After seeing this video, I ran to my guitar to play a fast riff I was struggling to do the "right way" and I was able to immediately play it. The annoying part was I was actually holding my pick correctly for most of my life but I recently saw a bunch of videos telling me I was holding the pick wrong and since then, I struggled with fast riffs. I just thought it was because I was getting used to the new grip but it turns out, I was doing it right to begin with. Thanks, Tom!

I've discovered that I hold my pick in different ways and am not consistent in how I do it. This isn't a case of holding the pick certain ways to achieve a particular effect, it is because I'm "Self-taught" and have never concentrated on a disciplined approach to holding the pick or strumming. I wish I'd learned this a long time ago. Sometimes it's harder to "Unlearn" something than it is to learn it correctly in the first place. Well, for me anyway. Cheers!

I just realized I'm holding my pick wrong. I don't know if this is related but with the way I used to hold my pick and tried to do tremolo picking tension builds up all the way to my right shoulder. I tried this approach and the pick felt more secure in my fingers picking up a pen from the table helps me with getting it imprinted to muscle memory tension is gone as well. Not everybody can afford a top-notch lesson from a professional instructor such as you Tom thanks a lot.

I was a thumb knuckle picker. I watched this video a couple weeks ago and tryed to hold the pick like you show a while and its amazing. Changed my life! Some of my barriers, like hand sincronization are getting easier to break day to day. Thanks!

The example with a pen is cool. It's so simple and powerful!

I've been playing since about 1994 and this picking grip helped me a lot. Much easier to play faster and cleaner. It's like getting to learn all over again except I already have the calluses 😆

This makes my brain and body so much more relaxed that I can actually get back to thinking about what I'm doing in advance of doing it. Getting back into practicing arpeggios after a 20 plus year brain fade and this is helping heaps. Giving me time to focus on accuracy rather than making the same mistakes faster.

Thanks for this, Tom. I was almost dreading having to change my way of playing, but was pleasantly surprised that I'm actually holding it the right way already. Early on I had a real problem with dropping the pick or having it rotate whilst playing, so I tried the "fingertip" grip method to see if it helped. It did, but I'm delighted that you have given all the other reasons why it's best. Now I need to start using thumb muting, as string muting is one of the things I really struggle with. Cheers 😊

wow! thank you Tom. I've been using thumb over first finger since I started playing guitar many years now and wondered why every now and then my pick would fly off and I lose my grip and also felt more tension after playing my guitar awhile. I never realized holding the pick a different way would make any difference. You were absolutely right. holding the pick your way has instantly improved my guitar playing tremendously. Thank you for helping me become a better player.

You are absolutely deserve more than 70K subs.Thanks for the great lesson

I've been using the clamp method for YEARS and could never trem pick right. I tried doing the pencil grip and I couldn't believe the difference in control, although it does feel awkward still. Either way, great tips and I hopefully am on the right road to trem picking! Thx again!

Thank you for the video and thorough analysis!

WELL SAID! FINALLY THE RIGHT ANSWER OUT OF ALL THE VIDEOS ON YOU!

thank you for the instruction! I have held the pick like the way you did for a while but I didn't know if this was the right way, because I noticed other people were doing it differently, with the clamp method. Now I know that this method is not just viable, but better than the clamp method! This was the perfect video and it helped me a lot! Thank you!

Wow! The one thing I’ve been doing right all of these years! Thanks Tom!

really good info ! I used the "clamp" method for years and switching to your recommended grip gives me much better control. Thank you !

It's crazy how there are so many different approaches to picking. I started with the technique discussed in the video of holding the pick the same way you pick up a pencil off of a desk. It just came natural to me whenever i first began playing guitar. I sometimes still tend to play holding the puck this way, but usually whenever I'm playing something more casual that doesn't require a lot of articulation. It can work well, especially for when i sweep pick, but for fast alternative picking, at some point i noticed that it wasn't working for me. What was happening was that instead of picking from the wrist, i was tending to utilize my finger and thumb movement for the actual picking motion, which was really preventing me from playing faster and causing me to have less control and less precision. I learned to remedy this by focusing on using my only my wrist while picking fast, however i found it to be much easier to attain the results i was aiming for by using the clamping way of holding the pick because it prevented me from being able to use my thumb and fingers in that way and forced me to pick solely from the wrist. In other words, i didn't need to focus so much on the proper picking motion anymore because clamping the pick automatically made me pick with moving the wrist. The clamp technique also allows me to pick at that angle that's needed to cut across the strings more easily as the pick is more naturally at a slant. If i need more articulation i can just position the pick to be more straight against the strings, but since i have more power picking from wrist, i get better pick attack already and allows me to mow easily control the dynamic of my picking. I can also mute more efficiently with the picking hand. What it all comes down to is, you really need to experiment and see what gives you the best results. It's different for everyone. For me, both have their benefits, but the clamping made alternate speed picking much easier.

