Great video! Believe me. Your picking style is holding you back. Never too late to change. Just do it. And don't worry about the transition slowing you down; it's temporary, and you can always go back to the old way as needed. Once you've mastered the new pick-holding technique, you'll feel like you've grown a pair of wings.
i just recently found out i’ve been picking the “wrong” way for the last 9 years. tried the “right” way and had way better accuracy and stamina, but the speed hasn’t quite translated yet. i’m hoping by practicing daily for the next few weeks, i’ll have comfortably integrated it into my play style. thank you for documenting this, and best of luck with your journey, man.
Found you from everything guitar. I always see people not bracing their hands with their other 3 fingers and feel like I have to work on it, but it's so odd how every small thing seems to make a difference. Subbed.
Richard Durazo It took me ages to do he bracing thing too & im still fighting with it now! Bad habits are so easy to form but so hard to break! Thanks for checking out the video, I’ll sub back 🤟
I held it like you did for even longer. Making the change to the "correct" grip improved my playing immensely. It was difficult to unlearn my bad habits, but by the time I started to see the dividends I never looked back.
I would say it’s never too late to switch, especially if different ways of playing (or holding your pick in this case) make your overall sound better, or your body less tense.. but keep in mind there are some amazing guitar players holding the pick in very unique ways (Paul Gilbert and Marty Friedman come to mind) and that has definitely never stopped them!
Finally someone describing it well! I’ve tried to learn from other TH-camrs teaching how to hold the pick, but it ends up feeling unnatural, but this helped
Yeah, but if it works for you, it works. When I started, so many people said I was picking wrong. They said I had to alternate pick every time. I was doing economy picking naturally and was good at it. really good. I didn't know there was a name for it back then. Well, trying to learn everyone else's way messed me up.
Do whatever works for you. I've always had a habbit of holding a Pick sideways and using the top corner edge larger radius curve to pluck the strings. I think this stems back to using 'Bread Clips' back in School when Pick's were out of my price range and often unnattainable. The problem with this habbit is... well... everything really! So I am trying to use the correct pointed-ish radius of the Pick but find that it seems to rotate 90 degrees subconciously, and I have to conciously correct it for parts of songs that have faster and/or alternative Picking requirements. I've also discovered that different Pick thicknesses do help with different styles - the 'one size fits all' Medium thickness brown Fender Picks are not actually 'one size fits all'. I now use 0.6mm & 1.0mm and it has helped my technique and results massively. Just roll with whatever works to get the song played and sounding the way you want it to. Thanks for the video.
I've been picking like you have since '96. Now that I'm working on speed more, I notice it's MUCH easier to alt pick faster with your new way. I think the pick angles more with the second way. Thank you!
I've been playing for 16 years and I would say my picking is definitely my weakest part of my guitar skills. I was just watching another video, and I finally noticed that I may be gripping it wrong. Always had trouble doing upstrokes. No matter how hard I practiced it always felt unnatural to me. This grip immediately feels 100% better to me. Thanks so much for sharing!
I’m a trailing edge picker for over 30 years. I thought I was weird until I watched Santana, Marty Friedman, John Sykes, Bruce Boulliet… whatever works and I gave up trying to correct but rather improve it.
Most guitarists use what you call the “right” way (myself included). But there are at least four other acceptable ways of holding a pick, and yours is one of them.
Great video thanks! I've been using the same pinch grip for 25 years without giving it a second thought. I found your video whilst looking to improve it because I've realised its holding back my alternate picking speed. Its inspiring to see an impressive guitarist like you facing a similar problem and talking about it sensibly, without hyperbole. Very helpful, thanks - I'm going to adopt that technique!
Been playing for 50 years without using a pick at all, with all the metal falling down from the heavens i feel its never too late to learn. Enjoyed your video very much, good job.
So glad I found this video!! I have been mentally struggling with this recently. This helped solidify my decision to switch (after about 15 years too). I am three days in and the alternate picking is getting better. I use a heavy 1mil pick and one thing that is still horrible is my strum. This has really made the attack different as my hand is at a different angle now. I made a few strumming exercises to practice and get it feeling natural (hopefully), but right now it’s still nasty. Like the pick is hitting way too hard on my strumming and the attack is too much.
I've been struggling with picking clean and fast for 35 years. I'm not going to quit till I figure it out. Tried absolutely everything - every grip, every pick, etc. I've held it like you for a lot of years - I understand why you like it. Great video my friend :)
Let me make u feel better by comparison. The reason I found your video is because I've been searching how to hold a pick as well and am watching each video I find in disbelief. I'm 58, and have been playing for 40 years....last night, out of frustration at my relative lack of speed, I youtubed how to pick quickly and learned, to my astonishment, that I'd been holding the pick incorrectly all this time....I am crushed, but am committed to making the change as I immediately saw and understood the advantages in terms of speed. I'm self-taught and have held the pick in the same manner as you...I feel like holding the pick more on the pad of the forefinger than the side makes it easier to control pick harmonics, but slower and less precise overall - my opinion after one very challenging day of trying to adopt this change. Good luck going forward.
glad. I found this video. 30ish years I've been holding a plectrum exactly the way you do, I can see how the "correct way" could give you more stability, but I don't feel unstable in my pick action, and while there are guys who can play guitar better with their feet than I can ever play I'm not going to be disappointed if I find it too hard to change.
I've legitimately discovered this like a week ago. I've been holding the pick same as you and could never get good speed, my finger would slip all the time and the pick just seemed too stiff in my fingers, but now i'm practicing with the new grip. I can already tell it's going to be better once i get used to it
What a stellar video. I'm self taught and I've held my pick similar to you. I'd grip the pick with the face of my fingers. My hand would be lightly closed though just what felt natural. I've always thought my picking hand looked strange in regards to other players I'd see. Time to relearn how to hold a pick lol!
