played with 3 Fingers when I started. Mainly because I didn’t know better. I dare to say that I can get pretty fast and heavy with my “chugging” nowadays and i Play with two Fingers now, how you’re “supposed to hold the pick”. So I really think its Just a Matter of 1. What you practice, 2. What feels comfortable for you and maybe also what you Play. (As Ids pointed Out hybrid Picking is easier with 2 Fingers)

 

[Calvin Phillips]

I tried playing with two but the biggest change I felt was the pick angle. The way I pluck is slightly angled different. But I’ve gotten so used to doing it this way for years and years the other way just feels awkward. So that’s where the struggles are. I think jak said she went through the change and feels better for it but truth be told I haven’t felt like I’m being really held back to wanna change. I imagine there will be a day where I have the time to work out a transition. But until that day comes I’m fairly content playing the way I do.

 

[Daniel Sobota]

For me the thickness of the pick plays a huge part in this. I prefer thicker picks, so I have to resort to using 3 fingers while having a thinner pick, because I just can’t get a nice grip.
The actual picking itself gets there with practice. Try many different things to find what suits you best, that’s my advice, kinda like what Ed said.

 

[Sayonil Mitra]

Do what is comfortable for you. Experiment with different grips before committing to one. Grips can/can not change over time. It really depends on the individual. My grip is not even close to what it was 4 yrs ago.

 

[Aiden Dollar]

Personally, I use two fingers to pick as I primarily use jazz picks. Thick picks too. I think it all comes down to the person and play style as many others have said. Like Sayonil mentioned, picking style changes. About 6 months ago I played only in a strumming position with my hand, while now I use a fist position to alt pick/solo, and use a strum position for strumming. Just do what you feel best with my guy.

 

[Isaac Elekes]

I tried playing with 3 fingers but it wan not the best so I changed it back. Now i cant downpick as I used to. Its soo weird, especially the fact that it happened in a few weeks. Somebody had a similar issue?