vicious Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 apparently i'm holding my plectrum wrong and its holding me back when i'm playing quicker stuff, i've been told that i'm using too much of the plectrum to hit the strings. i tried holding my plectrum at a different angle which helps me play better but i'm finding it hard to keep a hold of my plectrum. can anyone help me? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slash Guitarist Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 apparently i'm holding my plectrum wrong and its holding me back when i'm playing quicker stuff, i've been told that i'm using too much of the plectrum to hit the strings. i tried holding my plectrum at a different angle which helps me play better but i'm finding it hard to keep a hold of my plectrum. can anyone help me?I cant help with ur problem, but i hold my plectrum / pick weird, cuz i hold mine with 2 fingers and a thumb, instead of a thumb and one finger like i have seen most guitarists play like. I only realised about a year after i 1st started learning, but trying to learn how to hold the pick in a different way is really hard for me and felt like i was learning guitar all over agen.... so now i just carry on playing it the way i always have... i have no idea whether this is holding me back or not TBH. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamo Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 I cant help with ur problem, but i hold my plectrum / pick weird, cuz i hold mine with 2 fingers and a thumb, instead of a thumb and one finger like i have seen most guitarists play like. I only realised about a year after i 1st started learning, but trying to learn how to hold the pick in a different way is really hard for me and felt like i was learning guitar all over agen.... so now i just carry on playing it the way i always have... i have no idea whether this is holding me back or not TBH.I think it probably is holding you back. I did exactly the same as you (learn holding it with 2 fingers and a thumb) and you're right, it did feel like starting learning guitar all over again when you learn the right way, but i'd say its worth the initial few months getting comfortable with it so in the long run you don't get tired really quickly if you're playing for a long time. 'cause thats what would happen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slash Guitarist Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 (edited) I cant help with ur problem, but i hold my plectrum / pick weird, cuz i hold mine with 2 fingers and a thumb, instead of a thumb and one finger like i have seen most guitarists play like. I only realised about a year after i 1st started learning, but trying to learn how to hold the pick in a different way is really hard for me and felt like i was learning guitar all over agen.... so now i just carry on playing it the way i always have... i have no idea whether this is holding me back or not TBH.I think it probably is holding you back. I did exactly the same as you (learn holding it with 2 fingers and a thumb) and you're right, it did feel like starting learning guitar all over again when you learn the right way, but i'd say its worth the initial few months getting comfortable with it so in the long run you don't get tired really quickly if you're playing for a long time. 'cause thats what would happen.So learning with just one finger and a thumb would make me a whole lot quicker??? with practice obviously... ive been playin 2 years and i do feel i shud be quicker than i am after 2 years, after watching ppl on youtube etc who hav only been playing as long as me. And yeah, my hand feels dead after playing the outro to paradise city (which i cant do as quick as slash, but it sounds ok) and then going into my michelle after it, my hand cud barely cope.... maybe this holding the pick thing is the key. Edited March 11, 2007 by Slash Guitarist Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman24 Posted March 11, 2007 Share Posted March 11, 2007 I cant help with ur problem, but i hold my plectrum / pick weird, cuz i hold mine with 2 fingers and a thumb, instead of a thumb and one finger like i have seen most guitarists play like. I only realised about a year after i 1st started learning, but trying to learn how to hold the pick in a different way is really hard for me and felt like i was learning guitar all over agen.... so now i just carry on playing it the way i always have... i have no idea whether this is holding me back or not TBH.I think it probably is holding you back. I did exactly the same as you (learn holding it with 2 fingers and a thumb) and you're right, it did feel like starting learning guitar all over again when you learn the right way, but i'd say its worth the initial few months getting comfortable with it so in the long run you don't get tired really quickly if you're playing for a long time. 'cause thats what would happen.Wow, thanks guys. I'm playing the guitar now for about one month and I now also realised I was holding it with two fingers. Good I found out now, that I shouldn't do so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vicious Posted March 13, 2007 Author Share Posted March 13, 2007 *bump*i really need help with this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamo Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 *bump*i really need help with thisAny particular aspect other than keeping hold of it? I guess practice, lots of... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maximo Posted March 13, 2007 Share Posted March 13, 2007 Ive always held my pick with a thumb and 2 fingers im not sure why but I dont think its holding me back at all i can play just as quickly or even quicker as anyone i know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
life_247 Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 2 Fingers and a thumb is standard for rhythm players.I tend to switch between one and two fingers on the pick. Generally play with two on bass.The best way is to start "leading" the pick with the pointing finger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slash Guitarist Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 2 Fingers and a thumb is standard for rhythm players.I tend to switch between one and two fingers on the pick. Generally play with two on bass.The best way is to start "leading" the pick with the pointing finger.I hav been tryin to do it with 1 finger and thumb since i read this thread and i can do the lead no problem, but i really struggle to keep hold of the pick when i do rhythm... so im guessing thts why 2 fingers and thumb is standard for rhythm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raw Power Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 It's no such thing as a correct way to hold a pick. Just do whats feels right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.Seal Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 It's no such thing as a correct way to hold a pick. Just do whats feels right.Of course not like there's no correct way to play guitar or hold it.. but there are ways that allow you more reachability and speed.I hold mine between thumb and index finger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slash Guitarist Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 It's no such thing as a correct way to hold a pick. Just do whats feels right.Of course not like there's no correct way to play guitar or hold it.. but there are ways that allow you more reachability and speed.I hold mine between thumb and index finger.Is that quicker than, thumb, middle finger and index finger ??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inverted Mind Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 (edited) If you have any interest i playing fast, and accurate I would recommend holding it the way paul gilbert holds his (I do it now) and it works great, one sec, I'll find the video for it.EDIT: I'm pretty sure this is it Edited March 15, 2007 by Inverted Mind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iceman24 Posted March 15, 2007 Share Posted March 15, 2007 If you have any interest i playing fast, and accurate I would recommend holding it the way paul gilbert holds his (I do it now) and it works great, one sec, I'll find the video for it.EDIT: I'm pretty sure this is it Hmm, interesting, have to try this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamo Posted March 16, 2007 Share Posted March 16, 2007 It's no such thing as a correct way to hold a pick. Just do whats feels right.Well, there is really.You can do another way, but it limits you in speed, quickly becoming tired, range of ways you pick (eg pinched harmonics to name one) and there are a lot of ways. It just comes down to how seriously someone takes playing the guitar. Simple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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