How to Hold and Use a Guitar Pick with Mark TheGuitarGuy

A guitar lesson on holding and using a guitar pick.
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▶ In this video:
0:59 - Why use a pick?
5:02 - How to select the right pick
6:37 - How to hold the pick
9:13 - Applying it to the guitar
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Hi, I'm Mark and I've been teaching and playing guitar professionally for 26 years now, and I've picked up a lot of insights along the way; things I wish I had known when I started out. That's why I started this channel - to share this knowledge with you.
But this is more than just a place to learn guitar. It's also place where you can hang out, relax, be yourself, get support, make friends and get inspired to have more fun with your guitar.
So go ahead. Pick up your axe. Hit play. And be a better guitarist.
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Thanks for watching!
Regards, Mark

[@luckabauerova5217]

I felt like an idiot when googling how to hold a pick, but obviously it's a common struggle.. Thanks a lot, this really helped 😃

[@moussa5922]

Lucka Bauerová now u must be very good

[@khaben6986]

In quarantine now I started learning guitar it's quite hard to hold the pick correctly and it plays a big role to get the proper sound 😅... Specially bcz I'm a lefty, I found it harder 😐

[@amaliashahira3167]

@@khaben6986 same! I am a lefty ukuler trying to learn guitar in quarantine. I find using guitar pick is hard as I played ukulele without using any pick before.

[@sarahdunham4396]

That would be me, too. ;-)

[@dbrapp]

For years I hated using a pick because I never held it correctly. Can't believe how easily you just taught me how to use one and how natural it feels. Great lesson.

[@estebanacosta7835]

dbrapp that’s literally me

[@jorgrubner914]

Ya, the same..👍

[@saishpatil7576]

Same

[@Jaseyrae213]

About to watch this video. I hope I get your results lol

[@JeremyNigelHeath-yc3uw]

Great videos, Mark, the guitar guy😂

[@lewissjj1417]

I've played guitar for a year and totally forgot to practice picking, I only practiced fingerpicking and I'm pretty good at it.

[@uroboric]

Yuki Tomo same. I played fingerstyle on a classical guitar for 8 year. Now I boight an electric guitar and I feel like I just started playing

[@mirostanimirov8952]

Me too! So, do we REALLY need the feather-pick?? I like the "thub" sound of fingers playing

[@wahidal-fhadarh.4470]

hahaha ify guys 😂😂

[@ma.azaliajoyguisihan1281]

Same,i suck at picking

[@patstaysuckafreeboss8006]

Been playing with a pick and fingerstyle for 13 years. #WeirdFlex

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Oh that's so great that you're giving the pick a chance....so many people don't know how to hold it...and it makes all the difference.

[@cookiesdonutscheese]

He starts explaining how to hold a guitar pick at 7:14 for those of you as impatient as me

[@bernieorbust6104]

you fucking legend

[@christeena9490]

thanks really helped

[@Sas69420]

Not all heroes wear capes.

[@Minecraftathop]

Manly Mitch Oh my god thank you so much.

[@jerof5497]

Thx

[@daveb2182]

Been playing years . Watched this . Better player within 10 minutes. Thanks great lesson.

[@MSEYQM]

Can we still hold and use a guitar pick if Mark isn't there? (Title of video is ambiguous). Oh, and great lesson, thx.

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

witty af

[@adorno_gang37]

Lol you just turned this into a philosophical problem.if a tree fell in the woods and Mark McKenzie didn't see it, did it really happen?

[@thebetbetunderground9548]

Johan Delvare Next thing we know, there'll be a so-called "McKenzie Conundrum" any day now.

[@lilab151]

schrödinger's guitar

[@christeena9490]

loll

[@romperstomper3172]

10/10 the money shot is at 7:25 and onwards. i've been playing and learning on my own for years and i truly believe this piece of information is a major milestone for me. iv been holding my pick like that crane reference and by putting my index finger where you said i can already feel the difference which is awesome because i hit a wall and didn't think i could get any better on my own. so thanks very much for giving me something to work with again. ill have to check out some of your other videos now.

[@ufotofu9]

Thannk you kind sir.

[@milesIronwood93]

Classically trained guitarist here, I've struggled with picks for years. I couldn't figure out how to hold the damn thing and have given up many times. Will try everything mentioned in the video, thanks

[@emersonedwards4791]

Just to “piggy-back” off of many comments, you were able to persuade me to use the pick in a way nobody else has. I believe your accent demands close attention, therefore I was able to understand exactly what needed to be done. A plethora of great guitarists and teachers simply talk about the universal “A-OK” sign as the standard way to hold tuned pick. You introduced the need to extend the thumb just past the edge of the pick, which for me, makes all the difference. Thank you Mark the Guitarist!

