This is LITERALLY the best pick holding video I've come across on KZfaq, most people don't show it from this angle so it's still hard to tell how the pick should be positioned! Thank you, short and sweet but detailed!!

That instantly changed the way it sounds. Now the strings are evenly hit, the sound is much more smooth. Thanks for the advice! 😊

I tried this and my picking speed and consistency improved immediately.... just wow...

My pick keeps slipping through my fingers that way lol

Steve Vai once said: "put the pick on a table. Pick it up. The way you hold it now is the right way for you

Exactly how I was shown 53 years ago from my teacher, a jazz guitarist.

Picks are vital. I recently got the most gorgeous sounds using a thumb pick and two metal finger picks, but I’m used to using a flat pick.

Crazy how much of a difference this made in accuracy for picking too thanks for the tip man made power chords a lot easier

Play however your comfortable. Most of the greats hold the pick weird.

As someone who is just starting out, thank you!

I've never gotten and never will get how people can play guitar while holding a pick like that

I don’t use a pick, but this is good content for those that do. Respect

Omg instantly better tone 😮❤😊 thank you!

It's your preference I don't hold like that but I can play just fine. Do what makes u comfortable.

You can't tell me what to do

WOW man that completely changed the game!!

This is great for a beginner. I have evolved to hold the pick different ways in order to draw a different tone. The tinny sound is just fine. If that's what you are going for. I wouldn't suggest it for a run or any lagoto or if you are trying to learn songs. But when you decide to create songs. That can be a great thing to know. This includes variations like hybrid picking. If you get far to used to holding it "the correct way" you may struggle finding a comfortable position when you want to experiment a little. It was much easier for older guitarists to marry themselves to the craft. This day and age no one but the laziest have time to learn right. So if you are going for the standard picking and just need help holding one. This is the best advice. Just remember my advice when going outside the box, which is what music is all about. Just don't use this mentality when learning music theory. That's not a debatable or changeable reality. Learn it, though. It will increase your knowledge 10 fold.

C'mon dude. Whatever feels & sounds great

There is no wrong way or right way. Its preference.

Thanks you saved so much of my time

I always hold the pick with three fingers and I continue doing it

Brooo it just completely changed the way they sound! Thanks a lot man

Kick ass clear instruction that explained more than you might need. That is a quality break down and exactly what I was looking for ty my friend

The instant change in sounds was amazing !!! Thank you so much!!!

hold the pick how ever you want it as part of your style

What beautiful hands! Thanks! I was holding the pick incorrectly.

Thank you man.... ❤ You helped me lot.. ❤

This just changed my life

thanks for the breakthrough

This is how I started to play guitar, and it felt good, but i could never strum this way

I struggled with holding my pick correctly for like 2 years. It always felt extremely forced and uncomfortable even though I could swear I was following videos just like this one to a T. I can’t explain it, but eventually my hand just kinda settled into it over time and it became natural. Now I can change my grip on the fly while playing to produce different tones, increase speed etc. It’s incredible just how versatile and important this little piece of plastic is. Even makes a huge difference how thick the pick you’re using is. I used to play cello and it’s very much like a bow.

A great starting point.

i guess ive been doing it wrong for 20years. but i must admit the sound is much fuller and more controlled when i hold the pick like in the vid

😮After watching this video I can now sweep pick.Thanks man.🙏

He made this video to show off that beautiful pick

Adjusting how you hold the pick is a great way to change your tone mid song. It's something that will come in time.

Got that same pick from Hawaii. Came in either a pack of 4 or 5. The pineapple one is my favorite.

Crazy good lesson. So simple and effective.

MY thumb and index finger make an X, and I hold my pick with very little protruding to just tap or slap the top 1/2 of the string. I use 2.0,-2.5 black Jim Dunlop jazz picks (I play rock), and I drill 7-9 5/32 holes on the top 1/2 of the pick for grip. Works wonders.

Unbelivable has fixed my strumming after 20 years better tone and much mor conrol also has loosend my wrist Thank you so much

Oooo this instantly made my guitar sound the way I wanted ☺️☺️ thank you so much ☺️

I hold it closer to the tip, because if its held on a round part of your finger, you can change the angle of the pick to get different tones. You can't change angle as far on the side of your finger. Sometimes I used two fingers or even the index finger by itself

much better explanation than other videos, helps a lot thanks 👍

Thank you!! It sounds better with this position 😊👍

you hold your pick the way it works for U! Pick technique can change song by song.

Thanks for this!

As a mandolin player, this is the only way I hold a pick, and I think it’s very good advice, and the best technique for getting the best tone not only on guitar, but mandolin as well😊

I say, just play and play and play, focusing on the clarity and tone and when you find it, it will lock in naturally for you. Everyone’s pick grip will be a little bit different.