Just so you know, Paul Gilbert holds it like you do. So if it feels comfortable, it is fine. (Kiko loureiro also holds pick in a wierd way but picks like a god)
I've played since 1994 with open hand (all unused fingers almost straight), and a year ago or so I've noticed that it is only good for downstroke, but anything else is slowed down. Holding a pick with closed hand allows middle finger to support index finger from below so it makes the grip completely effortless. Downstroke riffs are now a bit challenging, but it's a matter of time to get accustomed to this.
Honestly I've been holding mine completely wrong since I started learning 14 years ago. I've always known it's wrong but just feels more comfortable to me. I hold it between my thumb and middle fingers.
I do this too but I started doing it after buying "Learn to burn" Van Halen guitar Method many years ago. That was a technique used by Van Halen himself as it made it easier for tapping.
This is funny, that is my style too. But i realized, it isn't always the best way. "for me", muting strings isn't working perfect ... other fingers create noise sometimes ...i can't use hybrid pickin when i use the middle finger. All the problems are gone, trying the "right way". BUT i miss a ton of feeling doing it right. I don't know, this topic will create some headache the next month
I've been playing for over 20 years, i hold the pick the same way as you. I never noticed any problems until recently with tremolo picking. I just get it right consistently. I've spent the past 2 weeks trying to correct this and I feel so deflated. It's like I'm starting all over again. The reason I wanted to correct it because I'm getting a chirping sound when i trem pick. But with correct technique my wrist hurts and feels so awkward.
Try nylon and celluloid picks to reduce chirping with your current grip. I've found nylon versions of just about every pick type, even Big Stubbies. BTW, I pick with the normal method and think that, for me, trailing edge picking has less chirp. But I cannot pick that way.
Same here. Tried training myself to hold it correctly for years. Its just not happening for me. I can’t alt pick, I can’t gallop. Its beyond frustrating as Ive hit a wall with my playing due to holding pick incorrectly.
been playing for almost 12 years, i knew i was picking wrong for a while but i can't palm mute without the scraping the crap out of the strings when i hold it the "correct" way, so i never attempted to adapt to that
I’m the same as you. I came across the right way when I was trying to play 16th note funk. The correct was so much easier for using your wrist and to get a solid stable attack. Even though I know that, the old way is so engrained that I often revert to the old way on autopilot.
I feel your pain. For the first 25 years I played, I also used a weird pick grip. The weird grip caused issues with techniques..so to get around this, I used thin picks and would 'power through' strings when I faced the string resistance that the grip was causing. I had teachers who didn't try to correct my grip when I was kid. It was odd. About 5 years ago, I went on a mission to try and correct my picking issues. The first thing I did was start using really thick picks..because they forced me to use a different grip and angle my pick correctly. 5 years into this change, I still have to deliberately use a correct grip..and if I am really tired and worn out, I automatically go back to the old habits. Like you said, after so many years of using bad technique, they are essentially ingrained in our brains. Thin picks should be outlawed.
I've only recently learned that I've been holding my pick wrong for 28 years. I use both index and middle finger. But then I mainly do rhythm and apparently I've accidentally stumbled on the style James Hetfield uses. No single finger grip seems to work for me as the pick slips too much. Worse with the supposedly 'correct' side of finger version as well.
My picking is definitely the weak link. I've always wondered if I was holding the pick wrong. I always notice my picking looked different from everyone else's as well. Came across this video, Looking to see how to properly hold a pick and I totally pinch the pick as well Like you, this other way feels much better. I'm nowhere near the guitar player you are but can tell my picking hand has been a limiting factor in my playing. Seems so foreign to switch but maybe it's what I need
Hi Rob, I’ve been playing since the nineties and I have held the pick the new way you demonstrated in the video however I’ve came across a few videos which show that the first finger parallel with the thumb and the hand made onto a fist. This way seemed to be in the realm of shredders so it’s a little confusing where to go. I’ve tried it and it seems unnatural to me. I think what you said about mixing and matching is a great idea. So I just keep pushing ahead. Old dog new tricks!
Never too late!! I had that same problem too, usually it will help if you go in between middle and index to feel if it feels right for you, also if you play good, don’t be worried about your picking technique, you are unique for a reason after all.
When I finally started guitar lessons after many years of playing, the very first thing my teacher corrected was exactly this. I still suck at picking though...
Yeah, the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" principle doesn't apply if you're always dealing with pick slippage, as you and I have. I just learned this new grip from another site last week, and it is a major improvement in that regard. And it still easy to go into a strum. But some sites actually teach the other way. And another one says to position the point of the pick over the first joint of the index finger. Now THAT feels awkward. For me, this new way is clearly the best.
Whatever grip limits lag is what you want. Meaning the pick doesn’t get dragged the wrong way for a split millisecond thru the string. Also depends on if you pronate/supinate, ulnar/radial deviate or a mix of both.
I've been holding the pick correctly for 30years...but now my problem with nerve and arthritis..i couldn't grip it strong enough. Maybe i should put some glue ala mike stern or use a thumb pick. Im still experimenting.
Lots of guitarists do not agree with you and they way you hold it was 'right'. Btw this was 2020... and I was curious about your picking in 2023 ;-) Jason David Frank vid on 0:25 vs this one at 3:14; looks similar. How do you look at it, 3 years later...?