[@melhordamusicabrasil]

that video just changed my life, at least at this moment.. cause play guitar is all for me now. I was playing hardly about 7 months...every day, when i get this trick in your video... everything changed. You start to make your sound cleaner, faster, easyer, beautiful, your notes and solos, chords start to get pure...so you can understand better and finish all your toughts about the guitar music in geral. I can say, thats the KEY to guitar sucess..exactly this video. thanks bro, from Brazil.

[@cyrilmoussoki3193]

Mark the wonderful Guy.

[@pradeepjhuboo9458]

Many of us there stay undecided and frustrated not knowing whether to use a pick or to start learning finger picking but there's a way to hold the pick properly which should be a boost now that Mark has shown us how. Thanks

[@Maximilian-Seitz]

I was super opposed to using a pick before watching this (but had hurt my fingers...), and by the end I felt comfortable with it! Great video; hits all the notes ;P

[@sabrishnair2007]

Mark Sir is the best, coolest, most calm, most simplifying, most clear Guitar Teacher Ever!!!!!!! We ❤️ you sir!!

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

I’m going to read this every morning before I start my day, and every night before bed hehe

[@sabrishnair2007]

It's my honour Sir😊😊

[@TacticalFemboy]

got uber baked 6am, Browsing the home page of youtube I see this. Me being in my baked nature click on it. I watched 8 seconds asked my self wtf are you doing and immediately went for my guitar and played for like a hour and 30 minutes of pure jammin. Good video bro you got a sub

[@brodell6220]

Wile E. Coyote it be like that

[@СветланаФомина-з7с]

Thank you for this very deep explanation!

[@lonivanbuni6793]

Im left handed, but play right handed. Playing with a pick just feels super clunky and clumsy to me... But this video really helped me out a lot!

[@Jke-bg4yu]

LoniVanBuni I’m a left handed right hand guitarist too, I agree

[@melonbals5512]

i heard that being left handed helps you learn to fret better but idk

[@mehlanip]

omg same it sucks

[@keairaaaa]

Same

[@blinkgrg8259]

Damn true

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Great advice!! I've never thought or heard of cutting grooves to make it more grippy, but it's bloody great!! I have absolutely nothing against finger picking by the way. I love it, it's just that so many shy away from the pick from lack of understanding. Thanks for you great tip and comment :)

[@robinbebbington7063]

Great explanation as to why. I have been playing fingerstyle and never really got comfortable with a pick but starting to try using it now

[@immts6475]

AFter watching an hour worth of how to hold a pick, this guy takes the cake, best by far

[@veronicaortega21]

Very helpful!! Muchas gracias!!

[@Given2fly1990]

I've been playing for so long without a plectrum and have only rarely used one. My guitar is for repair at the minute and watching this has given me the mindset that I'm going to nail using a pick when I get it back. Thanks for the great video.

[@Jawelik]

The Best and most detailed 'How to Hold a pick' lesson I have ever seen. And I've seen a few. At first I was wondering how such a lesson could take up twelve minutes of video. But you explained so many things that were crucial to holding and using a pick properly. I feel like a better guitarist already. Thanks. :)

[@daniimendoo]

Great videooo 😍😍 loved the whole explanation!

[@acornstairlift]

It wasn't until I watched other people play guitar, when I noticed that they held their picks differently. Man, 4 years of playing guitar and I've been holding my pick like a pencil. Thanks for uploading this!

[@tahmidmuhtasim]

sir, u deserve a medal for making it so easy for a dumb man like me. i've watched many videos.but couldn't actually learn or do anything with my guitar. but after watching your lessons i've started learning and understanding things at last. they r helping me to play the guitar. thank u sir :)

[@Germoney2000]

I'm an absolute beginner.... very helpful.... thank you very much!

[@TheJoshtheboss]

I play about 10 months now, but must say I find fingerpicking much easier in comparison with a pick. With the pick you must seek out each string as if using one finger. 4 fingers are so much easier. But the sound is so much crispier with a pick :(. Must learn the pick.

[@jeremyformerlyknownastoken8218]

JoshTheBoss Do you have long nails? Because that really helps. I think playing with your fingers gives a warmer sound.

[@TheJoshtheboss]

Token Live Mattters I noticed with the nails it sounds nice. I don't really have long nails. Maybe when I get better I might grow them then. Pick is nice for strumming, palm muting , and semi-picking (my own term). Finger style is a finger style though.

