How do you hold your pick?

Ditto on that but I actually use the rounded part of the pick with the point facing the neck, wierd huh?

Same here..3 for 3 so far :smile:

with my teeth :D

actually, i don't use em, just couldn't resist :twisted:

i had a feeling most people would hold it the same way because almost everywhere i've seen recomends holding it that way. I think Eddie Van Halen used the first two and the thumb though.
Oh you can always hold two picks at the same time too or super glue them together to make a shark fin type pick/.

with my teeth :D

actually, i don't use em, just couldn't resist :twisted:

I was waiting for that :)

When i first started i held it with first finger and thumb, however i cou;dn't keep it in place, it kept slipping and my strumming was severly hampered. My teacher had me hold it similar to the way art & lutherie does first two fingers but with the round side on the strings and the pointed end towards the nut. The sound difference is noticeable as you get a fuller sound which I liked. However when I tried to strum a few strings at a time, say the 4th, 3rd and 2nd strings, it wasn't smooth at all, no matter how much i tried. The side just didnt flex like the tip. So i'll probably use both methods depending on what i'm after.

Rythym: side
Single notes and partial chords: finger/thumb

Art & Lutherie - What style playing do you do? I like the fuller sound of the pick on the side but as stated above I have problems with the lack of flex when trying to partial strum select strings. How does this pick position affect your playing?

1st finger & thumb. 2nd finger & thumb if I'm tapping or doing artificial harmonics.

First Finger and thumb. Also like the rounded , bigger fatter, edge--Like the tone. With small point facing the my palm.

Lately I like playing without a pick on acoustic, but I am totally shredding my nails - the strings affect them like sandpaper. I had to stop playing like that the other week while my nail grew out coz it basically wore through halfway down.........

Now I'm using clear nail polish, but I have to re-apply it every time I play. I can't see any other way to get around this apart from changing the style, but I love the sound you get.

Anyone else have this problem or have better fixes than daily painting of nails? I might start painting designs on there soon lol.

Forgot to answer the topic....I hold my pick between thumb and first finger, but use the pointy end like normal people!! lol

Do you people lean your little finger on the body of the guitar or not?

Lately I like playing without a pick on acoustic, but I am totally shredding my nails - the strings affect them like sandpaper. I had to stop playing like that the other week while my nail grew out coz it basically wore through halfway down.........

Now I'm using clear nail polish, but I have to re-apply it every time I play. I can't see any other way to get around this apart from changing the style, but I love the sound you get.

Anyone else have this problem or have better fixes than daily painting of nails? I might start painting designs on there soon lol.

Acrylic nail sets. Can get them over the counter at any grocery store or RX Store.

I used to 'pinch' the pick between my thumb and first finger until I had a teacher suggest I hold it between my thumb and the side of my first finger (like a loose fist, sort of). the difference in tone is unbelievable - pinching the pick sounds thin and dainty (for lack of a better word), whereas the thumb and side of the finger sounds full, rich, and confident. I'll never go back.

Oh yeah, and I play with the correct part of the pick. :wink:

Thumb and Index when using a pick. I also cut the tip to a fine point.

Forgot to answer the topic....I hold my pick between thumb and first finger, but use the pointy end like normal people!! lol

Do you people lean your little finger on the body of the guitar or not?

Yeah i lean my pinkey on the guitar, it helps me keep my place on the strings.