how do you handle your plectrum?

[ytse_jam]

i never paid attention to this thing before, but last week one of my bandmates said me that my way of keeping the plectrum was different from his and from the great part of the guitarists seen around. So, i prefer keeping the plectrum between the tips of the thumb and of the forefinger, as Steve Morse do:

great part of the guitarists i saw instead keep the plectrum between the forefinger tip and at about medium length of the thumb, like, i.e John Petrucci:

i unconsciously learned to keep the plectrum in my way, but i think i can have more control on my touch doing so...the second way however seem to be better for fast solos at first, even if with a good training you can obtain the same results (concerning speed) with the two approaches... let me know how do you handle your plectrum and what do you think about this thing!

 

[tiger roach]

Option B for me. It just always seemed more natural.

 

[cvansickle]

Steve Morse and Eddie Van Halen actually hold theirs between the thumb and the middle finger.

 

[Elpelotero]

different strokes for different....strokes!

option A when i'm doing certain things, such as fast alternate picking metallica style. for some solos and riffs, it feels very natural and i get great "feel" and control. i find myself anchoring a lot though. funny tho, hetfield (i'm almost positive) uses this style and he floats his hand.

Option B, however, most of the time, especially strumming.

if you can learn to control option A, i think it would be very beneficial. it seems to offer lots of "breathing" and versatility.

I switch around unconsciously or with small thumb movements, etc.

 

[ResearchTriangle]

I think I'm more option B; I choke up on the pick a bit. But this is a great thread because it's something I've been thinking about lately. I really think my picking technique is flawed so I'm looking to revamp it. I find myself switching pick holding positions between doing regular rhythm\lead guitar, pinch harmonics (which is rare cus I hate them), and sweep picking. I've also gotten good at quickly switching it between being tucked in the folds of my palm skin (gross) and then back to my fingers for doing multi-finger tapping (thanks Buckethead live videos!). This constant repositioning of the pick isn't working out too well for me. I think I'm going to study Robert Fripp's method, because he seems to be a really efficient and accurate picker (look up some of his interviews where he talks about his picking technique, it could be an eye opener).

Of course then there's James Hetfield, who sometimes holds the pick with his index, thumb, AND middle finger at the same time.

 

[MesaENGR412]

I hold it like this:

-AJH

 

[Elpelotero]

Of course then there's James Hetfield, who sometimes holds the pick with his index, thumb, AND middle finger at the same time.

i read that a lot also, but after reading it i started watching for it and it's false...at least since 2001 or so.

i think he applies pressure to the index with the middle finger a little, if anything. but if you watch pics and current videios he does option A. kirk is definately option B.

 

[ytse_jam]

Of course then there's James Hetfield, who sometimes holds the pick with his index, thumb, AND middle finger at the same time.

i read that a lot also, but after reading it i started watching for it and it's false...at least since 2001 or so.

i think he applies pressure to the index with the middle finger a little, if anything. but if you watch pics and current videios he does option A. kirk is definately option B.

it seemed to me that also Petrucci held the pick with three fingers during some solos (Erotomania i think)..

 

[Ken]

I think I do both depending on how I am playing. If Im playing fast I do option A, if I'm doing pinch harmonics I do more like option B.

Just play however you feel comfortable imo.

 

[JoeVFR]

I use option B. Option A seems to give me a lot of tension in my forearm. I also tilt the pick at an angle, towards the neck. The main body of the pick is forward of the tip. It seems to offer less resistance when I pick that way. I do a little hybrid thing too and use my ring finger to grab higher notes.

 

[nocluejimbo]

I usually use my index finger when doing downstrokes only and middle when alternating.

 

[MesallicA]

I copied Paul Gilberts technique.

 

[MesaENGR412]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCypSGX1JmE

This video show's how Petrucci holds his pick really well. Just thought I'd share....
Not to mention some sick guitar playing!

-AJH

 

[ytse_jam]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCypSGX1JmE

This video show's how Petrucci holds his pick really well. Just thought I'd share....
Not to mention some sick guitar playing!

-AJH

was it taken from G3 tour (live in tokio maybe..)? i consider jp to be very skillful, maybe the fastest and in the same time precise guitarist in the world. I don't like his inexpressivity (concerning both melody choice - not always however, there are some nice songs in I&W and in Awake, and this one you linked too from this point of view - and "touch feel") and the "static" sound... i would like to hear him playing some dire straits
or eric clapton stuff! however, as you said, we must admit that he knows how to hold his pick!

 

[MetalMatt]

I'm a option B guy. Thats just what came naturally.

ahhhh G3...great DVD!

 

[bonehead189]

Option B for me. It just always seemed more natural.

+1

 

[ylo]

Option B is the traditional way to hold a pick. However, whatever works best for you is the way to go!

 

[4Draw]

Option A here.


Although, lately I've been trying to do it like Option B too, to enhance the arsenal of tricks and nuances.

 

[Nick_cor]

Hey!!! Heres a little story about my "picking"

When I first got my guitar I never really used a pick. I played with my fingers. After 1 month I got pretty acustomed to the way I "picked" and I was playing tunes like crazy train, iron man and Paul Gilbert :wink: *joke*. Now as time went on I got better and better with this technique and my guitar teacher at the time didn't really put any stress on the way I played.

THEN I got this cut on the tip of my middle finger, it was real deep one, took a real long time to heal and it hurt to play and I couldn't really get around it so I picked up a "pick" . It was the first time i tried it , took some time to get used to and then by the time my cut was healed, picking was my new forte!!

Back in the day when I was doing some serious practicing... I settled into my own way of picking and about a year later i heard of John Petrucci and weird enough we hold the pick almost the same!

To me I have more control with option B and it works great for speed picking!

Sorry for the long story!!
Cheers!

 

[Russ]

For me, I guess it really depends upon what I am playing and what guitar I am using. Another factor is mood and how much liquid I have had. For the most part, it is a grip that varies in order to facilitate the playing. For percussive stuff it is a firmer grip and tighter hand. For more intricate stuff it is all about being light and fast with a looser grip that allows use of my fingers for more than counterbalance. If it is just a jam session (typically well lubricated with spirits) I couldn't tell you exactly though it sounds good. I know that when I play old punk/thrash/speed metal it is all about that fanned hand whether muting or not. When I play more interesting metal my grip will shift from A to B or vice versa as needed. I have found though that once I being playing something a certain way that way sticks no matter how hard I try to switch. I guess it is just ergonomics.