I have the same problem. I've used the pinch grip style like you have for about 15 years and I absolutely cannot adjust to doing it the "proper" way no matter how hard I try.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience with your pick issues! I think your picking play is very good! What pick gauge and type of material do you use for playing your electric guitar??? Thanks 😊
your old way looks way more tense in it's "relaxed" state. With your new way, you can also try angling the pick a bit towards neck/bridge (Just the pick, not the fingers or hand!!). So that you play with leading edge / trailing edge. See if this feels even more comfortable to you. If not, then just stay like you are :)
I was once told that it's more important to focus on the angle the pick is picking the strings than the actual grip. I wonder how much of that is true since there are plenty of guitar players that hold the pick in a "Strange"" way
Mate. Thank you so much. Before I saw this video I thought I was the only one with this issue. I started playing when I was 9. I’m now 28… 😅. I worried that changing my picking hand would be an insurmountable task after such a long time of doing it the other way. I’m fact I pretty much exclusively finger picked for years because of it. Now I’ve got the motivation to keep improving. Thanks for the inspiration. Dead set legend.
I find that I have 3-4 different grips depending on what I'm playing. The big issue with that is having to switch grips mid song or riff to riff is very challenging. Some big decisions to make for me too as it's really started holding me back.
I think there's a kind of halfway version of what your describing where it goes on the first finger at an angle. so not the pad of the finger or completely on the side either. look up Troy grady who I think does this. interesting video though!
Two of my buds hold the pick like you, one is a great metal rhythm guitarist, the other is outstanding at everything he does. You could perhaps use your old method and try introducing different pick angles relative to the strings, as your pick appears to be too parallel to the string, increasing the drag. And also maybe lighten up a bit; dont pick as hard for the fastest stuff. Plus try the downward and upward pick slanting ala Troy Grady. Your grip can work better for you. I'm fairly certain of this.
If you added an anchor to the that technique you will be more comfortable. Use the middle finger as an anchor for the index. If it works for you it isnt wrong. Closed hand technique tightens the entire hand. I feel open hand technique allows for more flexibility. But like I said if it works for you, great.
Thanks for making this video. I found ONE guitar teacher that recommends "bird-beaking" the pick as you do: Tom Hess. I'm not certain if you hold it exactly as he suggests. Contrary to Mr. Hess, I think that the 'conventional way' (pick against the side of your index) is better. Reasons: 1.) Hybrid picking. Trust me... hybrid picking will be *much* better in the conventional position. The fingers plant so effortlessly on the strings for hybrid. 2.) The pick has a shorter lever arm to manipulate the strings. Extending the fingers outward gives the fingers and wrist more points of failure, imo. 3.) Your downpicking will also have more torque. 4.) You can scalpel the pick back and forth if you ever wanted to. "Scalpeling" the pick is where you use primarily your index finger to extend or retract the pick into different positions. You can even use this for alternate picking, but it isn't as strong as using your wrist. For lead playing or switching between USX and DSX, scalpeling can be a great help. However, at the end of the day, imperfect technique can often give more personality to your playing. Just look at Marty Friedman.
@@Blacksoul444 For metal and punk some might like that. For everyone else, it's your goals, man. One exception I'll mention is the downpicking champion: James Hetfield. From what I can tell, he holds the pick with three fingers for his own style of bird-beaking. The extra stability from his middle finger supporting the rest of the apparatus obviously works for him. But his goals/specialization might not be yours.
Funny, how I just switched to your old way, because the flesh of the first finger by the nail will start to dig from pressure and it sux. Never pinch it along the nail.' Go back to your way; it's how Herfield plays , Jeff Waters, Matt Heafy etc , but for super shreddy stuff watch Michael Romeo. The style you are playing "looks"'like how Gilbert etc hold the pick but they tilt it a bit towards the knuckle;'never ever over the nail flesh. Good luck 😅🤘 Edit: 4 yr old vid; so I guarantee by now you are either back to old way or tilt the pick slightly out from over the nail of index.
Have you had a look at how Steve Morse holds the pick? He also does it the "wrong" way, and it seems to work pretty decently for him. :D But then again he's left-handed, but plays the guitar like a right-handed person. Maybe this has an impact as well?
Interesting video dude! I held a pick “wrong” for the first 2-3 years of playing, I held it like you do but with my middle and first finger with my thumb (very strange) but eventually trained myself the “normal” way. But if it doesn’t hold your playing back don’t change it! Ola Englund always takes about how he holds his pick different but he just rolls with it and is an amazing player! Final thing....that lead tone sounded incredible!
Dude I definitely held it the same way as you used to also! I don’t think I’m gonna fully change it now after all this time but hopefully It might just slightly help in some way to think about it more. & thanks! Just a Mesa style amp on Bias fx!
I do the middle finger too. I’m about two years into teaching myself right now. Trying to learn this really fast hammer on pull off Van Halen lick and I think my picking needs to get better. I’m gonna try to change the technique, but it just feels so awkward
Thanks for the video Have you completely changed how you hold your pick now and has it served you well and how long did it take to adjust? I have always held it kind of how you have and am thinking of trying to get usesd to the "correct way", it does seem more efficient for fast picking and wrist motion.
Been there, a lot of self taught players start of holding a pick like you would a pen to write. What worked for me was the way gypsy jazz players hold the pick but without the bent wrist. Trust me you're still shredding bro and I think with the new grip you're shredding will be of the scale.
If you want an example of why there is no actual right or wrong way to play Guitar, check out Mike Oldfield's technique. Not specifically referring to Plectrum holding here, but just an example of doing what works for him, and it's certainly impressive!
