How to FIX Your Pick Hand Finger Position! THIS WORKS!

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Have you ever wrestled with what to do with your pick hand fingers while playing guitar? Fan them out, rest them on the body, curl them up, anchor them... how do we attain that loose closed fist position so many players have? On today's video, Uncle Ben Eller here is gonna show you a trick he picked up from @massive_bass_nerd (aka Massive_Bass_Nerd on instagram) to fix this common problem instantly! Whether you're a funky strummer or a metal shredder, this WORKS!
Les Paul Custom
Friedman BE100

[@BenEller]

Thanks again to Massive_Bass_Nerd for inspiring this amazing trick to fix your picking hand position! Did you try it yet? Did it work?

[@keithjohnson2940]

my life just changed.......not the way it changed from my other biological step uncle

[@benearhart1224]

Thanks! I'm going to give this a try. I struggle with this. What I tend to do is plant my pinky on the edge of the pickup and sometimes I realize that I've actually hooked my pinky finger around the low E string. I think I'm going to glue something to the guitar right below the E string and see if my pinky takes to that. I really like the hand stability of having my pinky anchored. I'm not dogmatic about it but it can get pretty noisy sometimes because sometimes the pinky must be lifted (to do something funky and strummy) and if I drag it across the strings it makes noise. That being said, I'm tending to control noise mostly by keeping my picking hand flat on the strings at all times these days so its less of an issue.

[@munkyenima]

Uncle ben, dude is also on YT @Justyn Delbridge 🤘😎🎸🐙

[@benearhart1224]

@Ben Eller I just did some tests with this. I keep my finger in a modified Petrucci position. The interesting thing I realized checking it out is that I use it for strumming, not picking the high strings. I am a big man with big hands and I can easily lift the pick two inches above the low E string without lifting my pinky. I never use my elbow at all for strumming. It's actually the ease with which I can wreck the pick against the larger strings that drives me to want more hand stability. I play metal rhythm primarily. When I do play the high strings, my little finger rolls away from the E string so that the finger nail is flat against the guitar and there is space there for the string to move. Just like you said, this is a new habit that has developed since I've started to learn to play faster.

[@clarkbabin9799]

Who knew all this time 38 Special was talking about picking. I naturally hold my hand the way your explaining unless I'm muting or finger picking. Although I hold the pick on the flat side of my index with my thumb holding it in place. Helps me some times when I'm going for a good harmonic on like a ZZTOP song with little or no difference in the position my hand is in.

[@thomask9577]

Thank you for bringing more attention to Francis Bubbletrousers. He is an amazing guitarist who rarely gets the credit he deserves.

[@BenEller]

Legendary

[@d.nakamura9579]

I thought he was the Scorpions bassist (?) 🤣

[@Thepoweoftheriffcompelsme]

Criminally underrated player!!

[@massive_bass_nerd]

Dude, thank you SO much for posting/sharing this! Massive_bass_nerd here. So happy that you found this useful. You rock dude 🤘😻

[@munkyenima]

The man, the myth, the legend 🤘😎🎸🐙

[@BenEller]

Thanks for saving lives out there!

[@jasonwojcik]

Massive_bass_genius *FTFY thank you for sharing something so obvious that nobody noticed until now!

[@natedanaste]

Thank you both!

[@Voodoo66Chile]

Dude thank you for sharing this trick of yours online! This is actually something I've been consciously trying to work on with my picking technique but changing how I hold my fingers felt so unnatural that it affected my playing (20 years of holding my pick is hard to change). This absolutely works for me, I look forward to a few weeks of using this trick. Thanks again man!

[@giambibollareal]

I’ve got another hint to help release tension while playing, at least during practice: holding a biscuit or similar between teeth and trying not to crunch it. It works helping to relax neck and jaw muscles.

[@thadjarvis9514]

Good idea thanks I'll try it

[@GordiansKnotHere]

Especially if it's a disco biscuit!

[@romeshyatawara2880]

"...and there are dog and kitty videos, really important stuff too". Totally dude. You took the words right out of my mouth. 😊

[@YouTw1tFace]

Francis Bubbletrouser is my favorite guitarist!

[@joopvanzeir3330]

A tip i found out myself for this was learning to hybrid pick, it really made me close my hand as a default when playing other stuff and because of that i find that my alternate picking got more consistent, more controlled and overall comfortable now. Thanks for the video uncle Ben solid information as usual!

