How to REALLY hold your guitar pick (this works!!)

[@BERNTHGuitarAcademy]

Take your picking to a world-class level in 30 days: www.patreon.com/bernth

[@JayRod711]

Bernth.. why is Breakthrough Guitar method using you to sell their "freedom key" approach? I hope you at least got paid well for it.. but if not.. that's messed up them using your likeness. Just thought you should know if you're not aware already.. keep shredding brother 🤘

[@Hambone3773]

With this pick hold do you use your thumb knuckle to get pinch harmonics then?

[@jeffshirkey3085]

I'm a Patreon subscriber now, but is the picking masterclass a separate purchase? Thanks.

[@normdeplume6492]

@@Hambone3773 With the tip of the pick angled back as demonstrated, I use the side of my thumb forward from the tip of my pick.

[@GregKuper-c8p]

@@jeffshirkey3085 I just signed up for Patreon to do this 30-day alternate picking course as well. Did you ever find out?

[@archangelroyalofficial]

I naturally was playing with a closed hand and would always remind myself to play with an open hand for years. I’m glad I’ve came across this which shows I’m not doing anything wrong playing with a closed hand 😊

[@Janokins]

Even as a bass player I find this useful - there are so many videos out there about finger style technique for bass, but so few for pick playing.

[@wendywatkins2311]

Totally agree 👍 👍👍

[@PondHopperFisherman]

Wow! This really works!! I changed my pick grip to this and is way more comfortable to play and it increased how fast I was able to play and I'm just a beginner

[@onlineec]

Thanks! More teaching video pls

[@hydraisheretoplay]

I agree, soon as I switch to a close hand everything became so effortless. Highly recommend it!

[@tylerjones8145]

Do you have any experience anchoring your pinky while you play? Like I usually use my pinky as a pivot place underneath the bridge pickup

[@aleksandarkozar1574]

Yeah had that problem ,but try too put pick between your ring finger and pinky to keep your finger locked in this postion it takes some time to get used to it.​@@tylerjones8145

[@hydraisheretoplay]

​@@tylerjones8145 Never tried it, did the floating fingers for about a year then I switched to the close hand and haven't looked back since

[@andreasbecker1051]

​@@tylerjones8145 i did this too for years and still fall back to it for metal rhythm stuff sometimes, but for leads the closed hand definitely helped a lot

[@jesperrosenstand4906]

I feel the same way. It just kind of solved everything. Best advice ever.

[@chrisbassartist4344]

I’m so glad I’m a Patreon member you’re the best teacher on KZbin for shredding and inspiration

[@NijikaWannabe]

I do wanna ask would you recommend joining the Patreon to someone like me who kinda wants to improve electric guitar techniques (and relearn them if I've been doing them incorrectly)?

[@chrisbassartist4344]

@@NijikaWannabe most definitely it’s filled with a ton of exercises and he’s a great and patient teacher from beginners like me to advanced players for $5 a month you can’t go wrong with

[@NijikaWannabe]

@@chrisbassartist4344 thanks, I've been considering the $15 or $20 for a while, and kinda just wanted a better idea of what is in there.

[@Dan-t1i2g5t]

Yes , wasn't even aware of this technique , thanks! I love the reduction in string noise

[@gustavosilveira3596]

As usual, a great video, Bernth! Thanks a lot

[@andreasbecker1051]

As a self taught player i had every bad habit imaginable and changed it all 1,5 years ago at 46, and i made more progress than the last 20 years. If i only knew earlier...

[@Svarog8666]

same, playing guitar for 27 years, realising i was holding my pick wrong all my life...😅

[@jesperrosenstand4906]

Going from open to closed hand made alle the difference for me. It literally solved a shit load of problems. I love it. I really fucking love it. I feel so much more in control, and on top of things. Note to people: Listen to those who actually know what they are talking about, and implement/change whatever the wiser one advices you to. You'll regret not doing so later on in life. I know what I'm talking about 😂😘.

[@stefanvorster4410]

How long did it take you to get used to closed hand?

[@8KilgoreTrout4]

Putting the pick on the second knuckle, after almost 30 years lol, really got my brain and hands like "realllly?!? 😵‍💫" Even my index fingernail is SO PAPER THIN from my classic grip. And makes sense because the wound strings are basically filing my nail thin asf and even gets quite sensitive when I'm playing a lot. I really will benefit from making the new grip work! Now to train my muscles!

[@jordanrush1988]

Whoa…his hand tattoos disappeared.

