How to Hold a Guitar Pick Properly

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

The Complete Guitarist is THE place for Rock/Metal/Shred Guitarists to improve their skills. Includes Daily Practice Plan! bit.ly/3Jq8jmf

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

I've been working on switching to this grip for about a month now. It's gradually getting easier. Thanks for the reinforcement!

[@estherkosonen1022]

I just started today and it’s so difficult😭

[@GEORGE_JATZ]

GORGEOUS BUDDY 🎸 🎸 🎸 🎸 🎸

[@Paralius]

I started learning guitar on my own and was using the pick fine but earlier today I messed around with my pick and used this position by accident. Massive difference in comfort

[@scottrgood]

Best way to hold the pick IMO is to not use the pointed part of the pick, the way they are designed to be used. Instead, try holding the pointed part straight out of your thumb (pointed part at the end of your fingernail), and use one of the more rounded edges to make contact with the strings. This just works better IMO, and it’s the only way I do it.

[@timothya2742]

Thank you. I was moving towards this gradually. Just that tiny shift made such a difference

[@WojciechBator]

that's true. Can't believe people still teach to put the pick on the inner side of the index finger. It feels really weird and the knuckle tends to bend if pressing too hard with thumb (which may happen). On side, there's no issue and the hand is kept loose. GJ

[@jagohkampong]

Small little details like this help a lot. Kudos to you.

[@jametalboy]

This is what will come naturally, beginners always hold the pick how Ben told initially, it happened with me but for few years , I have changed to what ben told latter... thanks for sharing

[@stevebarnes4007]

I cannot believe this, it's an immediate improvement for me what the ffffff why have I never thought about it oh my god I've been playing for 15 years and only now by this random short the change happened what

[@SWIFTIES4LIFE-bn2kf]

It keeps falling out of my hand tho😭😭

[@user-uf4iz5fr7m]

Dude I have this same problem! I hate it! That’s why I’mr researching to fix it! Ugh!

[@PeterPerez.]

Get Dunlop grip picks they are my favourite

[@user-uf4iz5fr7m]

@@PeterPerez. thanks hommie!

[@AnthonysTrends]

Thanks for the tips bro☝️👍

[@opethmike]

I hold mine with three fingers. I’ve tried the common ‘correct’ way numerous times and for me personally it’s uncomfortable and unnatural

[@graesf7448]

Well, if you can play your style of music theres nothing wrong with picking ways. The only problem is for some advanced or specific theories if you wanna learn them. James hetfield plays like you, van halen player with middle finger and thumb. As long as you can play i guess its ok

[@opethmike]

@@graesf7448 Can you please be specific as to what techniques are problematic with the Hetfield grip? I ask because supposedly it makes sweep picking difficulty but I've not found that to be the case.

[@Up_In_The_Loft]

I have played the first way in forever. Like, 30 years. Cannot get used to trying it the way you and literally everyone I know plays. Pick just keeps sliding around. Any tip about a different type of pick with better grip?

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Get in touch with Grant at Talon Guitar Picks 🤜 facebook.com/talonguitarpicks

[@Up_In_The_Loft]

Will do thanks 🤘

[@PIZZA69965]

Teach this to lil wayne

[@mazklassa9338]

What I find uncomfortable about this technique is that the plastic rests on my cuticle, side of nail, causing discomfort. So I have to move the pick a touch further back so it's resting against the first knuckle.

[@mrockstar4christ]

Thanks alot for the tip. Im a noobie, so your video ia really helpful

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

👍👍🔥🔥

[@amethyst8399]

i hold mine on the side of the tip of my index and middle fingers and my thumb and i like it more personally

[@Admiralgrusbil]

I discovered this way myself by trying to learn bleed by Meshuggah :P

[@kujirastudios3866]

Yo same. And I’ve been playing for 15 years lol feels like I’m starting all over again but the tone and fluidity is unreal. Bummed none of my guitar friends ever pointed out that I picked this way lol

[@kentozapater8972]

good luck

[@Admiralgrusbil]

@@kentozapater8972 I spent 4 months grinding it and I learned every part of it. Unfortunately I can only play any section for about a minute. This is how far I can get kzbin.info/www/bejne/gGiwl3WMe6h1h8k

[@Otsantos5]

What should I do to stop my index finger from hitting the strings when I play?