[@tubanuba103]

JoshTheBoss a

[@spiceleo]

you are the best guitar teacher I have met online...this technique of holding the pick made so much difference to me!

[@danserogermusic104]

Awesome video, thanks!

[@captainjaneway1111]

thankyou. you're the first person to explain it so well and i've been playing for 23 years !

[@franzie009]

Wow.. i didnt use a pick all this time coz i didnt know how to use it correctly. Now i know the proper way i find it lot better than tha hand itself. Thanks a billion

[@ridha3248]

Thank you very much

[@CamMead]

Oh man thank you!, 3 years and smooth up strums were near impossible. Wasn’t too far off holding it right but the changes made all the difference.

[@jeffgreensward4358]

Thanks Mark. The only video which emphasises the overlapping thumb which seems to make a big difference. Good contact with the pick and tilts it forward slightly.

[@harrymcguffee6976]

Mark, thank you very much for posting these videos. I started attempting to play about 2 yrs ago (43 yrs old) by getting dvd's and books and i sucked just as much after 2 yrs as i did when i started. i started watching ur videos about a month ago. You have a style of teaching that is very beneficial and easy to follow. Thanks again

[@lizh9009]

Finally, after years of playing classical style finger patterns, I can NOW play with a pick because of you!! I used a Jazz pick since my female hands and fingers are small-that made all the difference. Technique is the key!

[@GauravSingh-ku5xy]

Mark, this is the best one that I've seen about picks. Good job.

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Thanks for your comment dude I really appreciate it

[@lauriegenie]

This is so helpful, thank you! I just thought I could never learn to use a pick, but now I'm encouraged to practice. The very clear instruction and demonstration about how to hold a pick makes a huuuge difference! I honestly just assumed that other people didn't have a hard time learning to play with a pick.

[@darleneoconnell3160]

I am a beginner and have only been playing for 4 days. I was holding the pick like a pencil as you mentioned and having great difficulty strumming. This technique immediately improved that and relieved my frustration. Thank you! This has bolstered my confidence!

[@mayorofsimpleton5674]

I've played the guitar since I was around six years old. That's about seven years ago now and since I never took lessons, I never learned how to use a pick. I just found out what TABS WERE a few days ago (yeah, ikr) and how I actually can use them to play something without doing it by ear, heart or watching someone else do it themselves. This will be very helpful. Thank you!

[@hunterbutton935]

After seeing your video on Barre chords I figured I would check out the rest of your videos as practice, you are excellent at explaining things whether they are simple or more complex!

[@whatlauralikes.]

The HEY OK technique saved my life. I was getting very frustrated as I couldn’t hold my pick properly and I couldn’t make good upstrokes. I’m going to practice this technique but I know THIS IS IT for me !!! Thanks !!!

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Its always uncomfortable at first but push through and you will never regret it!

[@EmperorSteel]

I can say for myself that your technique has helped me a lot. Thanks for the help there.

[@AD-hh6dd]

I almost gave up on playing guitar because I couldn't get it to sound right using a pick (I'm used to playing Bass with no pick). This video is the best I've ever seen on how to fix this problem. In fact, it's the only one that's explained it quite right. After watching once and trying your adjustments, I can finally sound right using a pick. I mean, immediate improvement. Thanks Mark!

[@imrithvishwamitr8770]

Very good, Sir.well explained. I got it on the first trial with the pick.before I was using my thumb.your are a good teacher and guitar player.from Mauritius. Thanks.

[@flexwinggpipi]

Thanks mark .its been very helpful. Just beginning to use a pick after five years of finger style .not easy but at least I know how to properly hold one. Much appreciated thankyou

[@socom57]

Indeed Mark, absolutely incredible, Someone had given me a cheap electric guitar (no amp) 41 yrs ago, but that was, of course, well before the internet & light years before you tube, so I lost interest in within a week because I didn't have anyone to teach me.....but that was then, this is now & I'm lovin it!!! Thanks again Brother!

[@jaywilliams510]

This video is the most effective instruction I have seen anywhere on using a pick! I watched it for the first time yesterday and over the past 24 hours, every time I pick up the guitar and strum it feels more natural. For the first time I am able to play dynamically! Before, my strumming with a pick was very harsh and loud because I was constantly fumbling with the pick, hoping that I would eventually stumble upon "the right way". But by using your simple checkpoints each time, I'm making huge strides already! This is very exciting so I thank you, Mark! You are an outstanding teacher! Keep up the good work and THANK YOU for your willingness to sow significantly into others. My prayer is that you will be fruitful and increase in every good thing! :)

[@sarahdunham4396]

This has been so helpful. My guitar teacher has been gently nudging me to play with a pic but I've been resistant. You've added other reasons for moving away from finger picking. Holding the pic the way you've explained makes a huge difference. Many thanks!

