Holding the Pick
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.
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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.
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
- Catfish
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figwold wrote:
You and Jimi Hendrix! B)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).
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
Marc
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.
So bottom line, if you are going to use a pick, persevere with Neil's teaching and in no time it will feel natural.