[@Lupoexperience]

So helpful! My guitar lesson is coming up and this trick came just in time! 🙏🎸

[@patandmacmusic]

I had a realization that I had an issue with my picking hand maybe a year and a half ago watching your videos, and have been playing so much cleaner ever since. This too is gonna be extremely helpful!

[@CyberDocUSA]

Loved the .38 Special reference. Etch-A-Sketched this lesson into my corpus collosum and got me chuckling with no time to watch videos or play lately because of work BUT always come back for your content and wittiness.

[@alexvela9919]

I’ve been in a rut for a while. This helped me increase my speed and helped my technique a lot

[@axmnstrbnd]

Being a lefty playing on a right hander, I've been a pinky planter for eons! Excited to try this out and see what positive changes I can make. Thanks a bazillion uncle Ben!

[@3ngi_n33r]

that's brilliant! already helping. great find uncle Ben!

[@BotsWeekendCovers]

Definitely gonna try this one as I have everything you mentioned going on down there!!!! Good Job!

[@afmusic20]

actually incredible how much this changed my picking instantly. what ive been searching for, thanks ben and bass_nerd!!

[@cembellsteve]

Thanks, I have been waiting for someone to do this.

[@AlteredAcoustics]

This method is helping me a lot! I have been trying to ditch the pinky anchor technique that I had picked up but it always felt like I was 'floating' above the strings if I moved my fingers toward my palm. 10 minutes of playing using this method and for some reason my brain thinks that this is the natural way, plus I think I'm feeling less tension on fast runs. Thank you Ben, Love from the UK.

[@MarkPritchardGuitar]

Wow what an simple but effective idea! Thanks Ben 👍🏼

[@martinmorris5948]

This is genius! I was a finger fanner before trying this, but this really cleaned up some noise from other strings i had when playing solos and my picking hand is more relaxed!!

[@marcoapdias]

For me, a self-taught guitarist, this worked as magic. Improved and took away tension instantatly. I'm blown away! 🤯

[@TNMY_10]

oh man, thanks for this. Was really looking for a solution for this headache of a problem while playing.

[@PTGuitars-Music]

Another great lesson! Ive been changing my finger position for years trying to figure what works best. That double pick trick is awesome! Thanks uncle Ben and Massive bass nerd! Im gonna go follow that guy now.

[@akaristinosxxxt]

I'm more of a ancient relic when it comes to the guitar, I just happened to come across your path on KZbin great job and a beautiful service for all guitar players of all levels. And as for the real reason for this comment, is.Thanks for the laughs you can be very funny although mild compared to me. Keep it up and give all those guitar player as much love as you can give them we all need it. Good teacher!

[@Widdy5150]

Absolutely brilliant Ben, I've been struggling with the sprayed out fingers syndrome. Gonna give your tip a try 👍🏻👍🏻

[@michaelwarburton6173]

I've always been one to stabilise my hand by planting my little or ring finger on the guitar or hook it under the high E. I've tried on and off to play more with a closed hand, and it never felt right. Holding something in my hand though... wow instantly felt more normal to have my hand in that position! Amazing tip!

[@broncoxy]

The great uncle Ben once again sharing our wisdom with us. Thanks a lot!

[@tkoberle]

Great tip. I have been struggling with keeping my hands under control and this simple trick helped a lot

[@gabren6141]

I'm really glad this video was made! Uncle Ben, along with 2 other personal favorite guitarists, directly influenced my picking hand ever since I started my guitar journey.

[@BenEller]

❤️❤️❤️

[@sagig72]

very cool idea. I'll give it a try. not sure I'll like it, but worth trying. Thanks for the video Ben !

[@Sarahbuildsstepsequencers]

I love your new LP, Ben.

[@MagnetProductionsInc]

Wow What an incredible gift this video was. I’ve been working on a picking style of flamenco for the past year along the lines of Al Di Meola’s technique. And I have been trying to break the resting finger habit and in 30 seconds you did that for me. A deep our gratitude, my friend

[@natedanaste]

Oh my god this has been a peeve of mine for so many years! I’ve taught myself to tuck them when I have to do a speed run but can never maintain it. I’m going to practice this all the time now! Thanks dude!

