How To Hold The Pick – Lesson 4

[Kim]

Aw thanks so much You'll get there if you aren't already, just takes some time and consistency (ive been at it for 2 years!)

You only play 2 years, omg! Keep up the good work!

 

[Emilee Franklin]

I've been holding it wrong for years. :O Now the challenge of trying to retrain the brain! Yikes! Great video!

 

[Rios1128]

Aunque me abruma el hecho de cambiar la postura de la púa, aún estoy a tiempo, llevó 2 años practicando y creo que puedo dar marcha atrás y corregir.

 

[Alicia Willis]

I figured this would be the best place to ask this question (hopefully)

So, I do in fact hold my pick this way for virtually everything I do.

but, I find, when I am playing my acoustic using open chords, its difficult. the pick seems to slip out of my fingers or will literally move around until I'm playing with the pack of the pick lol (I don't have this issue when I'm doing other things) so wasn't sure if it was due to holding this way, or the pick I'm using itself, because obviously I use a different pick for my acoustic than I do my electric. I do tend to like a looser grip when I'm strumming on my acoustic so that may be some of it, but even when I make a conscious effort to hold more firmly, I still have this issue.. does anyone have any thoughts on this ?

 

[idssdi]

I figured this would be the best place to ask this question (hopefully)

So, I do in fact hold my pick this way for virtually everything I do.

but, I find, when I am playing my acoustic using open chords, its difficult. the pick seems to slip out of my fingers or will literally move around until I'm playing with the pack of the pick lol (I don't have this issue when I'm doing other things) so wasn't sure if it was due to holding this way, or the pick I'm using itself, because obviously I use a different pick for my acoustic than I do my electric. I do tend to like a looser grip when I'm strumming on my acoustic so that may be some of it, but even when I make a conscious effort to hold more firmly, I still have this issue.. does anyone have any thoughts on this ?

I change the way I hold my pick depending on what I play. For example, when I do fast picking stuff I'll hold my pick the way it's shown here. When I then strum or play gypsy jazz it may change a little bit depending on what's comfortable to do what I want to do. Sometimes I play without a pick whatsoever, look up videos of Marty Friedman playing and you'll realize that it's very much about what's comfortable for you and not so much a rulebook or whatever.

 

[Alicia Willis]

I change the way I hold my pick depending on what I play. For example, when I do fast picking stuff I'll hold my pick the way it's shown here. When I then strum or play gypsy jazz it may change a little bit depending on what's comfortable to do what I want to do. Sometimes I play without a pick whatsoever, look up videos of Marty Friedman playing and you'll realize that it's very much about what's comfortable for you and not so much a rulebook or whatever.

Thanks ids ! I guess I just need to try some different things lol. I think it’s hard now because I just automatically go to hold it this way, since I’ve always done it like this lol

 

[Saoirse Byrne]

I held my pick “wrong” for 12 years I only realised there was a right way to hold it after watching this lesson, then I immediately changed it. It was awkward at first but that was a year ago now and it feels completely natural now. I’ve noticed my playing is less sloppy and easier to pick up speed since changing.

 

[Shiiji Gates]

Same,it's so comfortable, even my alternative,economy changed my playing too,and I use a lot of scales/jazz pic,its so comfortable,when I tried this for the first time,its so hard until I developed this picking method,I feel free,ha! Thank you papa syn! And papa gates too!!!so appreciable!

 

[Kim]

Very good and helpfull lesson for me. I used to hold the pick wrong for over a year and changed it few months ago, at same time I changed my hand (pinky used to rest on guitar). What helped me changing it, was to play stuff that was easy for me and then get used to how to hold the pick. After 1 week it got better and now it feels weird to play like I used to do.

 

[Christian Schulze]

I got a video on why this is the proper way to hold the pick!

https://syngates.com/media/cjs-2-cents-lesson-4-how-to-hold-the-pick.3538/

 

[Pyrokinetics]

I never thought I would need to change how I held the pick after I've used it the same way for 5 years but I decided to give it a try and after about a month its become a habit, although sometimes when I do heavier chugging type things I revert back

 

[Jak Angelescu]

I never thought I would need to change how I held the pick after I've used it the same way for 5 years but I decided to give it a try and after about a month its become a habit, although sometimes when I do heavier chugging type things I revert back

Gus G and Kiko Loureiro do that

 

[Pyrokinetics]

Gus G and Kiko Loureiro do that

nice

 

[ari.mac]

I figured this would be the best place to ask this question (hopefully)

So, I do in fact hold my pick this way for virtually everything I do.

but, I find, when I am playing my acoustic using open chords, its difficult. the pick seems to slip out of my fingers or will literally move around until I'm playing with the pack of the pick lol (I don't have this issue when I'm doing other things) so wasn't sure if it was due to holding this way, or the pick I'm using itself, because obviously I use a different pick for my acoustic than I do my electric. I do tend to like a looser grip when I'm strumming on my acoustic so that may be some of it, but even when I make a conscious effort to hold more firmly, I still have this issue.. does anyone have any thoughts on this ?

this is what happens to me too (but with the electric)!!!

 

[ari.mac]

I still dropped mine after 10 years

lol glad to hear that this can't stop me from playing then

 

[Bullet A. K. A]

I can play alot better holding my pick this way although I keep changing back because of the tone that you get from the string especially on clean parts what should I do stick with it?

 

[Rubin Cohen]

Hey
What about angle of the pick?

 

[Ed Seith]

Hey
What about angle of the pick?

Ideally you want the pick to strike the string at a slight angle, but EXACTLY what angle will be up to you, and may change from style to style. It's about finding the tone you seek with your pick. But a slight angle (not flat pick against string) will generally allow for faster picking overall.

 

[J. Vader]

I have struggled for about 20 years to be able to do those quick successive alternate picks, like when playing Crazy Train, in that part when you play the A string 3x muted and strum the chords in succession, I could never get it. I tried it with this pick position, and got it with ease. My pick always got hung up when I tried to upstroke quickly. This is the stuff you miss when you just teach yourself and never have someone teach you the basics properly.

 

[ChiefDMG]

Using pretty thick picks seems to be common for metal music. I find it kinda slows me down as it takes a bit more force to pick the string (likely a technique problem) but if lighter picks feel better would you recommend just using them or work more on getting used to thicker ones?