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Post by zontar on Jan 7, 2021 9:11:53 GMT
So I was on a mandolin forum, and someone posted about being surprised to find that you hold a pick differently to play mandolin differently than playing guitar. Well this led to some consternation & confusion--many on the forum play both--some are more mandolin players & some more guitar players--and everything in between. So after some clarification it was revealed he held his pick playing guitar like this, with the index finger perpendicular to the thumb: Most of us said we hold the pick with the thumb & index finger more or less parallel--like this: there were some other variations--and some do change their grip depending on what they are playing on guitar. So I put it to you out there--if you use a pick--how do you hold it?
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Post by johnreardon on Jan 7, 2021 10:56:27 GMT
I suppose when I do use one, it's closer to the first photo. But most of the time, I tend to use fingers
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 7, 2021 13:03:26 GMT
I think I am closer to the first picture too
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Post by Bill h on Jan 7, 2021 17:28:32 GMT
I’m pretty much like the first pic, I do a lot of pick(pinch) harmonics so I like to be able to pull in the pick to do that.
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Post by infant on Jan 7, 2021 17:58:13 GMT
None of the above. I like to use the rounded portion of the pick and not the point. I find it gives me a smoother tone for rhythm and I can more easily get and control pinch harmonics when playing lead.
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Post by zontar on Jan 7, 2021 19:02:59 GMT
None of the above. I like to use the rounded portion of the pick and not the point. I find it gives me a smoother tone for rhythm and I can more easily get and control pinch harmonics when playing lead. But when you hold the pick is your index finger parallel or perpendicular or something else? I do rotate the pick sometimes so a different part of the pick strikes the strings, but I use the same grip
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Post by zontar on Jan 7, 2021 19:06:20 GMT
None of the above. I like to use the rounded portion of the pick and not the point. I find it gives me a smoother tone for rhythm and I can more easily get and control pinch harmonics when playing lead. But when you hold the pick is your index finger parallel or perpendicular or something else? I do rotate the pick sometimes so a different part of the pick strikes the strings, but I use the same grip
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Post by zontar on Jan 7, 2021 19:10:09 GMT
I find that having your index finger parallel to your thumb gives more control over picking, especially single notes
If someone uses a different grip, that’s up to them, but I wonder if they tried both & like that way better or if they have never tried both
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Post by infant on Jan 7, 2021 19:47:22 GMT
None of the above. I like to use the rounded portion of the pick and not the point. I find it gives me a smoother tone for rhythm and I can more easily get and control pinch harmonics when playing lead. But when you hold the pick is your index finger parallel or perpendicular or something else? I do rotate the pick sometimes so a different part of the pick strikes the strings, but I use the same grip I think maybe the second last photo then.
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Post by zontar on Jan 7, 2021 22:29:03 GMT
For some songs & parts of songs I have strummed chords withe side of a standard shaped pick
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Post by Sgt Rock on Jan 8, 2021 1:44:00 GMT
first picture for me, too. then I can use the second and third fingers for hybrid picking.
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Post by zontar on Jan 8, 2021 2:13:42 GMT
first picture for me, too. then I can use the second and third fingers for hybrid picking. I use them that way sometimes But hold the pick like picture 2
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 8, 2021 13:36:34 GMT
I don't think picture 2 would really be comfortable for me
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Post by zontar on Jan 8, 2021 19:36:30 GMT
That sounds odd to me as the only difference really is bending a knuckle You have more finger to hold the pick, so you should be less likely to drop it And I find I have better pick control But then I have my fingers, you have yours so that could be the difference
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 8, 2021 21:36:37 GMT
That sounds odd to me as the only difference really is bending a knuckle You have more finger to hold the pick, so you should be less likely to drop it And I find I have better pick control But then I have my fingers, you have yours so that could be the difference Dunno- I'll try it tonight and see
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Post by zontar on Jan 8, 2021 21:41:25 GMT
I am going to look for some different pictures online I am wondering now, rereading the thread if they may not have been clear enough
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 9, 2021 0:58:02 GMT
Well I tried to pick as in the second picture and I didn't find it comfortable. Of course doing it the other way for 30+ years makes it very difficult to switch that quickly. But I'll try it again tomorrow
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Post by Bill h on Jan 9, 2021 4:13:20 GMT
Well I tried to pick as in the second picture and I didn't find it comfortable. Of course doing it the other way for 30+ years makes it very difficult to switch that quickly. But I'll try it again tomorrow Tried pic 2 myself, I’m in the same boat, it felt weird.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 9, 2021 21:46:12 GMT
Well I tried to pick as in the second picture and I didn't find it comfortable. Of course doing it the other way for 30+ years makes it very difficult to switch that quickly. But I'll try it again tomorrow Tried pic 2 myself, I’m in the same boat, it felt weird. I tried it again today- just does not feel natural for me
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Post by zontar on Jan 9, 2021 22:52:13 GMT
I'm not trying to change you--just trying to clarify--and offering my views--as you re yours. It's all cool.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 9, 2021 22:56:21 GMT
I'm not trying to change you--just trying to clarify--and offering my views--as you re yours. It's all cool. Never thought you were trying to change me, but I was interested enough to give it a shot!