[@moparbryan]

I started out in the 80’s and a lot of my “heroes” played with fanned fingers Lynch, DeMartini and to a lesser degree EVH. I did evolve to anchoring my pinky on the pickup ring for speed picking but I did have someone show me that strumming with my arm vs wrist really helped. That said the one technique that I have never been able to get is using my thumb to cord with my fretting hand. I’ve tried multiple times but I have big thick palms and I’d have to be playing a guitar with a broomstick for a neck to be able to pull it off lol

[@bladezstudio666]

just tried it and already my sound is cleaner. I had a bad case of the flailing fingers for years. Thanks to you and Massive Bass Nerd!

[@nicholaschristopher4552]

I tried this for 15 minutes and my picking was so much cleaner!i struggled with hangin fingers a long time,thanks

[@Blythe31]

I find that tucking my fingers in during tight rhythms is cool and fanning out when doing sweeps or other busy lead stuff can help me mute extra string noise by having other light points of contact that can further hamper any sympathetic harmonics or vibrations.

[@pdub2762]

You're the best KZbin guitar instructor I've come across. Funny. Great editing. Kikker

[@SlasherFL1ck]

You rock! I should get back on your patreon. I've been playing for three years and always come back to your videos for refreshers.

[@cpeplinski]

Love that solution. I have been trying to fix my fan recently and this looks great. What I have been doing is wrapping a hair tie around my non-pick holding fingers. As soon as my fingers started fanning there is tension in the hair tie I know I am opening my fingers. Thanks for sharing that one

[@bubblyproduction9809]

Great tips!

[@retropyro]

Brilliant. This has 100% helped me. I always anchored my pinky and ring finger to the body or had my fingers splayed out. Two weeks later, big difference.

[@ChingiWingi]

Was thinking about that, thanks Uncle Ben

[@chucksaeger7500]

This answers my question from about a week ago and I appreciate it.

[@MemoROFL]

A+ video, this was incredibly helpful for me

[@jasonparkergimplifedisable684]

Great pointer as always dude

[@rjprivate]

Halfway I stopped the video to grab my custom, so infectious to watch. I'll finish the video later haha 👍 great lesson 🎸 thanks!

[@masterofinsanity283]

OMG !!! Dude ! This is so simple.I tried it out and it works great !!!!! :) Thanks man.

[@DavidLuzi]

So simple but genius idea ! thanks !

[@therandom802]

I'm going through this with a new student. Never crossed my mind to have students try this. Would've helped me a lot when I was new too.

[@mammothaudioengineering]

I had that issue about 8 years ago and decided to change my technique from those flayling fingers to closed hand. All in all, it took me like 8 months to just get comfortable without cramping up and tiring my forearm and another couple of months to feel confident with it and not constantly revert back to it. But damn, did it make a difference, for sure, especially when tracking.

[@chuckpudish5497]

Great tips and a much-needed conversation, thanks Uncle Ben & Massive_bass_nerd!

[@jasilvapt]

Ben excellent idea. I am a 60 y/o player who does exactly what you are talking about/as i have gotten older my picking has actually gotten worse. So lately I have been working on improving picking/but do fan my fingers and at times rest them on the pickguard or guitar. I love the idea of the pick will start trying this today. Thanks again.

[@TheAlja]

I am quite thankful that you got around to the "whatever works for you", it's quite a relief. I have a skin issue on top of the last three fingers on my picking hand and when they touch the strings, its very uncomfortable. But i always thought that meant i am playing wrong. My hand is relaxed, i feel comfortable and i think i just keep an eye on it but stop to worry about it.

[@stefanokrivtzoff1593]

Man, I’ve decided to give this a go and now my picking is much more accurate ! Thanks a million!!

[@chuckmiller2741]

This is absolutely brilliant. I am going to try this when I get home tonight.

[@noam.yuvalor1381]

Great video!!! You helped me so much on instagram with my questions about economy picking… Thanks!!!

[@hannaguitars]

Cool trick, have to add to my playing !

[@systemutvecklaren]

Genius! I am a shifter right now from open to closed, will def try this.

[@matroid4996]

This came at the perfect time. I've been working on pickslanting for playing joe bonamassa/eric johnson style pentatonic runs and it got me looking at different ways to hold the pick. Playing at those speeds really starts to expose the tension points in the hand. I started noticing that my results were way more consistent when i tucked all of the fingers into the palm, but even that was tense. For some reason, holding the pick in the hand just takes the tension away. It's almost like my body is saying "hey, i know how to hold something in the hand" and can do it naturally. This has been a great tip

[@hearpalhere]

I love your advice to do what works and not try to emulate anyone specifically. I have noticed since learning hybrid picking that I've naturally stopped planting my pinky and keep my fingers curled a bit more. I do however go back to planting the pinky every once in a while when I go back to "normal", fast picking.