[@grantorren]

thanx it's nice to be involved with real people that stand behind what they do. Nice going and i think you are great and wish you much success and i am proud to be associated with jamorama and affiliates.

[@MrA1582000]

This really helped me.

[@darenchanlp]

Thanks Mark after all these years I finally manage to hold the pick and strum. I gave up using it long long time ago now I found it because of you. Thanks again. Daren

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Yeah, it's tricky sometimes to get that from video even... So it's a 'birds eye view' we are talking about. Looking down on ur strumming arm. Imagine a line from the elbow to ur thumb. Is it a straight line or does it angle out at the wrist? It should also run along parallel to the strings. Distance from the strings should be small.

[@robertopino7250]

It's crazy how a thing like holding a pick and strum, which may seem ridiculously easy, can be such a pain in the neck. I've been playing for 10 years now and I quit the pick right away. Just like Mark explained I did it because it felt uncomfortable. At first, I felt stupid because everybody was playing well with it and I was the only clumsy strummer out there. Little by little I found my fleshy sound and I loved it. I still do. The truth is, it always depends on what you intend to play and on the sound you're looking for. Then I moved to fingerstyle and man...that's just mindblowing. And again, as soon as I got better, I thought using a pick is just non-essential. Well, after 10 years of playing I'm here looking for advice. I want to take a step forward and learn how to use the pick effectively. And I am sure I will in (almost) no time because I really itch for it. I just wanna say it's never too late to change your mind and it's never too late to start over.

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

My pleasure. I find that it's more important to play with a technique that's comfortable, than actual types of pick and gauge etc. However, I prefer to encourage beginner pickers to start with a thinner gauge (0.66mm). The Intro song was a little on the fly, but I'll have a look and maybe do some lessons on my own personal stuff at some stage. Cheers for your encouragement mate.

[@SomeStuff9]

Thanks for the lesson. I've been taking group guitar classes for about 5 months and this new teacher expects me to use a pick, I've been so frustrated and always give up and go back to using my finger. Thanks for showing some technique!

[@philipyeung6054]

hi,student from hong kong your videos are really useful and i can feel your passion on guitar keep going!!!

[@zackwatson7233]

Wow. Seriously improved the sound of my notes with this video. Thank you!

[@danielryklief]

bass player for 8 years got my first acoustic guitar and had no idea how to use a pick, apparently it is not at all how i thought you'd use it. nice video, completely changed my sound from harsh clangy to a controlled softer one 👍🏼

[@othnielusifo6112]

Thanks alot mark your lessons have really been inspiring i bought my guitar about a year ago and got discouraged because i didn't know how to hold it properly. I am making some progress now but i still find synchronizing both hands a challenge.

[@jojo-wo3ns]

Great lesson...simple fundamentals make a huge different...after following your tips my mutted strumming has instantly improved

[@MiguelGebremedhin]

Hey Mark, I just wanted to say thank you for this video. After 4 years of playing I was in kind of a rut, but this small detail in my playing made such a huge difference. Picking feels effortless now. Thank you thank you.

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Thank you! Little things can make a huge difference! If you'd ever like some one on one help i'm now offering Skype lessons. Sometimes you only need a lesson every now and then, to check everything is in order. Cheers Mark.

[@dayaa550]

THANK. YOU. No one's taught me this and I eventually just gave up. Now I'll get back into it. Thank you so much!!

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Up to you really mate.......Great that it's helping. Try the next thickness up for a while and see how that goes.

[@stefannuschristian5181]

What's the song that you play before 0:54? Nice Song :)

[@jolygeorge3205]

I've been playing guitar for over a year now ( I know its nothing) and i've watched over 30 videos on how to hold a pick. This video was the only one that's helpful for me, I can hold a pick now very easily! Thanks for a great video!

[@hcasting847]

There is many great guitar player that don't know how to teach well... He is a great player clean and accurate and a great teacher as well! Nice job man!!!

[@lavinadias21]

Went through a lot of videos, this one was really helpful. Thanks 😊

[@mightycritic]

Thank you so much Mark, for sharing your knowledge. You're simply a great instructor - you answered everything I needed to know, which helped me a great deal. I feel so lucky to have seen your video. Thanks again my friend.

[@darko.ristanovic]

Hey mate, do you have tutorial on that song you were playing? At beginning.

