Hitting my hand with the strings

[Dominik Gräber]

Hey guys! I am currently learning some more metal songs and therefore started holding the pick the “correct” way like taught in the school (again). But I noticed when strumming or palm muting + switching strings I often “smash” part of my hand into the strings and hit my index finger while playing which hurts after some time. Thoughts on this? Did you do that once too?

 

[Jak Angelescu]

Do you mean like your index finger of your rhythm hand kind of hits the strings when you strum? Like either the tip of it or the inner knuckle?

 

[idssdi]

It’s probably a good idea to not have too little of the top of the pick open. Also maybe try to use a floating hand when you’re not palm muting since that makes it less likely to hit stings randomly. Also in general it takes a while to get really used to it so maybe give it some time for yourself to get used to holding it that way.
I’m not entirely sure I ever had that problem but my memory doesn’t really serve me well all the time

 

[Dominik Gräber]

Yes @jak Like the inner knuckle. It does Not really affect my playing, Just Hurts.
@Ids I feel Like I am too slow at downpicking If I let too much of the Pick open

 

[idssdi]

Hmm I’m not sure. I tried to figure out by playing but couldn’t really. Maybe your press the pick too tight that may cause some strain in your knuckle but I’m not sure about this at all.

 

[Dominik Gräber]

I have my Other Fingers stretched Out so maybe this is why my Index Finger comes closer to the strings

 

[Filip Tomiša]

I can relate to hitting my index on the strings but i can handle the pain but eventually i start holding a pick a bit different so i don’t hit it anymore.
I tried holding the pick like PG shows in the lessons but it feels very unnatural to me and i can’t really play like that so i don’t really worry if i’mm holding the pick correctly cause everyone holds it differently.
I can tell you that it became much easier to play when i switched back to .73 pick. I first started on it and the i started using 1.14 because in my mind i tought like this: the thicker the pick, the more metal riffs i can play and now after a long time i started using .73 and it feels waaaaay better.

 

[Jak Angelescu]

I have actually had to change how I hold the rest of my fingers on my right hand because playing classical style I have slightly longer fingernails now. And my index finger tip nail had a big tendency to catch all the strings. However before that, when I 1st started out with the new picking method, I too had a big problem with having my index finger middle knuckle hitting the strings constantly and it hurt really badly. I’m going to send you a picture on Instagram of how my hand looks when I hold my pick. Because if I could explain it the best my index finger is really snug tightly curled underneath itself and my thumb is completely over it almost protecting it. My thumb’s fingernail points in the same direction as my index finger big knuckle and practically covers it entirely. I think your situation might be more of a thumb placement than anything else

 

[Calvin Phillips]

I hold my pick “wrong ” i tried pgs way.m and syns. Both felt unnatural. I also see that people change up how they hold the pick as they change styles. Ala shred to strum.. etc.
Each thing might require you to hold the pick a little different depending how you play. Find what feels most comfortable.

 

[Dominik Gräber]

@filip I may try thinner picks but really don’t like them. At the moment I use a Jazz III XL.
@jak not sure, maybe your picture helps.
@calvin I know and I will continue to hold the pick that way I feel is the best for a certain situation but I want to know what I am doing wrong when holding the pick a certain way

 

[Filip Tomiša]

@dominik yeah i wasn’t a fan of thin picks either but when i tried playing the acoustic with a thick pick i didn’t like it at all so i switched back to a thinner one and started liking it more and more

 

[idssdi]

I play with 3.5 mm picks on acoustic so not sure that’s really the problem

 

[Filip Tomiša]

There’s nothing wrong with playing an acoustic with a thick pick, I’m just saying that i personally didn’t like the feeling and that’s why i switched to a thinner one and i then tried it on electric and it feltbway better for me and my picking.

 

[idssdi]

I’m not saying you shouldn’t use a thin pick because the pick you use is always just personal preference

 

[Calvin Phillips]

Thinner acoustic picks makes a better strum.. more loose soft sounding. But picking will be a tad more difficult.. atleast from my experiences.