Thats funny. Ive been playing for 13 years and I just realized that today when i saw someone else playing. I feels wierd playing that way but in the end it feels like my picking hand strains less
I would never change your picking style, you play fast and clean, there is no point to change it. Actually if you make more research at the end tou can see that everybody picking is different! It is not only holding it is how and where you place your hand, fingers etc on the guitar, and too much nuances to replicate others picking. I absolutelly thing everyone has to found his way....there also others extremly good guitarists that hold between middle finger and thumb or even between three fingers
Hah, beat you. I used the wrong right hand technique for 20 years. I ALWAYS had at least two fingers glued to the body to feel more stable, which didn't help.. I see you also had one finger doing that at some points. Just only fixed it a few months ago. It's like I just started all over again but have a way higher ceiling now.
I don’t think there is a wrong or right way, maybe a better way. Carlos Santana held the pick like you do at Woodstock, Soul Sacrifice, and look where it got him.
George Benson. I dare anyone to tell him he sucks because he doesn't hold his pick correctly. (My personal opinion on it) Do what works for you. If you hit a point where there is something you can't play what you want to, and after evaluating all other components of your technique you determine it is your picking, then make small adjustments until you can play it. Over time it will evolve. That is way better than making one huge adjustment and getting yourself frustrated. Never change anything based on looks. Music is about the journey. As soon as you start adding strict rules on the way you do things you have lost the meaning of music. Now you're focused solely on technique, and what other people think of your technique, and not about creating something. Unless of course your only goal with the instrument is to compete against others for who has the best technique. If that is the case, by all means knock yourself out. Great video by the way! It is an issue many people often wonder if they should change!
Hi Rob, yeah looks weird indeed. But you have the right answer, learn something new, mix it with your picking and just do it your way, make it your style. Tipp: have a look how George Benson holds his pick this looks even more weird.
If it doesn´t work for what you want to play then it is the wrong one. There are so many gripping techniques out there. Just hold the pick the most comfortable way for yourself. Everyone is different.
ITS CALL BANANA PICK HOLD, AND I HOLD THE PICK LIKE THIS FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE AND I FEEL MORE CONFORTABLY BUT IM STPCKIN VELOCITY AND ANOTHER THINS I WONDER IS FOR THAT
did you consider that holding the pick "correctly" doesn't work for many people. How many new guitarists ended up quitting because they held the pick "correctly" and they just got a scraping sound? You won't see them on youtube, you won't see their comments because they quit...
I know this video is a few years old, but you are still holding it wrong. You are missing the actual point in why people are holding the pick this way. Your finger is round, there is no way to find the exact same spot to hold the pick ever time on anything other than the side of your finger. If you press the pick into the side of your finger and wobble the finger your pressing you can see that if its actually on the side it will not have allot of flex in either direction but if its just a little but off the side the pick is siting on flesh instead of bone and it can tilt in 360 degrees based on where the pressure is applied from the other finger. Also if its not on the acutal side then the first bend on your finger can flex up and down altering the pick attack. No way you can keep that all in check while playing to develop consistency. You have to find the spot on your hand you can repeat perfect pick placement so you can develop muscle memory. Hope that all makes since.
Sorry to burst your bubble but there is no single right way to hold a pick or play the guitar for that matter. Internet is full of this bs. Whatever works for you, thats what you do! Its alway good to have multiple techniques at your disposal but to say one way is the only correct way is false. Ive seen people play with thier feet better than most do with their hands. Maybe try that!
Great video! Believe me. Your picking style is holding you back. Never too late to change. Just do it. And don't worry about the transition slowing you down; it's temporary, and you can always go back to the old way as needed. Once you've mastered the new pick-holding technique, you'll feel like you've grown a pair of wings.
i just recently found out i’ve been picking the “wrong” way for the last 9 years. tried the “right” way and had way better accuracy and stamina, but the speed hasn’t quite translated yet. i’m hoping by practicing daily for the next few weeks, i’ll have comfortably integrated it into my play style.
thank you for documenting this, and best of luck with your journey, man.
How did this go for you? I found that it took like a week and then going back felt strange, lol
Found you from everything guitar. I always see people not bracing their hands with their other 3 fingers and feel like I have to work on it, but it's so odd how every small thing seems to make a difference. Subbed.
Richard Durazo It took me ages to do he bracing thing too & im still fighting with it now! Bad habits are so easy to form but so hard to break! Thanks for checking out the video, I’ll sub back 🤟
I held it like you did for even longer. Making the change to the "correct" grip improved my playing immensely. It was difficult to unlearn my bad habits, but by the time I started to see the dividends I never looked back.
Simple but incredibly helpful tip. Thanks. Searched for video on how to avoid pick slipping. First video I watched. Winner!
Steve Morse uses Rob's older style, and is unbelievable, Good video!
I would say it’s never too late to switch, especially if different ways of playing (or holding your pick in this case) make your overall sound better, or your body less tense.. but keep in mind there are some amazing guitar players holding the pick in very unique ways (Paul Gilbert and Marty Friedman come to mind) and that has definitely never stopped them!
Finally someone describing it well! I’ve tried to learn from other TH-camrs teaching how to hold the pick, but it ends up feeling unnatural, but this helped
Yeah, but if it works for you, it works. When I started, so many people said I was picking wrong. They said I had to alternate pick every time. I was doing economy picking naturally and was good at it. really good. I didn't know there was a name for it back then. Well, trying to learn everyone else's way messed me up.
Do whatever works for you. I've always had a habbit of holding a Pick sideways and using the top corner edge larger radius curve to pluck the strings. I think this stems back to using 'Bread Clips' back in School when Pick's were out of my price range and often unnattainable. The problem with this habbit is... well... everything really! So I am trying to use the correct pointed-ish radius of the Pick but find that it seems to rotate 90 degrees subconciously, and I have to conciously correct it for parts of songs that have faster and/or alternative Picking requirements.
