• From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Topic: Holding a pic

Sounds easy, right?  Well I think I've been doing it wrong this entire time.

This is how I hold it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24077525@N06/3463742482/
I know they all will say "hold it how it is comfortable" but BS there... I think this is keeping me from being able to play faster and better. Is this a bad habit I got into when I was 13?

This is how I think everyone else holds it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24077525@N06/3463742516/
For me, holding it this way allows me to play really fast on one string, but I cannot strum chords that easily yet. Should I practice more holding the pic this way? Is this way the correct way?

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool

2 Reply by ken (edited by ken 2009-04-22 02:07:00)

  • ken
  • ken
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  • From: Orlando, FL
  • Registered: 2007-05-28
  • Posts: 949

Re: Holding a pic

I hold mine the like the second picture, and I can pick pretty fast. I think I remember that Eddie VanHalen and Steve Morse holds his like the first picture though. I don't think it really matters, I think it's more a matter of practice than how you hold it.
I also don't think the pick has anything to do with it either. Eric Johnson and Joe use the small jazz pick, Steve Morse, Yngwie and Steve Vai use a big pick. They're all fast because of many hours (not years) of practice.

There's also physiology...some people just have faster fingers than others... Sean Lane (maybe the fastest guitarist ever) always said he thought it was just his nervous system. He could always play fast, even when he first started.

3 Reply by ZampraZ (edited by ZampraZ 2009-04-22 02:26:22)

  • Registered: 2006-05-25
  • Posts: 444

Re: Holding a pic

I tried picking the way you do, it seems slightly less efficient for some nuances of playing but I didn't really pick slower. It's up to you though, if you feel like changing the habit, it's probably easier than you think. I always used to have all my fingers straight out on my picking hand and I decided that was not efficient, so I forced myself to have my fingers curled up in a loose fist kind of way. It was really awkward at first but it took like one or two days and now my hand rolls together when I pick naturally.

Though how you hold the pick might be harder to change it's probably not that hard. Try forcing yourself to pick the way you would like to for two days. Do absolutely not pick your way if it seems natural. By then you should have gotten used to it.

What I felt when picking that way was small nuances like when you kind of mute the strings and drag the pick along, the fingers got all messy and in the way but on the flip side I'm not used to your way either. I would say give it a shot though

I hold my pick kinda like the second picture but the pick sits next to the top of the index finger if that makes sense. I also use a jazz3 pick because I find it simply the best. Smaller seems more efficient and it's both stiff and thin

  • From: Florida, USA
  • Registered: 2008-06-04
  • Posts: 1,420

Re: Holding a pic

The only major drawback I would see in the way you pick is if you were into playing with the pick and fingers at the same time.  It looks like it would be a little trickier but surely not impossible.  Who really cares how you hold the pick it's all about the music.  Speed is not everything and mastering the more soulful, slower stuff is even more important.  I say do what is the most comfortable for you but learn as much as you can to be able to change things up if neccessary.

'67 and '74 Fender Twin Reverbs, '74 Marshall 1987 lead mkII, Metro Superlead 100. Pedals from TC Electronic, Ibanez, Dunlop, BK Butler, Electro-Harmonix, Fulltone, Maestro/Gibson, Loopmaster switching, VoodooLab, Boss. Gibson and Fender guitars, Dimarzio pickups.
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Holding a pic

Correct me if I'm wrong but doesn't Eddie Van Halen Play like the first pic?  I've believe it or not gone back and forth with both styles during the same night.  I don't think there is a right way or a wrong way either.  Its like saying your left handed guitarist but you should be playing right handed.  Its hard to switch after you've learned one way.

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  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: Holding a pic

WHen I hold a pick the second way, I can play really fast "surf" licks, but I cannot do it at the same speed holding it the way in the first pick. This is not a soul vs. speed issue, it's an issue of capability/versatility vs. possible bad habit that sprung this topic. I'd like to nail both. I have the first down... what else can the pick hand do? might as well diversify!

thanks all!

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Germany / Hamburg
  • Registered: 2008-08-11
  • Posts: 494

Re: Holding a pic

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

what else can the pick hand do?

Hybrid picking?! wink

Here are my tabbed songs by "Smokin' Joe": http://www.jbonamassa.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=7236
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  • Registered: 2009-04-13
  • Posts: 78

Re: Holding a pic

NPB_EST.1979 wrote:

Sounds easy, right?  Well I think I've been doing it wrong this entire time.

This is how I hold it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24077525@N06/3463742482/
I know they all will say "hold it how it is comfortable" but BS there... I think this is keeping me from being able to play faster and better. Is this a bad habit I got into when I was 13?

This is how I think everyone else holds it:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24077525@N06/3463742516/
For me, holding it this way allows me to play really fast on one string, but I cannot strum chords that easily yet. Should I practice more holding the pic this way? Is this way the correct way?

For me... there is no single 'correct' way to hold a pick ....   if you watch most blues players in particular..they change their pick grip as much as they adjust the guitar volume and tone.  I even switch to using fingers during songs and stick the pick in my mouth ...looks dumb/not very hygienic  ..but hey it sounds ok wink   . If there 's one tip I do have  ...the heavier the pick..the more you can 'dig' into the string and get the most output from your strings when you want to get some real 'grit' ...  I am notoriously vicious in my picking and its not uncommon for me to end up with blood on my bridge..  especially my Tele's  ...   my amp maker (Don-Audio) actually designed the gain to cope with my picking technique as he said I was overloading the input stage sometimes! hmm

  • eva
  • eva
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  • From: germany
  • Registered: 2007-03-15
  • Posts: 1,885

Re: Holding a pic

Ooooh, don´t get me started on that one!!
I made exactly the same mistake when starting to play guitar (holding the pic like in the first picture) and now I have to deal with that bad habit. Funny when you suddenly realize that EVERYONE but you holds the pic correctly. I´m glad you exposed yourself and I´m not the only one anymore. tongue

Having played (and picked) with both ways of holding the pic for some time (I always start with the "correct" way and then slip back to the old habit...) I realized that the "intonation" (correct me if I use the wrong term) is more precise when holding the pic like shown in the second picture. It does sound different to me ...

But then again: maybe it´s all just an illusion and all that "holding the pic correctly" is just another of my guitar teacher´s tricks to torture me. lol

Eva