quick question about pick holding...

[gemini8026]

just curious if the technique guru's here have an issue with the index finger on the picking hand being at an angle.

Im trying to reform my picking style, i have been sloppy lately, and I want to get into better strumming/picking form. My old style was the thumb in normal position but the index pointed fully down. Online I have seen and read of people using the finger perpendicular or 45 degree's.

Is there a right way, a wrong way, or is it totally personal preference. The reason I feel i need to change is that when im strumming my pick loses position or falls out, even with thick picks and grip tape on them.

index
current way, angled , or totally flat?
| / -
- - -
forgive the crude diagram, but does anyone care to chime in?!?

Im kidna frustrated, I know its about comfort, but my current comfortable form seems to make my speed chugs sloppy.

Thanks for any help!

[gemini8026]

shit, could a mod please move this to Technique, I posted in the wrong forum!!

[thetroy]

I was going to say I have my index finger at an angle but I grabbed my guitar to check and it turns out I keep it completely parallel to my thumb. That's just the technique I developed from playing a lot. I have never actually thought about how I hold the pick.

[Special-K]

Michael Angelo Batio holds his Index finger tottaly straight when he is doing fast stuff! I have an angle

[Spivonious]

I hold mine so the pick is between the pad of my thumb and the side of my index finger.

[MattyCakes]

it should be more or less parallel with say 15-20% angle

[mhalsey]

it should be more or less parallel with say 15-20% angle

This is how I do it. If my index finger is parallel with my thumb, the pick tends to move too much. I think you'll always have a lil' movement of the pick unless you have a death grip on it or super glue it to your finger. Watch the great players and you'll see them adjusting the pick in their fingers all the time. When I got back into the guitar 3 years ago after a 15 year layoff, I basically felt I was starting over so that's exactly what I did - I began again starting with the basics including the "proper" way to hold the pick. I found the most comfortable position for me and I try to maintain it.

[gemini8026]

thanks y'all, It's funny how one deviates from what they did properly many years ago. Im not a BAD player, but ive been holding my pick withthe pads of both thumb and index on the pick. Not the side of the finger, but like how one would hold a pen. I have noticed that I have MUCH better chugg speed and accuracy with the new side angled style, but it's tough to pick smooth individual notes. Im too busy focusing on the form as opposed to NOT thinking and JUST playing!!!

I think it'll take some practice, but I'll get used to it!

[kmanick]

When I got back into the guitar 3 years ago after a 15 year layoff, I basically felt I was starting over so that's exactly what I did - I began again starting with the basics including the "proper" way to hold the pick. I found the most comfortable position for me and I try to maintain it.

I went thru the same thing after taking a 22 year layoff.
I had to "relearn" how to hold my pick because I used to use a real
"different" technique that was unknowingly to me , really limiting what I could do

[metalhead28]

I don't really understand how everybody holds their finger parallel to their thumb....mine is basically perpendicular. I wonder if I'm misunderstanding you guys? The best way I could think of to describe how I hold a pick is to put my MS Paint skills to the test. How about a picture!

I hold my index finger almost pointing straight at the strings, but bent at about a 90 degree angle. I grip the pick sort of on the corner of my finger, halfway on the side and halfway on the pad. I modify the angle of the pick by pulling my last knuckle back like the arrow shows, or pulling my knuckle on my thumb in or out.

[Spivonious]

mh - fantastic pictures. I wish I was that good with Paint.

That's how I hold my pick as well.

[kmanick]

nice job, those are great pictures.

[thetroy]

I mean the tip of my index finger, the part after the last joint, is parallel to my thumb. The middle section of my index finger, in between the 2 joints, is at about a 45.

[tanpsi]

I've just started to use the boney side of the index finger after seeing it somewhere, yes it definitly gives a little more sharp response than the fleshy pad, but I plan on using both in the future

[GodOfRhythm]

I made the switch as well. I used to play "Berklee" style, a bit like Lynch: fingers panned out in a wave and I used my fleshy pad of my index and the fleshy of my thumb.

Then I saw a video with Paul Gilbert and he was explaining how he held his pick exactly like I had been holding it, but then he changed it because he saw his heroes play it with the index bent in (using the side of the index fingers) and he said his playing just shot through the roof after he made that change.

I can attest to that, it takes a long time to get used to (imo) when you've been playing differently, but once you're used to it you've got much better stability and alternate picking is easier.

I still get lost with picking chords arpeggiated though, in those case I usually still use my fleshy pad.