I've also discovered that different Pick thicknesses do help with different styles - the 'one size fits all' Medium thickness brown Fender Picks are not actually 'one size fits all'. I now use 0.6mm & 1.0mm and it has helped my technique and results massively.
Just roll with whatever works to get the song played and sounding the way you want it to.
Thanks for the video.
EVH held the plectrum between the thumb and second finger, but it worked for him and he basically reinvented the electric guitar.
I've been picking like you have since '96. Now that I'm working on speed more, I notice it's MUCH easier to alt pick faster with your new way. I think the pick angles more with the second way. Thank you!
Agreed!
I've been playing for 16 years and I would say my picking is definitely my weakest part of my guitar skills. I was just watching another video, and I finally noticed that I may be gripping it wrong. Always had trouble doing upstrokes. No matter how hard I practiced it always felt unnatural to me. This grip immediately feels 100% better to me. Thanks so much for sharing!
I’m a trailing edge picker for over 30 years. I thought I was weird until I watched Santana, Marty Friedman, John Sykes, Bruce Boulliet… whatever works and I gave up trying to correct but rather improve it.
Trailing edge gives the least scrape on the wound strings. I wish I could keep the pick from rotating with that grip. How do you do it?
@@jfo3000 I have a banana/hitch hikers thumb that naturally locks. I’ve never had a problem with any rotation or even pick slip.
Most guitarists use what you call the “right” way (myself included). But there are at least four other acceptable ways of holding a pick, and yours is one of them.
You sound great man, very nice playing
Great video thanks! I've been using the same pinch grip for 25 years without giving it a second thought. I found your video whilst looking to improve it because I've realised its holding back my alternate picking speed. Its inspiring to see an impressive guitarist like you facing a similar problem and talking about it sensibly, without hyperbole. Very helpful, thanks - I'm going to adopt that technique!
Nevertheless after 60 years become working at highly prefer. Glad I'm not alone
Been playing for 50 years without using a pick at all, with all the metal falling down from the heavens i feel its never too late to learn. Enjoyed your video very much, good job.
So glad I found this video!! I have been mentally struggling with this recently. This helped solidify my decision to switch (after about 15 years too). I am three days in and the alternate picking is getting better. I use a heavy 1mil pick and one thing that is still horrible is my strum. This has really made the attack different as my hand is at a different angle now. I made a few strumming exercises to practice and get it feeling natural (hopefully), but right now it’s still nasty. Like the pick is hitting way too hard on my strumming and the attack is too much.
I've been struggling with picking clean and fast for 35 years. I'm not going to quit till I figure it out. Tried absolutely everything - every grip, every pick, etc. I've held it like you for a lot of years - I understand why you like it. Great video my friend :)
Let me make u feel better by comparison. The reason I found your video is because I've been searching how to hold a pick as well and am watching each video I find in disbelief. I'm 58, and have been playing for 40 years....last night, out of frustration at my relative lack of speed, I youtubed how to pick quickly and learned, to my astonishment, that I'd been holding the pick incorrectly all this time....I am crushed, but am committed to making the change as I immediately saw and understood the advantages in terms of speed. I'm self-taught and have held the pick in the same manner as you...I feel like holding the pick more on the pad of the forefinger than the side makes it easier to control pick harmonics, but slower and less precise overall - my opinion after one very challenging day of trying to adopt this change. Good luck going forward.
glad. I found this video. 30ish years I've been holding a plectrum exactly the way you do, I can see how the "correct way" could give you more stability, but I don't feel unstable in my pick action, and while there are guys who can play guitar better with their feet than I can ever play I'm not going to be disappointed if I find it too hard to change.
I've legitimately discovered this like a week ago. I've been holding the pick same as you and could never get good speed, my finger would slip all the time and the pick just seemed too stiff in my fingers, but now i'm practicing with the new grip. I can already tell it's going to be better once i get used to it
What a stellar video. I'm self taught and I've held my pick similar to you. I'd grip the pick with the face of my fingers. My hand would be lightly closed though just what felt natural. I've always thought my picking hand looked strange in regards to other players I'd see. Time to relearn how to hold a pick lol!
I've held the pick the same way as you for 20+ years. Just starting my normal-grip conversion :D
OK sign then thumb on first finger - great way to explain it. 👌👌👌🎶🎶🎶
Just so you know, Paul Gilbert holds it like you do. So if it feels comfortable, it is fine. (Kiko loureiro also holds pick in a wierd way but picks like a god)
Almost 30 yrs for me…. Same thing here! Now I have to modify pinch harmonics…. Sucks. But I couldn’t speed tremolo pick before
I've played since 1994 with open hand (all unused fingers almost straight), and a year ago or so I've noticed that it is only good for downstroke, but anything else is slowed down.
Holding a pick with closed hand allows middle finger to support index finger from below so it makes the grip completely effortless. Downstroke riffs are now a bit challenging, but it's a matter of time to get accustomed to this.
Honestly I've been holding mine completely wrong since I started learning 14 years ago. I've always known it's wrong but just feels more comfortable to me.
I hold it between my thumb and middle fingers.
In all honesty there’s not really any right or wrong! If it feels comfortable then that’s the one 🤟
I do this too but I started doing it after buying "Learn to burn" Van Halen guitar Method many years ago. That was a technique used by Van Halen himself as it made it easier for tapping.
Nez if it works for EVH it can’t be bad!
@@RobGalley Isn't that the truth! Lol.