[@jacintoguinoo7752]

haha

[@tamgeof1039]

Whoa wtf

[@tamgeof1039]

I think that part old recording

[@64siskat96]

@@tamgeof1039no i think he removed his tattoo

[@jaywhy3178]

@@64siskat96 no, I think the tattoo split off from *him* due to artistic differences.

[@tophe7d]

Thanks for keeping the new students in mind. Ive watched a number of pick holding/technique videos (including your previous ones) and this one still helps explain a lot. Thanks again!

[@palpatinerex2753]

Dam, when you talked about the fingers weight, my mind just exploded.

[@hotpenguin607]

I've been purely a fingerstyle player for 2 years and I'm recently starting to experiment with a pick. It feels like the closed hand is better because having the fingers flopping around real feels like they are dragging my entire hand!

[@blakeoms]

I'd recommend taking a little sharp object and scratching X's on the main side to help keep a grip easier.

[@vorpalblades]

I used to do that but started noticing flex in the areas that were scratched. Now I use hockey tape or skateboard grip tape.

[@GeneralTHC]

I believe real progress comes from spending as much time as possible practicing in a 'flow state.' It's during these moments that your brain begins rewiring your nervous system, leading to meaningful advancements-the kind of progress necessary to achieve virtuosity. When I started seriously practicing shred techniques and focusing on scales, patterns, and fast picking for hours and hours at a time, I naturally gravitated toward the closed-hand approach. One day, I simply noticed I had transitioned to it when i eventually had to stop to shake out my hand. Fortunately, I can switch between approaches effortlessly without any issues. However, that is the draw back for the closed-hand method. When I spend several hours plus hammering out scales and patterns, keeping my fingers curled for extended periods eventually causes circulation issues for me. So I really think it's best to adopt a form you can do for many hours at a time. No one ever became a virtuosos practicing for 30 minutes at a time. No, you need to get into a flow state and stay there for hours and hours at a time.

[@juanruiz-ve3lg]

What a powerfult content. Most fundamental guitar class ever

[@shmak2000]

Good advice is to hold a second pick with your pinky and ring finger to keep that grip closed.

[@mathias_411]

Hi Bernth, thanks for all your free videos. They have made me a better guitarist! Have you watched Kiko Loureiro's videos ? He sometimes changes the position of the pick and strums with the “round” side. That's really interesting.

[@agdtwinkie001]

Definitely been needing this 🤣

[@aleksandarkozar1574]

This thing about open and closed wrist is true ,it takes some time to get used to it,but no more string noise !!

[@hackerhaddi]

this video was much needed

[@donniedarko7751]

He's already made this video multiple times...

[@joelverdon1248]

I applied your advices... Now I can do sixteenth note at 320 bpm instead 250bpm! Perfect and ridiculous at the same time😂🎉

[@cycomiko73]

I use Dunlop carbon fiber Jazz lll picks, and they're small, and if I put the pick where you put yours, my fingers rub the strings bc I'm too close to them. So it kinda depends on the pick size and hand size, and finger thikness of a player to figure out where to place the pick grip. Problem solving skills are paramount. But I have learned a lot from you, and I thank you for that.

[@PintoGuitar]

He uses jazz III as well usually

[@alpuhagame]

The problem I have it seems if I place pick on second knuckle, I need to really clench my first knuckle, or the knuckle is sticking out too much where it forms an angle with the pick, so it looks like a V, as if I'm holding two picks at once: one made from meat, one from plastic. And the meat one touches the strings. This doesn't happen if I place pick on the first knuckle. So I guess it depends on finger/hand size and pick size. I use dunlop .88mm ones (green tortoise) but I really wanna try Jazz III now.

[@JJJ_7861]

As a fingerstyle player how should one hold his nails properly? 🤔

[@RudolfKruse-o4v]

First. Thanks Bernth. Your content and attitude are splendid and super appreciated. Next PALM MUTING!! I have attempted the closed hand and cannot for the life of me palm mute at the same time. Frustrating because I can definitely see the benefits of what you propose. I suppose it could just be the way my hand bone connects to my wrist bone😂 but I'm loathe to give up without trying to figure it out. Thoughts sir?

[@anonn7248]

same here! my pinky touches the strings when trying to palm mute with closed hand.