[@Baguette12349]

Just practice a lot

[@redbloodedamerican2346]

Move thr pick out more

[@bluewater82]

It's definitely more comfortable but my main issue is that now the pick hits the string at an angle and produces a ton of scrape noise. Is that normal?

[@CKILBY-zu7fq]

I know you say all this but it doesn't work that way for me. So ive got one up on you mabe, actually I can't do it how you show. My thumb is dobel jointed and can't hold the pick this way. I have a stronger attack and less finesse at times , unless I flamenco pick with finesse, but im always looking to learn a better or more likeable way.

[@redbloodedamerican2346]

Lol being double jointed had literally nothing to do with holding something. It simple means it bends farther than regular.

[@user-rc8of3bu3u]

Do you guys also have this problem while using this grip? I sometimes scratches the string with my nail with this form. Should I curl my index more?

[@andrizavgraan]

I also want to know please 🙌❤️ Same problem here

[@kyrylreznichenko4739]

I've had the same problem and basically what helped me is me changing the placing of the pick so it rest on the second knuckle of the index finger too. I'm pretty sure Bernth has the same grip, so you can watch his video about "You are probably using the wrong pick grip"

[@user-rc8of3bu3u]

@@kyrylreznichenko4739 ohhhh I see. I'll try that. Thanks a lot!

[@Moderrnclassic]

Doesn’t Mario Camarena hold his pick like this? Very similar, if not the same.

[@Up_In_The_Loft]

Nope. Still can't get it. Tried loads of different picks now. One of 3 thing. It either slips and rotates or hits unwanted notes/misses notes EVERY single time. Only way I can get it to stay in place is holding it the way I've always done which is what you said at the beginning. So basically I've been holding at the beginners way for 30 years. I have horrendous trouble trying to palm mute holding it the correct way as well. Honestly, I've been doing fairly well from your complete guitar, from your alternate picking and from the hand synchronisation courses but this one fucking issue with trying to hold the pick a different way to build speed just will not come to me. Frustrating isn't the word it literally makes me want to quit.

[@dmaikibujin]

Honestly you should just ignore this. It will work better for some, but not for all. I've seen 6 different positions from the best shredders in the world. You should only change if you have a tactical reason for doing so and see obvious results within a week of changing. I just found three vids with good explainations for why this is wrong, but I can also find vids explaining why the alternatives are wrong too. Trust me, it's a personal preference thing and definitely not worth getting worked up up about.

[@ytdl]

you sound like kyle smallwood

[@Dan.Solo.Chicago]

I hate watching people who hold the pick weird. It stresses me out.

[@Jesus_rrs]

This feels really uncomfortable, like im pushing against the side of my nails(?) I've seen that people usually have the pick above where you put it.

[@user-rf4vc7mt4d]

0:00

[@synthexyguitar]

What should I do to stop my pick from falling out of my hand?

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

It might be the type of material the pick is made from. E.g. I have trouble holding onto picks made of Tortex... so switching to nylon picks like Jazz III helped stop that

[@synthexyguitar]

@@BenHigginsOfficial I used Jazz III Max-Grip before but eventually switched on D'Addario Black Ice 1.1mm. They are made of Duralin (Delryn) if I'm right. And it keeps falling out as well as the previous one so I don't know exactly what am I doing wrong.

[@noahlevy1948]

Scuff up the top with some sandpaper.

[@robertmciver817]

You can buy some pick honey. Only use a tiny bit . Pick will not come loose.

[@Gfy7365]

I hold mine where the angle is upside down?

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

Yes quite a lot of people do that and it seems to work for them 👍

[@christopherwalker2097]

What guitar is that?

[@BenHigginsOfficial]

It's a Floyd Rose Del Mar

[@christopherwalker2097]

@@BenHigginsOfficial awesome

[@Combustion120]

Hi