This is funny, that is my style too. But i realized, it isn't always the best way. "for me", muting strings isn't working perfect ... other fingers create noise sometimes ...i can't use hybrid pickin when i use the middle finger. All the problems are gone, trying the "right way". BUT i miss a ton of feeling doing it right. I don't know, this topic will create some headache the next month
I've been playing for over 20 years, i hold the pick the same way as you. I never noticed any problems until recently with tremolo picking. I just get it right consistently. I've spent the past 2 weeks trying to correct this and I feel so deflated. It's like I'm starting all over again. The reason I wanted to correct it because I'm getting a chirping sound when i trem pick. But with correct technique my wrist hurts and feels so awkward.
Try nylon and celluloid picks to reduce chirping with your current grip. I've found nylon versions of just about every pick type, even Big Stubbies.
BTW, I pick with the normal method and think that, for me, trailing edge picking has less chirp. But I cannot pick that way.
Have you watched EVH’s speed picking? There’s no wrong way
Same here. Tried training myself to hold it correctly for years. Its just not happening for me. I can’t alt pick, I can’t gallop. Its beyond frustrating as Ive hit a wall with my playing due to holding pick incorrectly.
been playing for almost 12 years, i knew i was picking wrong for a while but i can't palm mute without the scraping the crap out of the strings when i hold it the "correct" way, so i never attempted to adapt to that
I’m the same as you. I came across the right way when I was trying to play 16th note funk. The correct was so much easier for using your wrist and to get a solid stable attack. Even though I know that, the old way is so engrained that I often revert to the old way on autopilot.
I feel your pain. For the first 25 years I played, I also used a weird pick grip. The weird grip caused issues with techniques..so to get around this, I used thin picks and would 'power through' strings when I faced the string resistance that the grip was causing. I had teachers who didn't try to correct my grip when I was kid. It was odd. About 5 years ago, I went on a mission to try and correct my picking issues. The first thing I did was start using really thick picks..because they forced me to use a different grip and angle my pick correctly. 5 years into this change, I still have to deliberately use a correct grip..and if I am really tired and worn out, I automatically go back to the old habits. Like you said, after so many years of using bad technique, they are essentially ingrained in our brains. Thin picks should be outlawed.
There is no right or wrong way to hold the pick, as long as it feels comfortable and you can play good with it, then it's the correct way for you
I've only recently learned that I've been holding my pick wrong for 28 years. I use both index and middle finger. But then I mainly do rhythm and apparently I've accidentally stumbled on the style James Hetfield uses. No single finger grip seems to work for me as the pick slips too much. Worse with the supposedly 'correct' side of finger version as well.
I am in a similar dilemma. I hold my pick with 3 fingers the way I hold a pen. I try to change it but it is very hard and not sure if I can.
Great job my friend ✌️ Your playing is very unique and versatile :)
Thankyou! I really appreciate it
My picking is definitely the weak link. I've always wondered if I was holding the pick wrong. I always notice my picking looked different from everyone else's as well. Came across this video, Looking to see how to properly hold a pick and I totally pinch the pick as well Like you, this other way feels much better.
I'm nowhere near the guitar player you are but can tell my picking hand has been a limiting factor in my playing. Seems so foreign to switch but maybe it's what I need
I hold it a similar way to you, but with my middle finger in there too, I've tried the conventional way, but can't get the feel so much really!!
Hi Rob, I’ve been playing since the nineties and I have held the pick the new way you demonstrated in the video however I’ve came across a few videos which show that the first finger parallel with the thumb and the hand made onto a fist. This way seemed to be in the realm of shredders so it’s a little confusing where to go. I’ve tried it and it seems unnatural to me. I think what you said about mixing and matching is a great idea. So I just keep pushing ahead. Old dog new tricks!
Never too late!!
I had that same problem too, usually it will help if you go in between middle and index to feel if it feels right for you, also if you play good, don’t be worried about your picking technique, you are unique for a reason after all.
My pick is angled up towards the celling when I play only slightly though .
I’m having a crisis with how I hold it atm hahaha 😝
Great video Rob, hey, you noticed &
It & willing to try doing it the”correct” way & part your way, which would be your own style, which is great,!
Definitely! It’s cool to still take a look at how you do something to see if you can constantly make improvements!
When I finally started guitar lessons after many years of playing, the very first thing my teacher corrected was exactly this. I still suck at picking though...
Oh my god. Finally, after all these years, my guitar playing just improved instantly by holding my pick this way and it doesn’t slip, wow
Yeah, the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" principle doesn't apply if you're always dealing with pick slippage, as you and I have. I just learned this new grip from another site last week, and it is a major improvement in that regard. And it still easy to go into a strum.
But some sites actually teach the other way. And another one says to position the point of the pick over the first joint of the index finger. Now THAT feels awkward. For me, this new way is clearly the best.
Whatever grip limits lag is what you want. Meaning the pick doesn’t get dragged the wrong way for a split millisecond thru the string. Also depends on if you pronate/supinate, ulnar/radial deviate or a mix of both.
it's almost always a mix.
I've been holding the pick correctly for 30years...but now my problem with nerve and arthritis..i couldn't grip it strong enough. Maybe i should put some glue ala mike stern or use a thumb pick. Im still experimenting.
Lots of guitarists do not agree with you and they way you hold it was 'right'. Btw this was 2020... and I was curious about your picking in 2023 ;-) Jason David Frank vid on 0:25 vs this one at 3:14; looks similar. How do you look at it, 3 years later...?
I have the same problem. I've used the pinch grip style like you have for about 15 years and I absolutely cannot adjust to doing it the "proper" way no matter how hard I try.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experience with your pick issues!