[@Alekos.papaioannouguitar]

Du hast mich ermutigt noch mal meine Technik zu ändern🤯🤘🏼

[@necroticpoison]

I'd say closed hand makes a massive difference. Feels like locking in, versus having no guard rails (open picking hand). MAB is the only one I can think of that has an 100% opposing style. I'd say even Hetfield, Kirk, Musaine, use it when it lets them do stuff they couldn't otherwise. Yes there's the open hand outwards picking that James does but look at a lot of pro and touring guitarists in hard fields and they spend at least some or most of the time hand closed. Can't understate how much better it feels and how much more consistent the results are, and the results are instant no joke. Great vid

[@notChopperr]

Steve Vai plays open hand I guess

[@necroticpoison]

@@notChopperr Looks a bit of a mix on images (google) but his hands are NBA sized so. Still more closed by a long way than some guitarists

[@notChopperr]

@@necroticpoison I know what you mean. Im 2m tall and i have big but skinny hands. If I try playing with closed hand, my knuckles are hitting the strings lol

Holding pick like this feels great, but I have one question about changing strings at 17:40: Will it work on an acoustic guitar? Following the strings moving my hand over the strings feels very uncomfortable, I don't have electric guitar but it looks like harder to do on acoustic one.

[@LionF4]

I play with a closed hand aswell but my middle finger, ring finger and pinky don't feel relaxed when I'm playing. Anyone has a tip for this problem?

[@nicolassimard2552]

Same issue for me. With join pain when I stop playing. With open hand, no issue... i'm searching why

[@seismixx]

closed picking hand looks waaay cooler

[@rickschneider3887]

Ive always used kind of a loose open hand form where my knuckles are slightly curled inward but not closed which helps my hand stay relaxed enough to where I can play smoothly and fluidly. I play Dunlop Jazz 3 picks so I cannot afford to have a rigged and stiff pick hand because I snag the notes way too much. I can pivot my pick hand upward slightly to help me play with upward pick slanting which helps transition from one string to the next. I've tried the closed hand technique but I just don't seem to be able to make it work for me and it feels very awkward. Maybe I can work at it but It sure doesn't come easy to me for my playing style.

[@silversurfer2156]

Can you tell me whether it is better for the tip of the pic to be angled towards the headstock or towards the bridge?

[@estebanherrera9271]

I have a question, I am trying to hold the pick Iike this. I am grazing the strings with my bottom two fingers. My question is should I rotate my wrist a little or should I try and clench my hand tighter or maybe not clench but get my bottom 3 fingers tucked up tighter? I am trying to play closed palm vs. my bottom 3 fingers hanging out but it's hard so far and running into that issue. Learned that from your other video.

[@steveaustin2032]

Great tips! One question, with the closed hand method are you anchoring your pinky on the guitar or pickup?

[@wieslawirzyniec4527]

hmm... good point, gonna try that. thank you!

[@AgentClappers]

Does your wrist stay in contact with the bridge if you were to play on a Floyd rose?

[@demyb]

I am trying to transition to a closed hand, but I used to anchor with one finger on the guitar body and now my closed hand feels "in the air". Should it anchor somewhere else like the forearm or I just need to get used to it?

[@happie88]

Hi can you share as well the pick size you were using in this demo... interested with your way of picking... I think that's the way to go... Thanks buddy for sharing this lesson.. :)

[@amcmillion3]

You can hit pinch harmonics with your pick grip like that?

[@donmarchini43]

My palm muting is weird with this grip. My other knuckles seem to get in the way too…gotta work on it…

[@balrogDCLXVI]

Same here, I'm not able to use this closed grip at all. My hand is also very tense, it is really uncomfortable.

[@chrisbassartist4344]

Im assuming closed hand is better for hybrid picking as well…I’m not quite there to try that yet but just an observation

[@FlyingV344]

when you hybrid pick your hand ís open

[@chrisbassartist4344]

@@FlyingV344 wouldn’t it be easier if they weren’t though? Economy of motion you obviously can’t pick with your fingers pointing down and flopping around

[@xcx8646]

Bernth, are you suing the small Jazz III or the XL version? It looks like you aren't using the very small ones. Thanks!

[@CharbroiledCoffee]

Could you make a tutorial on how to palm mute with a closed hand 😭

[@Panurg81]

so i do get the ergonimics and what and how you are playing is undoubtedly very impressive. what i wonder about is the tone, esp. when riffing. backwards picking has hugely more definition in it and much less pick/string noise as compared to "forward" angled picking. Ola is a master at that and his riffing tone is more or less unmatched. do you ever use backward picking in some situations or is it a no-go nowadays?

[@BrekMartin]

By using Fender 355 shape. Hard not to hold properly, and hard to lose position.

[@guitaristslair]

6:05 so bending your thumb towards pick its ok? i heard somewhere its suboptimal, and now i am struggling trying to stop doing that

[@adamcoulombe2823]

IMPORTANT QUESTION 👋 When I play in the lower strings, my picking hand always dismounts the bridge, and when I try going back in the higher strings, my wrist gets stuck on the bridge... How do I fix that ?