[@jacobramsey9247]

That guitar is gorgeous! I’m saving for a new guitar right now which is a bit hard with four kiddos but I’m gonna get there and I can’t wait!

[@TheBlackStrat502]

Uncle Ben saving lives once again...thank you

[@IvanCaprioli]

Thanks Ben for all your tips, your making crappy me get a little better.

[@Ned-ke3ui]

Great video uncle Ben 👍 Love your lp custom She's a beauty 😍

[@Pbnj1379]

Love the Moon Theme in the background!

[@johnnylucid]

Good technique. When I'm playing rhythm I have my hand open. When I switch to leads, I fold my fingers in. Thanks for the tips. Very appreciated. I will teach this to my stepson tonight. :)

[@coolintruddle]

What agreat tip! I am going to try this out when I get home. If I'm soloing up at the neck pickup, I tend to rest my pinky finger on the side of the pickup. The hardest right hand thing for me to learn was palm muting while keeping my wrist loose enough to hit those down strokes at speed.

[@umyes5246]

Thanks Ben!

[@MarkRhodesSongs]

Neat idea. Thanks. Never thought of that.

[@weatherviewer]

Thank you for this video! I usually make a fist with my right hand but sometimes that cramps up, was wondering what I'm doing wrong. Nice to know that wasn't necessarily 'wrong'!

[@philfrank5601]

Malmsteen's picking hand is the picture of rrelaxation and what I patterned mine after. It's like a loose, but controlled, finger placement that barely glances the pickguard. It lets you quickly use the fingers to tap, or volume swells, etc.

[@stephenadamsmusicalinterpr4203]

Thanks for the reminder! I saw a player many years ago who kept his fingers close. I tried it and thought to myself this is very good but I never kept going with it. I went right back to my fingers fanning out. After watching this, I’ve tried it again and I’m enjoying the results more than when I first tried it. Having the pic between the other fingers really helps. Kind of like “training wheels” if you will. I’m going to keep it up. It’s beginning to get easier!

[@grockinu]

I’ve often shared a technique with newer guitar players that can really open their eyes and increase/improve awareness of habits. Video tape yourself playing. Make it a habit, not just a one-off performance for the camera but a regular learning tool, way to capture you and your guitar interaction. This video technique was very helpful to me while also learning some firearm manipulations and playing disc golf. Rock on Uncle Ben…”on and on and on”

[@The4SackMan]

Best video in months. I just replaced the pick in my palm with a shard of glass. My hand is chill as hell after a bit of getting used to 🤘

[@billygoat126]

nobody is more well spoken or can explain something better than my uncle ben

[@karkarey]

wow, instantly effective. thank you!

[@ramiroabrego9382]

Wow. I'm still a beginner with 3 months in and recently noticed that I was resting the rest of my fingers in the body. Until now it wasn't getting in the way, and I actually felt comfortable with it, until some days ago I was having a bit of forearm pain and some said that it could be the resting fingers creating tension. Until now it was like relearning how to pick without those fingers in the body, but that simple trick of assigning them a task was so helpful! Now I feel like the pain is going away and my skill is quickly coming back to my picking hand

[@garymirabelle8990]

Thanks. It's already helping!

[@thehoppo]

Ahhh Good Ole Francis Bubble Trousers, what a legendary player

[@davebarnes9489]

Thank you, Ben!!!!

[@newfreenayshaun6651]

Plus there's dog and kitty videos. We all need that. So human Ben, so freakin human.

[@richardbrodbeckbeginninggu7330]

As a newer guitarist I am always working on what may work the best for me. I will give this a try.

[@Danboi.]