100% agree. This just happens to be how I was already holding my guitar pick. I think the reasons are (1) I learned guitar later in life and struggled more at the start, including dropping my pick a lot, which caused me to spend a lot of time thinking about how to best hold my pick; & (2) I found this to be the best grip when striking pinch harmonics, which if you are going to include them in riffs and solos you need to be able to do consistently every time, This is definitely the best way to hold a pick for pinch harmonics. I also agree that my spatial awareness with my right hand has improved hugely since adopting this grip years ago and in the last three years doing scale exercises regularly. Where I sometimes struggle is the precise angle of the pick tip for certain techniques, such as tremolo picking, fast strumming, and sweep picking

I've tried the side of finger grip because so many people say it's best for speed. It never felt natural & I thought it was because I was stuck in a bad habit. I like your reasoning and I will be comfortable and confident goig forward. Thanks

I agree. But I'd add one more benefit to the "right" way. It allows to change pick angle (make it pick more parallel or more angled) much better and easier. Especially useful when you're playing cleans (but not only) as it opens a whole new world of nuances to the sound.

Thx again Mr. Hess ! I recently change my grip to I guess what you call the wrong ! But it feel natural to me and confortable but I notice the tension you mention so I’ve try your technique and basically it’s how I was holding my pick but in reverse if that make sense ! My pick was always on the other edge , I had tremendous speed but lacking in other area !! Now that I’ve change the direction of the pick with the combination of the shoulder/elbow I think I can get better but it will take practice of course !! After playing for like an hour I’ve realized that I switch between the good and the wrong way but to me it feel like another weapon for certain things !! Thx again , I know I won’t become as fast as I want but for now I’m really happy with the step I’ve made this past week with only 3 of your videos !! Thx again 🤘🤘🤘

Thank you for This. I’ve been trying to relearn the side/knuckle/fist way. I hate it. It feels so rigid and uncontrolled. So many videos love the clamp method

God bless you sir. I've been depressed all week because I recently discovered that my pick grip is not very common. And then I realized that all my idols were not doing it that way. I tried using the pad to side grip, and I could not play anything. Have I really wasted 26 years of my life playing the guitar wrong? If so, why does it feel so comfortable to me? I'm glad I found your video because you make a convincing case on why this is not "wrong"--just different. But hey, I'm sure many people told Wes Montgomery and Steve Morse that they were picking the wrong way.

How would you do pinch harmonics with that grip?

omg where this guy been all my life! totally eye opening wow thank you and nuno bettencourt and eddie van halen are the best examples holding pick on the tip. 😊

Whoa, I had no idea; I've been doing it the other way for over a year. I'm gonna try this right now!

Just started playing again tom after a 40 year family 👪 😅 now kids are gone and um back i must say its only been 30 days and I get conflicting information, I actually started playing the way your explaining it but everything I've seen so far they all say the other way 😆 lol ,I think maybe my instincts where right 40 years ago, cant wait to get some months of playing practicing under my belt then I will try some of your lessons, lets give this picking grip a try again for a month 😀 and see what it releases in me.your free videos are very informative and to the point glad I came across your channel. Peace ✌

Thank you' Great video. I'm a 2/3 Hybrid Switch' as needed while playing' I thought most people did that' Guess not? Works for me.🖖🎼🎸

Very nice, interesting, explanation!

Your method is brilliant. I think I've always held my pick wrongly and thumb against side of finger tiio joint. This way eventually leads to arthritis in the jjoint.. Your method is supirior, my picking style is pain less rather than painful... Brilliant thanks...

I use a Black Mountain guitar pick using my finger the same way that you describe. Love it.