[@jimgodofbiscuits]

Darko Ristanovic I agree, would like to get that as well.

[@gedatsu95]

that was really helpful! I've been struggling for three years on how to hold the pick, and now it just feels more natural! thanks

[@JohnCranberry23]

Thank you so much for making this video. I've always found it frustrating strumming because the pick would move and it felt awkward. I've tried to learn guitar songs in full but often failed because the strumming hand was not correct. I was so amazed how easily your instructions helped me and it felt like I have so much more control when strumming. Best guitar lesson I've had. Now all I have to do is learn how to switch between Bm and G quick enough so I can play Wild Horses. Bm is so frustrating!

[@ricardobartolomeu2575]

Believe it or not just by learning how to properly use my pick i somehow fell in love with playing guitar! I found this video to be trully helping and sorta inspirational. Definitely subscribed

[@AssassingtonThe7th]

Why are you the only person I've been able to learn from, lol. Been struggling for a while until now

[@LeonBorodaty1]

You are the best teacher online i have seen

[@giannislymperopoylos5574]

UNREAL.... BEST TUTORIAL ON HOW TO CHANGE CHORDS QUICKLY WITH THE PRESSING TECHNIQUE ...CAUSE NOTHING ELSE HELPS EXCEPT PURE PRACTICE AND REPETITION.....AND NOW BEST TUTORIAL ON PICK...PERFECTION!!SUB!!

[@oshanekurukulasooriya2588]

Thanks alot for the Vid.. Just started taking lessons from you.. I'm new to the pick and your vids help me to understand how cool it is ;)

[@Willscarp]

You are one of my favorite guitar teachers on KZbin, and the first person to give me a very clear vision of how to actually hold the pick correctly. Thank you so much!

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

Great idea guys!! Love it.

[@googull271]

Thanks Mark. I've been playing for a long time but recently have been having alot of trouble holding my pick while performing. That's what brought me here. Some of it may be my age and my hands aren't quite working like they used to but, I've been curling my index finger almost parallel to my thumb. Thanks for getting me back on track. Subscribed.

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

I tend to agree my friend...it's way overlooked and so easy to fix

[@plasmabol]

Omg, for 32 years i held my pen like a pick. After seeing your video I can finally write properly. Thanks man!

[@kooroshbboy8218]

thank you so verrrrry much, i just figured how smooth can you play with a pick, i amost gave up on picking with a plectrum

[@karmnz]

Mate, that's brilliant. It's incredible how many people are just one or two steps away from perfect picking

[@tincupmike32]

Thank you so much for this. My tone has improved tremendously just by holding the pick this way.

[@koreanstar97]

hi mark! the opening was awesome!! i was hoping can u make a video about how to change the chords or press the frets accurately??please..

[@Crybaby_Club]

This is a great lesson Mark. After struggling with my strumming for about a year I watched your vid and your explanation about how to hold the pick made everything make sense to me and it improved my playing competence and ability to play different styles a lot.

[@jkennan]

Hi Mark, I watched a few videos on this subject last night but yours was definitely the best. It's dawned on me that I've been incorrectly holding the pick for the last THIRTY-SIX years! It explains a lot. Who knows, I might have been famous by now if I'd been doing it right!

[@Conspoetry]

Wow, what a difference it makes when you hold the pick correctly :) Thanks!

[@freemanguitarmusic.9418]

Great video...

[@21jammer21]

This is a definitely a great improvement for me, i'm a long time novice who can play some satisfying strums without a pick but I constantly dropped my pick, even more so on up strokes and this tip has made an immediate improvement for me ! Thanks Allot !!

[@skuxxfulla]

Mark you are the man! Awesome lesson and it's mean to see a New Zealander giving tutorials! Now my favourite youtube guitar instructor :). Keep it up!

[@MarkTheGuitarGuyChannel]

So right my friend

[@daughterofthesun]

Thanks so much for this video! After years of playing with just my finger and hating that muffled sound, I'm finally playing with a pick. It's a bit awkward now but I know that it will get easier the more I do it!

[@guitarpractice1005]

Hey Mark thank you for the lesson. Also, that pick sharpening trick is incredible! I couldn't believe it when you said that, so I paused the video and tried it and it works!

[@deserthighways4095]

Thanks, Mark, that was helpful. It took some practice but I can do it now. Get a much better sound, as you illustrated

[@BlairGrotbeck]

Thank you SO MUCH. This video and many of your others have really helped me. Your teachings are very detailed. Much better than others I've seen on youtube. Keep it up.

[@redstonepig]

thanks for these lessons mark, really helpful!