I think your picking play is very good!
What pick gauge and type of material do you use for playing your electric guitar??? Thanks 😊
I use heavy picks & I prefer ones with a bit of grip/texture rather than the smooth ones 🤟
Im trying to change my picking grip after 14 years, i used to hold it like you ...
I am also 17 years in the same boat my friend. Feels very unnatural any other way now. Does tend to limit control when picking speed
EXACTLY A BIT OF BOTH I¿THEMOS TIMPORTANT THING IS HOW YOU FEEL IN TENSION OR RELAX
I held my pick with 3 fingers since for 17 years. I changed it to the right way. It took a few months, but i pick much better now.
your old way looks way more tense in it's "relaxed" state.
With your new way, you can also try angling the pick a bit towards neck/bridge (Just the pick, not the fingers or hand!!). So that you play with leading edge / trailing edge. See if this feels even more comfortable to you. If not, then just stay like you are :)
Jimi Hendrix held it like you did. Check out Woodstock Improv video.
I was once told that it's more important to focus on the angle the pick is picking the strings than the actual grip. I wonder how much of that is true since there are plenty of guitar players that hold the pick in a "Strange"" way
Mate. Thank you so much. Before I saw this video I thought I was the only one with this issue. I started playing when I was 9. I’m now 28… 😅. I worried that changing my picking hand would be an insurmountable task after such a long time of doing it the other way. I’m fact I pretty much exclusively finger picked for years because of it. Now I’ve got the motivation to keep improving. Thanks for the inspiration. Dead set legend.
I find that I have 3-4 different grips depending on what I'm playing. The big issue with that is having to switch grips mid song or riff to riff is very challenging. Some big decisions to make for me too as it's really started holding me back.
I think there's a kind of halfway version of what your describing where it goes on the first finger at an angle. so not the pad of the finger or completely on the side either. look up Troy grady who I think does this. interesting video though!
Two of my buds hold the pick like you, one is a great metal rhythm guitarist, the other is outstanding at everything he does.
You could perhaps use your old method and try introducing different pick angles relative to the strings, as your pick appears to be too parallel to the string, increasing the drag. And also maybe lighten up a bit; dont pick as hard for the fastest stuff. Plus try the downward and upward pick slanting ala Troy Grady.
Your grip can work better for you. I'm fairly certain of this.
If you added an anchor to the that technique you will be more comfortable. Use the middle finger as an anchor for the index. If it works for you it isnt wrong. Closed hand technique tightens the entire hand. I feel open hand technique allows for more flexibility. But like I said if it works for you, great.
Thanks for making this video. I found ONE guitar teacher that recommends "bird-beaking" the pick as you do: Tom Hess. I'm not certain if you hold it exactly as he suggests. Contrary to Mr. Hess, I think that the 'conventional way' (pick against the side of your index) is better. Reasons:
1.) Hybrid picking. Trust me... hybrid picking will be *much* better in the conventional position. The fingers plant so effortlessly on the strings for hybrid.
2.) The pick has a shorter lever arm to manipulate the strings. Extending the fingers outward gives the fingers and wrist more points of failure, imo.
3.) Your downpicking will also have more torque.
4.) You can scalpel the pick back and forth if you ever wanted to. "Scalpeling" the pick is where you use primarily your index finger to extend or retract the pick into different positions. You can even use this for alternate picking, but it isn't as strong as using your wrist. For lead playing or switching between USX and DSX, scalpeling can be a great help.
However, at the end of the day, imperfect technique can often give more personality to your playing. Just look at Marty Friedman.
not sure whether downward picking having more torque is a good thing.
@@Blacksoul444 For metal and punk some might like that. For everyone else, it's your goals, man.
One exception I'll mention is the downpicking champion: James Hetfield. From what I can tell, he holds the pick with three fingers for his own style of bird-beaking. The extra stability from his middle finger supporting the rest of the apparatus obviously works for him. But his goals/specialization might not be yours.
Funny, how I just switched to your old way, because the flesh of the first finger by the nail will start to dig from pressure and it sux. Never pinch it along the nail.' Go back to your way; it's how Herfield plays , Jeff Waters, Matt Heafy etc , but for super shreddy stuff watch Michael Romeo. The style you are playing "looks"'like how Gilbert etc hold the pick but they tilt it a bit towards the knuckle;'never ever over the nail flesh. Good luck 😅🤘
Edit: 4 yr old vid; so I guarantee by now you are either back to old way or tilt the pick slightly out from over the nail of index.
Have you had a look at how Steve Morse holds the pick? He also does it the "wrong" way, and it seems to work pretty decently for him. :D But then again he's left-handed, but plays the guitar like a right-handed person. Maybe this has an impact as well?
Interesting video dude! I held a pick “wrong” for the first 2-3 years of playing, I held it like you do but with my middle and first finger with my thumb (very strange) but eventually trained myself the “normal” way.
But if it doesn’t hold your playing back don’t change it! Ola Englund always takes about how he holds his pick different but he just rolls with it and is an amazing player!
Final thing....that lead tone sounded incredible!
Dude I definitely held it the same way as you used to also! I don’t think I’m gonna fully change it now after all this time but hopefully It might just slightly help in some way to think about it more. & thanks! Just a Mesa style amp on Bias fx!
I do the middle finger too. I’m about two years into teaching myself right now. Trying to learn this really fast hammer on pull off Van Halen lick and I think my picking needs to get better. I’m gonna try to change the technique, but it just feels so awkward
@@aidanunderwood8245 Very ironic since Eddie actually held it with his middle finger. 😛
still can shred after more than 4 years
i hold the pick good
i practice a lot
i still suck
i wanna give up now
Holy Hell. If that opening sequence was your only OK picking, I’d best sell my guitar.