Great topic and explanation. I already use my index finger that way, but with my thumb over the plectrum. I applied some minor adjustments to the thumb and immediately noticed the difference. Better control over the strings and the little string noise I sometimes have also disappeared. Of course it feels strange because it's not a habit yet and I still have to work on less tension but that will come in the next few days too. I think :)

Its a great technique tom. Im using that technique for inside picking but i also like to use the typical down slant style made famous by yngwie with palm muting. Its two different techniques for economy picking down slant pick hand is amazing .and your technique is just the best for if you are an inside picker so my judgement is you are both right. They are all great techniques.❤

I completely agree with you, that this way to hold the pick is the best one. Another advantage point in my opinion is when you try arpeggios using both pick and fingers (middle and ring finger), this way gives you much more confort and fluidity…

Thank you very much Tom for this video. I have been playing for a while, but always feeling that there's something "wrong" with my picking. I'm going to give your way a go and I have a feeling it will help me. Could you please do a video on muting with left and right hand playing single notes and chords. There're a bunch of different ways of doing that and it would be great to see your approach. Cheers!

Ok...I actually just switched my playing to the thumb over the side of the index style. But I keep extending my index finger to have more control. So this is very helpful. I am going to go back to the "pencil" technique and see if I can still have the articulation. Thanks for the awesome advice!

I had my doubts, but honestly this does feel a lot better. Strumming and picking individual notes feels a lot more natural to me, and the tension in the thumb to hold the pick is completely gone. I usually wake up with a pain in my forearm, it was noticeably better today.

Coming from the classical guitar, this grip is what feels the most natural to me. I never understood the curled index grip, even though many suggest it helps with speed. Most of the musicality and articulation comes from the picking hand (that's why people use their dominant hand there), so the more accuracy and control you have there, the better.

Great explanation.

Great upload..the pen method is for me using it 4 years.i try the thumb over x to x cause ppl say you holding the pick wrong,doesn't feel natural to me, in fact it's very uncomfortable. I'm subscribed, great job...

Turning a 2 minute topic into a 23 minute video. 10/10

Thanks a lot for this valuable information. I got better in fast playing thanks to Your advice. I have a topic that many people would find really interesting because it's about our health. I would like to learn how to prevent joints damage while We are NOT playing guitar, especially hand joints harm, because I started to feel some pain and I think all people would like to play until their elderly years but the pain could be a real barrier. I'm still Young but would like to prevent that, so We need advice on this topic, I will really appreciate your words.

Thank you for this I saw a vid where a guy was doing the clamp with the thumb n thought Ive been doing it wrong...tried the clamp n I couldn't even angle the pick right 😂. funny thing the technique you showed is the one I learned from trial n error 👍👍

I've slightly adjusted my pick holding method since doing lessons with you & believe I have thumb muting sussed. My main problem has been wearing down my index finger nail on the inside (next to the 2nd finger to the extent that it gets very thin & beyond short) this is from much practice & busy band schedule. I have switched now to a larger 3 point pick (Dunlop) & try to make sure my thumb doesn't project beyong it. I use hybrid picking in my rhythm playing a lot, pick for bass strings and other 3 fingers simultaneously or syncopated for the higher strings in a chord. This tends to put dents in my 2nd & 3rd finger nails which can hurt & be a problem but I find this technique very accurate rhythmically & allows me to miss unwanted strings without muting. I've tried to get the pick tip to project further from my hand to keep the strings away my nail with some success. Focusing in on your recommendations & suggestion has been very useful & this video has reminded me to pay attention to all these issues. Thanks TomHess

I came to this video hoping to learn cause I do see a lot people holding their pick the way you demonstrated most people do, and I thought I've been doing it wrong. I actually naturally hold and mute the way I've seen you discuss so far into this video. Which is nice and validating but also leaves me wondering even more about what I can do to improve. D:

Very helpful. Thank you. I agree with everything you stated. However, I am not sure there is one correct way to hold the pick. Perhaps a general grip with a variety of application is a good start, but we should eventually be able to smoothly transition to another grip or even finger picking. For example, I find it extremely difficult to do squeals while holding the pick as you suggest. I need the overhanging thumb to to touch the string while I dig into it with the pick. I also find it a bit restrictive if the thumb is doing all the muting. I will sometimes glide up so that I am using a bit of thumb and a bit of the part of the palm just beneath the thumb. On the flip side, I think this might help with some consistency issues I am having. Thanks again!

