psar
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by psar on Jan 17, 2011 12:18:28 GMT -5
I'm starting out on guitar and am finding it very hard to keep a pick between my fingers,I'm finding it a lot more relaxed to Sturm with my fingers ,but have been told its a bad habit to get into.any advise would be great,cheers  |
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Post by Mohikanas on Jan 17, 2011 12:41:29 GMT -5
Well I can only give you advice on how i hold the pick. When I strum I hold the pick a little bit loose between my fingers. Dont hold it too tight.
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Post by leerummey on Jan 17, 2011 13:41:53 GMT -5
i think its down too preference
i agree with mohi as in dont hold the pick too tight
but i prefer to use my fingers when i play
go with whatever feels ''right''
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Post by 469roadking on Jan 17, 2011 16:20:00 GMT -5
No right or wrong. Steve Morse holds his pick really weird, EVH is a great picker, Jeff Beck doesn't use one. All great players. Personally I use a pick most of the time but I also hybrid pick and strum with my thumb. Depends on the song.
At the same time I would highly recommend you learn good pick technique. You might try a thinner pick to start with so that it doesn't offer as much resistance when you strum. That should make it easier to hold onto.
Good luck and keep after it!!
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Post by rayden44 on Jan 17, 2011 17:38:45 GMT -5
I've seen picks in the store that have a pad for you to grip on to, and some others that have drilled holes which I find are pretty comfortable. I know you guys love my descriptions, so here we go! How I hold the pick is I make a loose fist, and hold the pick between my thumb and the side of my first finger at the first joint. I leave just a small piece of pick sticking out below my thumb, maybe 2 mm at most. I believe this is the traditional way. If you're leaving a lot of pick sticking out, it gives the pick more ability to wriggle free. If you're 'pinching' the pick between your thumb and finger, like you were squishing something, your fingers can move + pick can move/spin so I don't like this either. I don't have a set size, but I believe I use about a 1mm pick, or slightly thicker. Using a thinner one as RK said will help stop the pick getting away from you, but personally I find I lose too much attack on the strings with that. My strum doesn't go cleanly through the strings like butta!  That said, I'm a finger picker (not a nose picker!). I don't see how it's a 'bad habit' to learn to play fingerstyle guitar, which starts with learning to strum with your fingers and toughening them up Several of my favourites play this way. |
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Post by pwfirst on Jan 17, 2011 18:44:33 GMT -5
I do both, finger pick and use a pick. My preference for a pick is to use something between a thin and moderate pick. I can't strum very well using a thick pick. Keeping the little buggers in the fingers has always been a problem for me too. I have done every thing from sanding the pick to using tape to using rubber cement. all of these things work in a fashion. I now just pay greater attention to my grip. I too use a light grip..
I like the tone that comes from strumming with a lighter pick.
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jay
Full Member
Posts: 103
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Post by jay on Jan 18, 2011 1:07:54 GMT -5
I'll throw my .02 in here. I found a get pick on the net called V-pick.
They are make of a clear material that actually will stick to your fingers after a short time playing. I can hold they very loosely and have never had one slip.
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Post by Mojo on Jan 18, 2011 9:08:09 GMT -5
I can't use a pick, but love playing with bare fingers. I don't think it's that bad of a habit |
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Post by lesblues on Jan 18, 2011 13:29:15 GMT -5
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Post by gasman on Jan 18, 2011 22:18:12 GMT -5
I do both, finger pick and use a pick. My preference for a pick is to use something between a thin and moderate pick. I can't strum very well using a thick pick. This pretty much describes me too. I like .46 mm picks. I have some .70 mm picks that I use sometimes, but I like the .46 mm picks more. When I started playing again in '07, I didn't use a pick because I needed to feel the strings with my fingers to be able to hit the right strings. Once I got into the swing of things again, I started using picks again. At first it was sort of hard to strum with them, but after a while, I was to the point where I was strumming pretty fast without dropping the pick. I find that I usually hold my pick at an angle, and the pick point is not at a right angle with the strings (always at an angle too). When I don't use a pick, I use my fingers all sorts of ways. Strumming down is easier than strumming up without a pick for me. Sometimes I find myself just using my thumb when I finger pick (not strum). Other times I use my first three fingers and thumb. The point is, if you want to use a pick, experiment with different pick thicknesses and practice, just like with anything else. It will come to you sooner or later. Good luck! |
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Post by 469roadking on Jan 19, 2011 0:58:33 GMT -5
The point is, if you want to use a pick, experiment with different pick thicknesses and practice, just like with anything else. It will come to you sooner or later. Good luck! Well put Gman!! |
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Post by rayden44 on Jan 19, 2011 6:30:20 GMT -5
Yeah I did exactly that one day. I went to the local store and got several sizes of pick. Now that I'm home I double checked my picks. The size I usually use is a dunlop 1 mm or 1.14 mm, and it's good size pick around the outside (ie you can see the edges of it around my thumb). I tried some of the smaller size picks but these didn't feel quite right. I still have a 1.5 and 2mm pick but these were way too bulky. I also bought something that was effectively a large lump of plastic and this was horrible! The 1mm feels nice but it's where I'd feel any lighter would have too much give in it for me.
I also paid a bit more attention to how I strum. With a pick on the down-stroke my wrist is tilted so the pick is pointing slightly back at me. On the up-stroke I tilt my wrist back the other way. It's only slight, but it makes a difference.
Fingerstyle if I'm just strumming with nothing else going on I do exactly what I'm doing with the pick, except use my index finger as a pick. If I'm doing a piece using my thumb on the bass notes, my strum becomes a flick of my fingers up and down with my hand hovering in the same place with no wrist movement at all. I did this on Dr Johns "It's such a night"
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Post by lessonsthatrock on Jan 19, 2011 12:32:33 GMT -5
Personally, I'm from the the school of thought that you should learn how to do it all. Mostly because you want to be the guy that says I DON'T want to do it, not the guy that says I CAN'T do it. Big differences between those do statements.
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psar
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by psar on Jan 21, 2011 6:49:17 GMT -5
cheers lads ,had a good read of all the advice this gives me something to chew over,thanks
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Post by gasman on Jan 21, 2011 14:49:57 GMT -5
Like I said in another thread, we're just a bunch of helpful guys (and Mojo Rocks)! You'll get it sooner or later, don't give up!
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