Thanks for the video
Have you completely changed how you hold your pick now and has it served you well and how long did it take to adjust?
I have always held it kind of how you have and am thinking of trying to get usesd to the "correct way", it does seem more efficient for fast picking and wrist motion.
Hey, Josh Meader basically holds it like you and he is an absolute beast. Also MIke Moreno, one of the best current jazz players do it.
Good to know I’m in good company!
Been there, a lot of self taught players start of holding a pick like you would a pen to write. What worked for me was the way gypsy jazz players hold the pick but without the bent wrist. Trust me you're still shredding bro and I think with the new grip you're shredding will be of the scale.
Appreciate it my man 💪
If you want an example of why there is no actual right or wrong way to play Guitar, check out Mike Oldfield's technique. Not specifically referring to Plectrum holding here, but just an example of doing what works for him, and it's certainly impressive!
Thats funny. Ive been playing for 13 years and I just realized that today when i saw someone else playing. I feels wierd playing that way but in the end it feels like my picking hand strains less
I agree, it’s so difficult to change after all this time! But I can definitely see some benefits
I would never change your picking style, you play fast and clean, there is no point to change it. Actually if you make more research at the end tou can see that everybody picking is different! It is not only holding it is how and where you place your hand, fingers etc on the guitar, and too much nuances to replicate others picking. I absolutelly thing everyone has to found his way....there also others extremly good guitarists that hold between middle finger and thumb or even between three fingers
Hah, beat you. I used the wrong right hand technique for 20 years. I ALWAYS had at least two fingers glued to the body to feel more stable, which didn't help.. I see you also had one finger doing that at some points. Just only fixed it a few months ago. It's like I just started all over again but have a way higher ceiling now.
Just learned I've been holding it wrong for 10 years, like 5 minutes ago.
I don’t think there is a wrong or right way, maybe a better way. Carlos Santana held the pick like you do at Woodstock, Soul Sacrifice, and look where it got him.
George Benson. I dare anyone to tell him he sucks because he doesn't hold his pick correctly. (My personal opinion on it) Do what works for you. If you hit a point where there is something you can't play what you want to, and after evaluating all other components of your technique you determine it is your picking, then make small adjustments until you can play it. Over time it will evolve. That is way better than making one huge adjustment and getting yourself frustrated. Never change anything based on looks.
Music is about the journey. As soon as you start adding strict rules on the way you do things you have lost the meaning of music. Now you're focused solely on technique, and what other people think of your technique, and not about creating something. Unless of course your only goal with the instrument is to compete against others for who has the best technique. If that is the case, by all means knock yourself out. Great video by the way! It is an issue many people often wonder if they should change!
I agree with your way. The way touted so much on yt are just people repeating themselves.
Funny, I'm going through the same thing. I've been holding the pick "wrong" for 30 yrs.
Old habits die hard! 😩
ive never heard a guitar pick referred to as a plectrum.
Try troy Grady
For f*&^s sake, how have I not known this all these years? No wonder I suck lol. Thanks man
Hi Rob, yeah looks weird indeed. But you have the right answer, learn something new, mix it with your picking and just do it your way, make it your style. Tipp: have a look how George Benson holds his pick this looks even more weird.
Thanks Oliver! I’ll definitely check it out! In the name of research 😂🤟
If it doesn´t work for what you want to play then it is the wrong one. There are so many gripping techniques out there. Just hold the pick the most comfortable way for yourself. Everyone is different.
We've all been doing it wrong!!
And Friedman's got i right. Everyone back to the woodshed.
ITS CALL BANANA PICK HOLD, AND I HOLD THE PICK LIKE THIS FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE AND I FEEL MORE CONFORTABLY BUT IM STPCKIN VELOCITY AND ANOTHER THINS I WONDER IS FOR THAT
did you consider that holding the pick "correctly" doesn't work for many people. How many new guitarists ended up quitting because they held the pick "correctly" and they just got a scraping sound? You won't see them on youtube, you won't see their comments because they quit...
I know this video is a few years old, but you are still holding it wrong. You are missing the actual point in why people are holding the pick this way.
Your finger is round, there is no way to find the exact same spot to hold the pick ever time on anything other than the side of your finger. If you press the pick into the side of your finger and wobble the finger your pressing you can see that if its actually on the side it will not have allot of flex in either direction but if its just a little but off the side the pick is siting on flesh instead of bone and it can tilt in 360 degrees based on where the pressure is applied from the other finger. Also if its not on the acutal side then the first bend on your finger can flex up and down altering the pick attack.
No way you can keep that all in check while playing to develop consistency. You have to find the spot on your hand you can repeat perfect pick placement so you can develop muscle memory.
Hope that all makes since.
I've played guitar for 20 years and never knew the proper name for a pick was a plectrum...tell me I'm not alone
Maybe it’s more a British name!
@@RobGalley it is.
Sorry to burst your bubble but there is no single right way to hold a pick or play the guitar for that matter. Internet is full of this bs. Whatever works for you, thats what you do! Its alway good to have multiple techniques at your disposal but to say one way is the only correct way is false. Ive seen people play with thier feet better than most do with their hands. Maybe try that!
There's no "wrong" way to hold it if it works for you.
i wanna give up
Bro what u were picking like me as a kid. Bro now try the 3 finger method if u play metal or hard rock
Troy Grady. :-)
25 years wrong here....
IT'S NOT WRONG IF IT WORKS FOR YOU.