not coaster MODERATOR Posted March 24, 2002 Share Posted March 24, 2002 After too many years of playing I've tried a new approach to holding my pick. It's really no big deal but I keep a much looser grip on it than I had been doing. What I've discovered is that it helps me to sync my two hands together better. This is important when I'm playing scales. Anybody notice that you keep a somewhat loose grip on the pick? Ted, Chip, Strat, others? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted March 24, 2002 Share Posted March 24, 2002 I have a game I'm a pro at. I bet I can beat anyone on this board at it. It's like tiddly winks...it's called "flip the pick into the soundhole". And then I'm too lazy to shake 'em out. I've probably got a gross of picks in my Guild flattop. I hold my pick with thumb and two fingers, kinda mushing my thumb between my first and second finger. I never played just using thumb and first finger, so, needless to say, hybrid picking is tougher, especially when I'm damn near useless at using my Anular (A, or ring finger, so no anus jokes, please) at picking. I generally use mediums. For acoustic, I like those medium-gray Dunlop nylons, which have a thin feel and high end response, but don't shatter like say, those clear blue Wabash picks which sound great for strumming...the whole half a tune you can get thru before they splinter into a thousand pieces. "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binky_dup1 Posted March 25, 2002 Share Posted March 25, 2002 I also use the thumb & 2 fingers. I'm not sure how it compares to the preferred technique. I got Jamey Andreas' book & have been exploring using the standard technique. There's a lot of conflicting info on this. JA advises strumming from the elbow. Others recommend rotating the wrist, which is what I do. There probably is a better way, I wish someone like a sports medicine specialist would look at it & give some supporting info on the pro's & cons of 1. Guitar position 2. Picking technique 3. Fret hand Thumb position. http://www.plaudersmilies.de/devil/sasmokin.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not coaster MODERATOR Posted March 25, 2002 Author Share Posted March 25, 2002 That's exactly the adjustment I've made. Backing the pick with 2 fingers instead of 1. It's been a big help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollykin Posted March 25, 2002 Share Posted March 25, 2002 I have a lot of problems here - I hold my pick with my first and thumb - but it feels really... weird. and slips like that. I should get gripped ones... but it just feels bettwe when holding the pick with 2 fingers - though I hear a lot of people having trouble like this... people always say that one fingered picking is better. is this true? Nolly "Money, Bitchez and Cheese!" http://www.playspoon.com/nollykin/files/voxline.gif "I never thought about it, and I never stopped to feel - But I didn't want you telling me just what to think was real. And as simple as it comes, I only wanted to express- ...But with expression comes regret - and I don't want you hating me." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dak Lander Posted March 25, 2002 Share Posted March 25, 2002 I go both ways. (QUIET TED! ) I generally play without a pick, using the index fingernail as a pick but on tunes that really need fullout strumming, I prefer the .060 gray Dunlops (ribbed) or the light red smooth at (I can't read it, it's worn off) ?.050+? thickness, and use thumb and index finger with a mostly wrist strum, though if there are no individual string picks involved I'll use the two finger & thumb technique & use more of the elbow. edit: By the way Cereal/serial/cerial, not Cerael. I use a fairly loose grip. I found that I had more slippage problems when trying to hold it tight rather than just let the thing take it's course. Firmer with the two finger/thumb grip though. Our Joint "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it." The Duke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not coaster MODERATOR Posted March 25, 2002 Author Share Posted March 25, 2002 Originally posted by daklander: edit: By the way Cereal/serial/cerial, not Cerael. .Ha! way to go Dak !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tedster Posted March 25, 2002 Share Posted March 25, 2002 Didn't say a word, Dak... Er, I was thinking of the scarecrow in "The Wizard of Oz". Yeah, that's it...hahaha... But, I'm not above poking fun at your use of "ribbed" Dunlops...are those, er, ribbed for her pleasure??? HAHAHAHAHAHA... "Cisco Kid, was a friend of mine" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollykin Posted March 25, 2002 Share Posted March 25, 2002 Oh dear oh dear. "Money, Bitchez and Cheese!" http://www.playspoon.com/nollykin/files/voxline.gif "I never thought about it, and I never stopped to feel - But I didn't want you telling me just what to think was real. And as simple as it comes, I only wanted to express- ...But with expression comes regret - and I don't want you hating me." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dak Lander Posted March 25, 2002 Share Posted March 25, 2002 Originally posted by Tedster: But, I'm not above poking fun at your use of "ribbed" Dunlops...are those, er, ribbed for her pleasure??? In that Curly voice... Why Soitainly! Our Joint "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it." The Duke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
