These Mistakes Will Destroy Your Picking - Avoid At All Cost!

Here are 3 mistakes that beginners make that totally destroy their picking technique. Playing guitar is hard enough, so don't make it harder by having bad pick technique. These are the most common errors guitarists make with their pick and they're really easy to fix.
🔔 If you're serious about improving quickly check out the
Accelerated Technique Workshop
handmechanics.com/
🔴SUBSCRIBE:
kzbin.info?...
✉️ Sign up for the Newsletter & get free lessons and tabs:
maxrichmusic.com/free-tabs
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
✅ 6 Blues Bends Every Player Needs
• Elevate Your Blues Pla...
✅ Get Better Without Even Playing Guitar
• Get Better Finger Inde...
✅ Make Barre Chords Easy:
• Get Perfect BARRE CHOR...
✅ The SECRET to Finger Independence
• Get Better Finger Inde...
💥FREE TABS, ARTICLES & LESSONS
maxrichmusic.com
Intro: 0:00
Stay Natural: 1:53
Cover The Pick: 4:30
Let It Move: 6:12
Choosing The Best Pick: 9:14
It starts with how to hold the pick.If you have the wrong grip on the pick then everything you do will be average at best. Playing guitar is really hard...whether it's blues, rock, classical or jazz...so making sure you're using the best pick for our playing style and you know how to hold it properly will ensure that you can play guitar cleanly, play accurately, and play relaxed. The best guitarists in the world all use the same type of pick and they all follow the same guidelines for how to hold the pick. By learning what Stevie Ray Vaughan, Joe Bonamassa, Eric Johnson, and tons of other pros do, you can improve your technique and learn how to play guitar faster with less practice time.
If you're looking for THE BEST BEGINNER GUITAR LESSONS than you really need to understand GUITAR TECHNIQUE. If you're a BEGINNER BLUES GUITAR player or even searching for an INTERMEDIATE GUITAR LESSON that will give you IMMEDIATE RESULTS in your PRACTICE ROUTINE, then start by taking EASY GUITAR SONGS and breaking them down into three categories: MUSIC THEORY, TECHNIQUE, & PRACTICAL PLAYING. For example, if you're trying to LEARN FINGERSTYLE GUITAR, then UNDERSTANDING CHORDS in BLACKBIRD by the BEATLES is a great place to start. From there you need to IMPROVE your FINGERPICKING by looking at the technique needed to play the riffs. And finally learning HOW TO RELAX WHEN PLAYING GUITAR will help TRANSFORM YOUR PLAYING by avoiding unnecessary energy and avoiding wasted movement. BY changing your GUITAR POSTURE you could help promote RELAXATION, increase your ALTERNATE PICKING & start playing better HAMMER ONS and PULL OFFS. Take your technique seriously and you'll start BECOMING A GREAT GUITARIST.
#guitar #guitarlesson #guitartechnique #acoustic #fingerstyletutorial #guitartutorial #fender #electric #fingerpicking #gibson #hybrid #pickacard #speed #economypicking #fingerstyle #pulloff #hammeron #legato #speedpicking #barchords #barre #speedguitar #speedpicking #guitartechnique #picking #ergonomics #posture #alexandertechnique #science #anatom #physiology

[@MaxRichMusic]

For players who are serious about improving: bit.ly/handmechanics I'm offering an Accelerated Technique Workshop once a month. Fix the mistakes in your playing with daily practice routines, exercises and a complete understanding of how your fingers, hands and muscles work.

[@RantzBizGroup]

Everyone thinks the chord hand is the toughest to teach, it's NOT, holding the pick and finding just the right pick for your style of playing takes some time. Great topic for this video!

[@MaxRichMusic]

Well said! Thanks!

[@joeyoungs8426]

Absolutely. It took years to achieve a picking skill to rival my classically trained right hand.

[@friedrich1957]

Thank you. I have played for well over 50 years. I don't remember ever being told about the position of the fingers on the pick, or the relationship of how the muscles of the hand and fingers work most efficiently. Great lesson, Sir!

[@MaxRichMusic]

That’s great to hear, thank you for your comment and for watching!

[@SillyMoustache]

Hi Max, old guitar teacher here. I'm no longer surprised at how many of my clients need help in choosing and using a pick (plectrum here in the UK!) I really like the way you have given this information. Good common sense well broken down and explained. Well done! Of course there will be individual preferences as personal style develops, but I tend to suggest to my clients that they "try" large triangle 346 style picks -which gives most players 1. easier to hold (your "stay natural). 2. More material - easier to "cover" with straight thumb) 3. Hold a pick-don't grip it (Let it move) 4.Thicker picks (I encourage tm to buy a selection of sizes of Dunlop Tortex large triangles and see which feels best (they usually graduate to the thicker ones - at least 1 m/m ) You've done a great public service to pickers!