I've noticed that your thumb can sit on the top strings perfectly because it is somewhat bulky. But mine is like a peanut and the space after the joint causes the 5th string (most of times) to be unmuted or stay open when doing the thumb muting technique. Is there anything I could do to overcome this thing?

Thanks for your video, and I totally agree. I‘ve been noticing recently that my index finger sometimes hits the string before the pick while picking mainly on downstrokes. I even have a little irritation at the base if my index nail when I play for a longer time. I’ve realized that this makes me missing strings, especially when I play arpeggio, as I hit it (or another just next to it) with my index. Has anyone a piece of advice ? Is it a question of too much angle while picking or not enough pick sticking out? Or is it something common? Thanks for your help!

Thanks for the video Tom, very well spoken ideas I can somehow relate, although unfortunately I still cannot fix my picking technique problems. I naturally started holding the pick as pen since the very beginning but I always struggled with pick security. It’s now falling down (well only rarely), but it changes the angle or moves few millimetres up/down during my play which makes it extremely inaccurate and after few measures of something little bit faster I am completely lost and cannot play almost anything clearly without mistakes. I tried to hold it tighter but that feels just awkward and I am losing hand synchronisation. When practicing parts individually, it’s not that hard so the problem is with continuous playing for the pick to stay pick where it should be. When tried switching to holding the pick on a side it gave me the security I needed but I completely lost my dynamics, I get a lot of tension and it just does not feel right. It’s good for simple 2-3 strings sweeps but whenever there is more of alternate picking or strings skipping it’s harder to know where my pick is compared to “pen-like” holding (exactly as you described). Are there any further tips or bad habits in this technique that I should avoid to fix the consistency? Also, are you adjusting or using different grip for various techniques like sweeps, tremolo picking or even basic chord strumming?

So do you have your pick angled like a pen then also? I'm debating with myself whether I should angle the point of the pick forward (towards the neck) which creates a smoother attack but doesn't sound as good, or point it perpendicular to the strings which sounds the best but makes the pick far more prone to getting stuck between the strings.

Thanks for sharing. Do you advice this hold also for bass?

This is a game changer for me but can't seem to stop pinch harmonics when I try the thumb muting. They sound great though. Wish I could do them on command like that lol

This is a great lesson! Thank you for all the information. I’ve been watching a lot of alternate picking shredding videos lately and it’s really been getting me down at how everyone keeps saying you have to close your fist. It just feels awful. Your way is much better. One thing I wonder though, does the direction you tilt your pick make a difference in lead Guitar? I seem to tilt it the opposite way to everyone else

Funnily enough, i had that "right" grip initially. But i ventures onto the curled index finger grip as i developed speed. I am curious whether it has any advantage if i go back now again.

I been holding the pick this way for along time and thought I was doing it wrong tried to change my grip and i allways s found faults I didn't not like the only issuse I have with this grip issue times the pick will slip out of my hand and the exposed tip will some times move to a position to exposed any tips with this

Suggestion for a future video: you mentioned in a video titled "THE #1 Secret To Mastering Guitar Technique" principles, strategy and tactics. Is it possible to classify what are principles and strategy? The tactics are more or less clear.

I like the level of bio-mechanical detail. Thanks.

Something that is missing from this video, and other on the same theme, is how the pick should strike the strings. Instuctions on how to hold it between your fingers is all well and good, but what is the angle of attack, for example? And does it change based on what you will be playing?

how to do pinch harmonics with this grip?

It would be great to see a video on Tips for picking if you have really small short stubby fingers😂 I don’t care what anybody says because there are things that you need to work on more so when you have really small, stubby fingers. It changes the whole dynamic and the physics of playing. And there are certain things that you can probably do better, but it definitely takes a lot more work, I particularly have trouble with my picking hand when doing lead work. You just don’t have the reach that people with longer fingers have so you constantly have to adjust things that people with large hands don’t

Damn son this is revelational! 😮

Thank you, never been good at pick playing, never felt ‘right’, just tried your method of holding the pick and it feels far more natural to use. Now I’m just mad at myself for not thinking logically, the method is in the name ‘pick’ and how do you pick things up? Well for most people it’s NOT between your thumb and the side of your finger, you use your fingertips because a) it’s easier and b) you have more control! DOH! 🙄

This one topic is where you and Mike Philippov teach opposing techniques, which I find strange being that he’s a student (maybe a former student) of yours. But I’ve seen your explanation of muting lower strings when ascending a sweep-picking arpeggio and it seems spot on. I’m going to try this technique for a while and see what it yields. Thanks, Tom. Once I get caught back up from being out of work with my back surgery, I’m going to sign up for lessons with you.