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Post by zontar on Jan 10, 2021 2:13:02 GMT
In they video you see more clearly what I mean about how I hold a pick. And most people I've seen play guitar do as well. I am nto referring to his remarks about the hand placement on the bridge--although I do that for some things. It depends what I am playing. I am referring to the way he holds the pick.
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Post by Deleted on Feb 11, 2021 9:58:51 GMT
I was watching some Loggins and Messina videos earlier and noticed that Jim Messina, who's got an interesting sound as a lead player, is doing most of his stuff on his Strat using a thumbpick. I started playing with flat picks and never went back to a thumbpick again. Watching Messina tonight, I began to like the sound he was getting....I'm guessing heavier strings were involved too, but the sound that he was getting was so good.
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Post by zontar on Feb 11, 2021 10:18:10 GMT
I was watching some Loggins and Messina videos earlier and noticed that Jim Messina, who's got an interesting sound as a lead player, is doing most of his stuff on his Strat using a thumbpick. I started playing with flat picks and never went back to a thumbpick again. Watching Messina tonight, I began to like the sound he was getting....I'm guessing heavier strings were involved too, but the sound that he was getting was so good. That style of thumb pick messes me up--but for those that like it--cool. If you can make it work--go for it.
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Post by george on Jul 13, 2021 3:05:50 GMT
I use 351 heavies.
I would be closer to picture number one and my bottom 3 fingers are loose like hybrid picking.
The thumb clamp curled knuckle fist grip in the second series of pictures I find puts too much tension in my arm and I end up using less wrist action and getting less accuracy.
No one ever told me how to hold a pig one way or another; it’s just the way it ended up after years of doing it.
NB - The voice dictation on my phone substituted pig for pick; I am leaving it that way. . lol
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 13, 2021 11:29:48 GMT
No one ever told me how to hold a pig one way or another; it’s just the way it ended up after years of doing it. Yeah me too- I had to go get a guitar to even see how I normally pick
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Post by george on Jul 13, 2021 14:40:59 GMT
My concern is that if I think about stuff like that I’ll forget how to do it ..lol
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Post by zontar on Jul 17, 2021 22:38:40 GMT
My concern is that if I think about stuff like that I’ll forget how to do it ..lol then just do it. One thing I noticed years after I stopped taking lessons--stuff my teacher tried to get me to do, that I resisted doing, I was doing on my own years later...
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Post by Colchar on Jul 18, 2021 4:46:34 GMT
I hold it perpendicular, but with the pads of my thumb and first finger. I also prefer to slant the pick backwards (like Hendrix, EVH, Duane Betts, Rik Emmet, etc.) but suck at strumming when doing that so I slant it forwards like most people do.
I have some real deficiencies in my playing, as well as gaps in my knowledge, so I am seriously considering starting up lessons with a local guy in the next couple of weeks. He holds his pick parallel so I wonder if he will try to get me to switch. I like the parallel method well enough, but the knuckles of my other fingers get in the way and hit the strings.
Hopefully the half hour drive to these lessons will be worthwhile.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jul 18, 2021 14:04:21 GMT
I hold it perpendicular, but with the pads of my thumb and first finger. I also prefer to slant the pick backwards (like Hendrix, EVH, Duane Betts, Rik Emmet, etc.) but suck at strumming when doing that so I slant it forwards like most people do. I have some real deficiencies in my playing, as well as gaps in my knowledge, so I am seriously considering starting up lessons with a local guy in the next couple of weeks. He holds his pick parallel so I wonder if he will try to get me to switch. I like the parallel method well enough, but the knuckles of my other fingers get in the way and hit the strings. Hopefully the half hour drive to these lessons will be worthwhile. As long as you are honest with yourself of what gaps you have and want to address, the lessons should be greatly helpful. You might not even need regular lessons- years ago I had a single lesson with someone and he helped me understand some things that I simply wasn't getting
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