Holding the Pick

quincy451
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Sun Aug 02, 2009 10:29 pm

Yes I have never reached any comfort level with a pick either. Fingers I seem to just like much better. So I pay more attention to nails which for me makes a big difference, than to pick usage. Which means alternate picking is not a style I hit. So sometimes in practicing I take out the picks and try them but always come back to fingers working mcuh better for me.


haoli25
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Sun Aug 02, 2009 11:05 pm

Have you tried Neil Hogan's Invisi-Pick? :P


Chasplaya
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Mon Aug 03, 2009 3:17 am

haoli25 wrote:
Have you tried Neil Hogan's Invisi-Pick? :P
For those who don't know... Image


AndyT
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Mon Aug 03, 2009 6:12 am

I have a huge slection of invisi-picks. I still have to go with my fingers. There is the one model though.... Its made of used fingernail dust glued into a special stealth shape. Sounds just like a real one too....


ericdmyers
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Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:55 pm

My playing took a jump for the better when I started hitting the strings with the rounded shoulder of the pick, as opposed to the point. Mandolin trick.


izzyhara
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Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:27 pm

That brings me to a question. Do any of you turn the pick around, holding the point, and strum with the flat part of the pick? Is this something that is widely used? Ive noticed it gives a nice deep sound but its obviously not good for picking, just strumming.

- Catfish


ericdmyers
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Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:43 pm

figwold wrote:
Neil is quite insistent that the pick needs to be held between index and thumb, rather than with three fingers like the last quarter at the casino (which is how I hold it).
You and Jimi Hendrix! B)


reiver
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Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:51 pm

Jimi held it with 3 fingers?


Lavallee
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Sun Jan 31, 2010 8:56 pm

The main benefit I would find to hold the pick with 2 fingers instead of 3 is the flexibility of the wrist. If you hold the pick with 2 fingers your hand is almost open and parallel to the strings making it easier to strum and more accurate to pick. I find it restrictive to hold it with 3 fingers has you have more more tension in your hand.

Marc


tovo
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Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:28 pm

When I came to TG I had to change the way I held the pick to conform with Neil's teaching. Since I figure he knows a thing or two I persevered even though it initially felt uncomfortable and the smoothness of my strumming suffered while I got used to it. But I did get used to it and now see the value, in exactly the same way I eventually came to see the value of fingering chords the way Neil teaches.

So bottom line, if you are going to use a pick, persevere with Neil's teaching and in no time it will feel natural.


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