baronedo Posted March 25, 2002 Share Posted March 25, 2002 I also hold my picks a lot lighter these days. I have a unique pick set up which I shared with forum member LiveMusic in the past which allows me to hold the pick lightly without fear of dropping it. The first trick (which I learned from Guitar Player Magazine) is to punch a clean hole through the pick, in the area where your thumb and finger(s) grip it. This allows your thumb and fingers to actually touch each other and provides a more secure grip. I use a paper hole punch to make the hole. The second trick is that I use 40 lb. test monofilament fishing line to rig an umbilical cord which attaches the pick to my thumb. I drill a tiny hole in the back of the pick to secure the line to the pick with a cinch knot and on the other end I make a slip knot loop (known as a Duncan Loop in fishing) which I put my thumb through and then lightly close the loop. The total length of the "umbilical cord" is only a couple inches and allows for a lighter hold without fear of dropping he pick. The other benefit is that, since the mono line is fairly springy, I find that I can orient the thumb loop in such a manner that when I fully release my hold on the pick, it will flip out of the way on the backside of my hand, and allow me to finger pick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henryrobinett Posted March 25, 2002 Share Posted March 25, 2002 Oh boy. I've been through some really boring adventures on this one, mainly picking techniques rather than pick holding techniques. I hold my pick lightly and almost never drop it. Don't know why. I also play on the curved, dull side of the pick. I had a teacher back when I was in high school. I traveled 120 miles every weekend for lessons with Warren Nunes. He had this thing for triangular tortoise shell picks. I got a heavy jones for it too, as did every other student of his. The trick was to file one of the corners down so it's rounded and sandpaper it with 600 sandpaper so it's smooth as a baby's butt. Then take a match and light it to the middle of the pick until it almost boils. Then grab the pick as you would hold it. It's soft and pliable so it forms to the contour of your thumb and first finger, the way YOU hold the pick. It was great! Since it was turtle it sounded almost like playing with your fingers/nails; much softer than a hard, pointy plastic pick. The problem was soon they were made illegal. I'm a vegetarian and have been one since high school (I'm much older now) and I tell you I wouldn't mind at all if they killed a bunch of turtles so I could have some tortoise shell picks again. I used to have students who would go on, unsolicited, hunts for me to find these picks. I had another teacher before Warren who had me practice picking from the elbow. The great guitar teacher Sal Salvador used to do the same thing. Maybe that's where it came from. I worked really hard at this until my teacher finally told me I had a better elbow techniques than any student he'd ever had. The pros with playing from the elbow: I had a blazingly fast technique. Those were the days I was trying to play like Mahavisnu, so it was OK. Cons: I had little control and finesse. Lines, though fast, tended to sound a little herky-jerky. Plus my elbow would just get worn out after a long while. It took a long while for me to switch back. I mean a long while. Still when I need/want to go into to hyperspeed mode I find myself sometimes reverting back to elbow, although my time can go out the window. Most people don't notice because I'm just playing too fast. I'm still trying to get my wrist as fast as my elbow. It's getting there, but speed is not that important to me any more. My two cents. All the best, Henry Robinett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TurboDog Posted March 25, 2002 Share Posted March 25, 2002 You attach fishing line to your finger? That's one I never heard. Maybge you could just fuse a pick directly on your thumb. Just staple it on there or something. There are an infinite number of picks and picking styles. I personally use thumb and first 2 fingers. I strum with both elbow and slight wrist movement. When I'm really flying, I find I use mostly elbow. I use the purple Dunlops mostly. .71mm. But I can go a little lighter or heavier without a problem. I tried the curved picks, but couldn't get used to them. I like the idea of putting a hole in the pick. I'm gonna try that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