I switch between lead and rhythm ( both riff and strumming). Is this grip beneficial for rhythm also?

I understand exactly what you are saying and I completely agree with your research and answers to questions that beginners like myself have while holding a pick. My question is that I see how to pick up the pick like the example you spoke of.( A pen off a table with the first finger and thumb) but I couldn't see very well the orientation of the pick in relation to the strings. Was the pick tip 90 degrees to the strings? Was the pick tip angle 45 degrees from the strings. I see how you held it in your two fingers but Id like to see the pick location in relation to the guitar strings as the strings are plucked. I hope I'm making sense with my question.

Thanks for the information, Tom! My question in regards to your grip approach deals with pick slanting. If I'm using my thumb as a muting device with this grip, then the pick is in an upward pick slant position. This makes descending licks from higher strings relatively easy, but the opposite is certainly more challenging. What is your approach to, for example, 6 note per string licks that are ascending while maintaining that thumb muting/upward pick slant position?

Tom, my strumming sounds muddy on electric, especially open chords!. Acoustic is cleaner sounding, Suggestions? Perhaps this is a muting problem, but my strumming needs a cleaner sound…. especially UPSTROKES on Electric!

Sorry, quick follow up question: I came across a video from a Brazilian (so there's a language barrier for me) guitar player, Gustavo Guerra, and this video shows around the 2:32 mark that he points the tip of the pick back towards his wrist. No one else has a video that talks about the direction the pick should be sticking out from your thumb. What is your approach? From the angles provided in this video, it looks like the pick is sticking out from your thumb perpendicular. Is that correct?

Tom. I want to accept your reasoning but I have absolutely no control over the pick moving around. What am I doing wrong?

I think, it's more of a feel/psychological thing. I have more confidence holding the pick on the side of my finger. The angle of attack is better. I've cut quite a few picks over the years holding with the pen technique. Probably poor technique. I may experiment with holding the pick with the pen technique using my index and middle finger. I may have missed it, but I didn't hear you talk about how much to choke up on the pick.

Hey Tom, great lesson as always. I have a question that I've wanted to ask for a while now. What kind of strap are you using? It seems to keep the guitar at the perfect classical position and doesn't move. I haven't found a strap that does it that good in my life, haha. CHEERS!!

I actually had a problem seeing the exact grip. Your pick is very triangular, so it's hard to tell what was the side of the pick and what was the point... When you had the pick close to the guitar, it looked like your thumb was close to perpendicular to the point, but when you turned it towards the camera it looked like it was more straight. So is the thumb and index finger pointing the same direction (towards the point)? or Is the thumb at a different angle (more perpendicular to the point)?

Why cant do thumb muting?? i think there is something wrong.. i also have question . Iam left handed and my guitar is right handed and i play guitar more than 2 years .should i switch to left handed guitar???

🤘🏻😎🔥

Trying not to do thumb over is so Hard with Jazz III

But how can we do pinch harmonics with that grip?

But so far i'm pretty sure you're right !

You may also use your beard to mute strings.... great, inspirational video! 😎

This contradicts Everything i used to know. I guess it's a question of habit. To me this method feels very strange, feels totally out of control, slow and weak.. But I used a different technique for 8 years.. so of course it feels weird, one needs to get used to it.. Not sure if i will dedicate time to re-learn it..

I appreciate your explanations but a CLOSEUP of your right hand showing the right and wrong ways to grip the pick would have been a big help. A picture is still worth a thousand words.

ALSO I SEE THIS PICK HOLD ALLOWS YOU TO PICK AND PLAY COMFORTABLY AT THE RIGHT ANGLE!

This is the best way for me for sure. The knuckle picking is far too limiting.

Nice. Was never comfortable with the 'correct' way everyone else claims it should be held -- just never felt natural.

I've always thumb muted. Always thought I was doing something incorrect! Phew. All good 😁

beard mute is the meta.

As a fellow bearded person, I have to ask. How do you play without the beard getting in the way? Getting your beard stuck in a floyd rose is a bitch.