Being a professional guitar is recommended this trick to you it is the perfect way of holding a platform I also hold it just like this in the starting I also face some problem but now I have started to adapt this new way of holding a platform this will help you to fasten up your strumming and also you will be really nice lead player

Thanks friend ❤ Lots of love from 🇮🇳

EVH held it with thumb and middle finger. Just cause it works for you doesn’t mean it right.

I was holding it exactly the same way, just leaving out a smaller portion of the tip of the pick.

“Yeah, well that’s just like you know, your opinion, man”

This how I held the pick day one because I would watch other guitarist hold it this way and I figured there's a reason why so I've been doing it from the start

I know this is better, and I’ve tried switching to it before, but it feels so strange. I just need to put in the time and it will eventually feel natural

almost correct except that the end point of the pick should be slightly angled horizontally inwards of your thumb, this way you don't miss or skip strings very often.

I prefer a James hetfeild way of holding it with two fingers. Didn’t even grow up with Metallica but was just the most natural Way to hold it

This one has got to be the best video. Its that curl of the index finger that does it and holy shit it immediately made my strumming feel much more relaxed

Learn to hold it differently for different play styles. No set ways

This really helped me because I hate using pics but I need to learn how to use one because I play electric guitar thank you

Aaaaand you saved me hours of headache. Thanks for the demonstration man!

Thank you bro! Now i can play some requinto of Mexican music

Great video, thanks for the advice 🔥

Someone said to point the index finger straight down and hold the pick as if you’re pointing at the strings. This way was infuriating, unnatural and was quickly abandoned

Eddie Van Halen had the oddest pick hold. It was bizarre .

Literally an instant difference!! Quite uncomfortable though, but I’ll get the hang of it. THANK U SO MUCH!

I was doing the right one all this time ☠️

I use a quarter for a pick

That's a badass pick

Thank you so much❤

Where were you 40 years ago?!!!

Oh my! you know what this showed me? I've been holding my pick right all this time!

I have the same pick and I use it everyday 😂

This is the best pick holding technique.

Thank you!

A guitar guru once told me same thing. The way you’re holding it allows for more speed and accuracy too. Less work as well you just kinda wiggle that thumb 👍

I used this method for years. I only recently changed it because I found muting the low strings awkward with the angle. I now point the finger down towards the top of the pick and it solved everything. I have huge hands. This might not be the case for everyone

Truthfully, this should be used when doing speed licks. There is minimum control for rhythm and the pick tends to scrape the strings. I’m not sure why people are advocating this when this is mainly for 1 style of playing. Most modern rock or blues players don’t use the pick like this. But definitely the virtuoso players for the sweeps and economy.

Remember: everyone holds their pick differently, this grip is very versatile but may not be the best for what you are doing. I personally don't use this grip as it isn't very good for stuff like noise rock where I'm less focused on single string picking however, this grip is a good all-rounder.

If this helps my thumb pain (yes, my picking hand thumb) which was injured and has stunted my guitar growth i will 100% give you a shoutout on my album. Ive been playing guitar for almost 11 years and have always held the pick outwards and my picking thumb hurts more than the fretting one which should not happen. Has anyone else had an experience like this, where your thumb joint pivots backwards, causing weakness and swelling therefore impacting a hobby, such as an instrument?

It’s also in line with your palm so you can palm mute 😀

I wish I've known this sooner!

I somehow taught myself to do this exact method, and I teach this method myself. People always act like its weird, but they wonder why they keep dropping the pick all the time using the other method. They also wonder why they can't play faster. This is part of the equation.

I hold it however I want. I even switch hands sometimes. Feels like a whole different person lol.

and a softer flexing pick too

This was an excellent video ❤

wow...that works ❤️❤️tysm 🙏

and... more wrist twist, less palm muscle.

i use a very small 3 mil pick i put it at the tip of my thumb and bend my main finger slightly i got them both so they can move freely together so they can counter my wrist movement for greater speed...my hand posture is similar to your but my index finger comes straight down rather than bend over the pick

Thank you!!!

I don't like hold the pick with my pointer finger bent all the way. I like my pointer finger pointed towards the strings with the pick on the side of my finger.

I switched to this technique a few weeks ago after a decade of holding it like you showed at the beginning. For anyone who wants to try it: it works, and it's much more comfortable and precise in the long run, just don't get discouraged if you don't get it right at first.

Big thanks

this feels so incredibly unnatural

The pick slips out of my hand what should I do

No , hold the pick short like you say, however... between thumb and Middle Finger ( far, far more accuracy and control);

No. You lack control of the pick if it isn’t seated right above the pad of your pointer finger. This looks somewhat awkward. But to each their own.

Game changer! Thank you

LETS GO THANK TOU SO MUCH THIS WORKS SO GOOD

My technique is to hold the pick towards the forward side leaving a tail end towards my palm. that way I can make adjustments on the fly and also quickly toggle from fingers to pick. And sits perfect for pick harmonics too.