not coaster MODERATOR Posted March 25, 2002 Author Share Posted March 25, 2002 I've tried some of your ideas. Tell me if I'm doing it right http://www.mroe.freeserve.co.uk/drilling.gif Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Binky_dup1 Posted March 25, 2002 Share Posted March 25, 2002 I also notice when I am working on a real strong rythm I hold the pick perpendicular to the face of the guitar, but about 30 degrees off from parallel with the strings. When playing fingerstyle, I use the pads of my fingers to pluck the strings, not my nails, I keep them as short as my fretting hand fingernails. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rog Posted March 25, 2002 Share Posted March 25, 2002 For strumming I usually end up hitting the strings first with my first fingernail and then with the pick itself - holding the pick at a 45 degree angle on the downstroke. It sounds great and isn't a technical thing I was taught - I can't help going it now, even if my fingernail is really soft and the skin above it is tender after a long session! Just hitting the strings with a pick feels really alien to me now! "That's what the internet is for. Slandering others anonymously." - Banky Edwards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollykin Posted March 26, 2002 Share Posted March 26, 2002 Originally posted by Cereal: I've tried some of your ideas. Tell me if I'm doing it right http://www.mroe.freeserve.co.uk/drilling.gifErrm... wrong pick, mate "Money, Bitchez and Cheese!" http://www.playspoon.com/nollykin/files/voxline.gif "I never thought about it, and I never stopped to feel - But I didn't want you telling me just what to think was real. And as simple as it comes, I only wanted to express- ...But with expression comes regret - and I don't want you hating me." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rim Posted March 27, 2002 Share Posted March 27, 2002 Thumb and two finger pick holding? Never tried it but it doesn't sound comfortable to me. But then again, I use the tiny Jazz picks so there's not enough pick to hold on to! Don't ask me why I use the Jazz picks - I don't play jazz! I just started with them and I'm most comfortable using them. Hey, anyone out there notice Fender picks being lower in quality in the last year? I used to be able to wear a pick (medium gauge Jazz pick) down until it is almost round. Now, after two or three rehearsals, the tip of the pick will crack and part will fly off leaving two tips making it useless. aka riffing Double Post music: Strip Down http://rimspeed.com http://loadedtheband.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henryrobinett Posted March 27, 2002 Share Posted March 27, 2002 Fender picks are cheap. I've been using these "Hotlicks" cooper picks, gauge #10. I'm the only one in the world, I think, who uses these picks. I like the tone. I've had a tough time tryig to get something to replace tortoise shells. Never break and never wear down. But if I'm struming acoustic I'll get a medium plastic. All the best, Henry Robinett Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chip McDonald Posted March 29, 2002 Share Posted March 29, 2002 Originally posted by henryrobinett: Fender picks are cheap. I've been using these "Hotlicks" cooper picks, gauge #10. I'm the only one in the world, I think, who uses these picks. I like the tone. I've had a tough time tryig to get something to replace tortoise shells. Never break and never wear down. But if I'm struming acoustic I'll get a medium plastic.I used those long ago; turned my fingers green, and I ground through the wound strings almost instantaneously; I never knew when a string was about to let go because of it... I like the defined tight attack of polished stainless picks, but they wreck strings too fast for me. My problem is find Dunlop Jazz III's: the store I work at keeps getting those pointless - literally - rounded-tip Jazz III's instead of the red pointy kind. Ahrgggg... Man, I sell a lot of those picks for Dunlop between my students and etc., seems like I could get a break somehow.... Does ANYONE use the blunt-tip version?????? Guitar Lessons in Augusta Georgia: www.chipmcdonald.com Eccentric blog: https://chipmcdonaldblog.blogspot.com/ / "big ass windbag" - Bruce Swedien Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dak Lander Posted March 29, 2002 Share Posted March 29, 2002 Originally posted by Chip McDonald: Man, I sell a lot of those picks for Dunlop between my students and etc., seems like I could get a break somehow.... Does ANYONE use the blunt-tip version??????Chip, when you can't get what you want in that blunt tip, get the flex you want & a sheet of 100 grit sandpaper. Whap it down to the shape you want & use 400 grit to smooth things out. I know you SHOULD be able to BUY what you want but it's a reasonable work around. I have to drive 30+ miles to get buy the strings I use because nobody in town carries them. Don't talk to me about via internet purchasing through juststrings & etc either. by the time you pay their price and the freight it's cheaper to drive. Our Joint "When you come slam bang up against trouble, it never looks half as bad if you face up to it." The Duke... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nollykin Posted March 30, 2002 Share Posted March 30, 2002 My pick looks cool. It says "Metal Rules" on it with holographic shit. It looks awesome... feels... wrong though. I need to buy a new one - with grips and a coarser surface - mine is all flat and smooth - I dont like it much. *shrug* Nolly "Money, Bitchez and Cheese!" http://www.playspoon.com/nollykin/files/voxline.gif "I never thought about it, and I never stopped to feel - But I didn't want you telling me just what to think was real. And as simple as it comes, I only wanted to express- ...But with expression comes regret - and I don't want you hating me." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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