After nearly 40 years I'm trying to adopt the closed fist. I notice it definitely requires less energy for fast riffing but it's much harder to control the mutes

[@kdog3980]

Jesus I think I need this video. You're the best uncle Ben

[@WeAllFloatHere]

Thank you for just going straight into the advice and not adding a bunch of unrelated things to the video. I feel like I’m a pretty intermediate rhythm player, and low intermediate in leads. My picking is the biggest factor holding me back from feeling advanced, especially trem picking (i play metalcore/deathcore). I have been trying all sorts of hand positions for trem picking and am finding that closing my fist has been helping a lot. I am 100% going to try this. Thank you

[@WeAllFloatHere]

As i continued to watch, I’m also the person that tends to anchor on the bottom string/pickup 😂 this video was made for me

[@jcfombon]

Using strat type guitar where the volume knob is so close to the strings this really helps , thanks a lot ✌

[@vikguitar2813]

This video is a HUGE help. I started to play the guitar barely a year ago and very soon afterwards, I was inclined to rest my pinky on the guitar body. A lot of people say it limits your speed later on, but in certain circumstances it can help though - depending on what you play. Even if I almost completely got rid of resting the pinky on the body, after the practice sessions I feel tension in my upper forearm, mainly when I practice tighter riffs from Metallica. Then I found this. I just finished an uninterrupted session of 90 minutes playing For Whom The Bell tolls and Muster of Puppets riffs with the second pick hidden under my fingers, and feel no tension at all in my forearm! In a few days I guess, my finger position will be fixed with this method. Another very big benefit of this is that I can play more quickly with this hand posture, when it comes to very fast down picking such as in Puppets. Thank you.

[@rayfabris2512]

exactly I just watched it and thought wtf and what a difference it makes great tip

[@minkorrh]

Depending on how you pick, this may also help speed up your picking as when your fingers are tucked there is less inertia from 'flailing fingers' which makes it easier to reverse the direction of your pickstroke. The one single thing that sped up my picking exponentially was changing to pointy jazz picks. I use the Dava red ones but the clear Dunlop ones are ok but not my preference. They make you re-learn how to strum a little as they are so pointy there is very little contact and it's easy to stick the point when you're learning the new strumming technique, but well worth it in my opinion.

[@InsolentMusicalPeasant]

I only anchor my pinky when I'm soloing. When I strum, I curl them all in lightly. Haven't noticed any pain, but I'll be more conscious to any tension it might be causing. It's definitely a precision thing for me. Gonna have to practice this to see if I can tell any difference.

[@Ryansick11]

All I can say is, thank you, My strumming hand has been giving me some serious issues the last few weeks, could not pinpoint it but this technique seems to have worked for me. Really strange, always played with fingers more loosely on the guitar but not glued, but this just seems more accurate or something. Great lesson!

[@Doctor-Shoebill]

Holy shit. This is brilliant. Thanks for sharing.

[@Cameron9788]

Such a great tip!! I'm a rigid finger flailer and have been trying to stop doing it since they're just rock solid so I'll definitely be doing this and report back lol. Thanks for sharing what you found Uncle B! Look forward to trying it! Update: Damn it's such a simple trick but man it works a treat!!. Been doing it the past few days and my whole arm is more relaxed which feels so much nicer!!. Awesome tip!!. Thanks again Uncle Ben for sharing it!. 🤘🤘

[@Omega-Ignition]

I made kind of a hybrid change and even though it's taking me a while to get it mastered, it has helped me be more precise.

[@michaelv8721]

Been playing guitar for 10 years now. Been holding the pick wrong the whole time. I tend to rest my pinky and ring fingers on the body. I’ve tried to fix it multiple times but haven’t had the discipline to work through the uncomfortableness. I’m excited to hopefully fix it now with this trick!

[@rickreynolds7255]

Hey man that custom looks good on you! 😎👍✨

[@quirobinez]

wow, this does work, within three days i got rid of the habit of keeping my fingers on the pickguard . Thanks for sharing this trick!

[@jfonlinenow1]

I will have to give that a try. I can keep my fingers tucked just fine for leads and shredding but for fast rhythms like on Judas Priest's Exciter, I always revert back to that fanned fingers stuff, especially across multiple strings. It does seem to give me more control for that, but is definitely slowing me down.

[@zachrabbit5463]

when im riffing ive found it easier to let my fingers have freedom so i can use them to mute strings but this helped me tremendously with alternate picking and leads. those fingers cant be all in the way because i always end up accidently muting chords or just plain not staying on beat unless they are in. preciate it uncle ben

[@jimmccall8030]

After only a day, this is an amazingly effective, effortless and relaxed way of keeping my fingers from rubbing across the strings. Fastest technique shift ever. Thanks Ben & MBN !!

[@imeowmeowkat]

Finally, an Uncle Ben video that fixes my worst issue. Based Ben coming through once again