[@anightmare2remember]

How long did it take you to adjust to that pick grip?

[@AgentClappers]

My problem with that grip is that it’s the most comfortable but when I use a jazz 3 pick like that the pick moves around especially when striking chords

[@monowind7984]

Which model is this guitar, please?

[@CarloCabiling-p4b]

7:54 Omy Bernth flipped me off

[@swedeinla]

I kind of like the way of holding the pick. Trying it out right now, but it feels like my closed hand the Fingers are getting sore running against the strings? Any suggestions?

[@waltermurphy3654]

Crazy question but which side of the pick are you striking the strings? Towards the neck or towards your palm?

[@Gabbesala]

ok so im a medium beginner and i see the exercises and i just internally scream, i feel like i have to get better to be able to play the exercises to get better, i reccommend that you say if its a exercise for beginners and show one not a exercise made for people that are not beginners. the things you used to get better was almost a year into your journey and most people who search this up are around 2-4 months in so please make it easier for us to play and understand the things you show. thanks for reading.

[@caelenselke-minogue]

This is interesting because I play open-hand most of the time and the way I play I use the edge of my pinky to mute the higher strings. If I'm playing on the high strings then my fingers just don't come in contact withe strings.

[@robertlizarraga9716]

Anyone else struggling with a lot of unwanted thumb and pointer finger movement? I can isolate , and only use my wrist for strumming and slow alternate picking, but when I try to pick up the speed I always find my fingers moving uncontrollably.

[@tomahoks]

Of course, it's physics

[@chamelious]

It feels like this could be the key for me but whatever I do with my hand closed, my fingers mash into the strings. Palm muting feels almost impossible, anyone advise?

[@TheToddcole]

Do you have a hybrid picking lesson? I really want to learn, but I want to learn correctly.

[@hobby8master]

Bernth, I loved the video but wasn’t too keen on you flipping us off right before tapping with your right hand. 😂 just kidding! Thanks again for the great info!

[@LukyNetik]

I have problem just with palm muting :(( i like close hand but rythm guitar is really difficult with it any tips?

[@AgentClappers]

Also the less of the pick shows I miss or touch the strings more with my fingers and get unwanted pinch harmonics

[@onlytizzy]

I have the hetfield technique. Any tips?

[@nevarcruz4852]

weeewww!! so many body mechanics that you can screw up trying to be a shredder, thanks for trying to formalize and address them all

[@hannesganahl6384]

Do you still use the jazz iii max grip carbon or that other white pick? Habe you tried the petrucci jazz iii?

[@reeteereetee3636]

Max grip

[@Sparksnorthern]

That matte black Ibanez looks sick. Anyone know the model?

[@paulbrunner8960]

It’s a Ibanez Prestige AZ2402.

[@AbbieGreenMusic]

🤘🤘🤘

[@Tuxman25]

Is it just me.... but I am having difficulties palm muting with this pick grip. What's the secret here? :) Can you maybe do a quick episode on palm muting?

[@MattStone-y9l]

Yes palm muting with closed hand video please!

[@verttigamer9683]

I want to play the way you play, but my guitar teacher wants me to play open handed. I hate open hand…

[@yrkettelhake21]

I always have issues with my other finger's knuckles touching the strings with a closed hand. Anyone got any tips on this? Even with a different pick angle. If I try to pull my hand back more I add tension which I think is also not good.

[@Longdriveinacar]

Messing around with this kind of grip I find picking "out" helps my knuckles not hit as much. So like, usually the pinky side of my palm is lower, and the thumb side is raised a bit. But trying to do this, its almost like I swap, where my thumb side is more down, and the pinky side is raised / flat, so the angle is flipped. Now the pick is going "out and my knuckles dont graze. kinda hard to explain over text but hope that helps. Not sure if its correct or anything just what I am experimenting with.

[@reeteereetee3636]

Lift you fingers

[@cornstar1253]

Cant get used to it. Ive tried.

[@TheSulfer]

I instinctively open my hand when I'm palm muting and chugging down the strings, and close it when I am not. I think it is because my hand can't cover all strings when it is closed 🤔

[@logolino62]

Django Reinhard style...

[@rockandrollmd541]

If you use a thumbpick, this video doesn't help.

[@xcx8646]

I find this grip doesn't work for funk strumming, unfortunately. It's a pity, because my single-note speed and accuracy improved dramatically when my technique evolved to start doing this.