[@lw216316]

I was not covering with my thumb....so I'm going to work on that. Thanks !

[@MaxRichMusic]

Excellent!

[@kristof80able]

Incredible, I came to exact the same conclusions after 1 year of playing. Great to know that ''my style'' of picking is right.

[@brusselssprouts560]

Great advice.I use a Dunlop Mini Stubby 1.0mm. It is durable and great for getting pinch harmonics with, but is also very accurate and seems to respond to soft playing or digging in. It is a great all rounder.

[@MaxRichMusic]

Great to hear!

[@billycioffi4782]

This is exactly right!

[@harrymaguire5058]

Great lesson

[@bobdeyoung7261]

Your first point is the most important IMO but all good points. There are so many ways to hold and angle a pick, along with pick styles and thicknesses. Every guitarist gets comfortable with there own way of picking and type of pick to use. I've gone thru years of playing with different types: large picks with three corners, small fender jazz picks, Dunlop jazz picks, standard Fender picks and I've tried several kinds of thumb picks. I currently have 3 different types that I use depending on the song I'm playing. Medium fender picks for strumming, heavy Dunlop Jazz picks for single note picking, and one I modified that's both flexible and small. The latter is for songs with both strumming and single note picking. Thanks for making this video!

[@levlevrevolution]

I've always struggled with regular tutorials anywhere weather on KZbin or in real life people never tell you what the points that matter in your grip are. this is the type of information that people need to be covering, great work honestly love the video. keep it real man

[@MaxRichMusic]

Happy to help!

[@GabrielSkolderblad]

My fav shredding pick is Dunlop Tortex 0.5mm

[@63Bloke]

Thankyou that helps a lot 😊

[@MaxRichMusic]

Glad it helped!

[@hillers54]

Great info Max 🎶🎶🎶

[@MaxRichMusic]

Glad you think so!

[@jimgodofbiscuits]

Hello. Thanks. I know most people curl their forefinger in to be a "ledge" for the pick. I have large hands and long fingers so when curling my finger in that far causes tension. It feels more natural for pick to be on side (sorta maybe between pad and side) of my finger with the finger pointing mostly toward the point of pick. Thumb part I do same as you instruct. Sorry for long post. I guess with long arms and big hands you just gotta figure out what works. So far not having the greatest of luck. Play acoustic mainly. Maybe need a larger body guitar. I have a standard dread now. Large hands and long fingers affect fretting hand too. I cannot put my thumb under the neck (when you need to) in the manner most often taught and end up pointing it toward the headstock a little above fingers since that is only comfortable relaxed position. Directly under the 2nd finger area it's bent really hard and uncomfortable. I have a thin profile neck. Tried thicker/smaller radius and worse. Finally when strumming can't keep my right arm from moving slowly forward as I play until I suddenly realize I'm strumming over the end of fretboard.

[@brucespencer4723]

great vid! thanks

[@MaxRichMusic]

Glad you liked it!

[@timothya2742]

I have noticed this. I lose my skill going down the neck. Practice has taught to let the pick flow a little. Especially when trying to keep up with my right hand

[@ranger5697]

Good stuff Max. New sub

[@MaxRichMusic]

Thanks for the sub!

[@richardclark.]

Darts don't require precision. My brother yelled no matter where I hit him?

[@dalek6779]

😂

[@bottomkitchen250]

I use the Dunlop 205 or the Gravity 3. i actually really need to get some new ones. All my picks are badly worn.

[@randywylie3922]

nice video Max. I am going to try and work on your pick technique because I have been having the slippage problem for some time. I have three acoustic guitars and primarily use a Pickboy ceramic 1.0mm. I have tried many thinner picks of all kinds of material but like the Pickboy best. My guitars are a Martin HD-28, A Taylor 814ce, and a Gibson Hummingbird. The Pickboy works great on all with a deeper tone for all strings.

[@gunsofsteele]

I use Cool heavies. They're white, so easy to see. They have a nice texture for finger & thumb and 3 points. When one point wears, which takes quite some time, rotate to a new point. Thanks for the lesson!

[@MaxRichMusic]

Very cool!

[@katzensprung7449]

Great advice, thank you very much! I tried some different picks, but my favourite right now is the "normal" Fender Heavy pick. Feels good and sounds good imho. This video is very helpful, thanks again!

[@MaxRichMusic]

Good choice!

[@richardclark.]

The boutique pick market can be one of the biggest wastes of money in the guitar industry. There is almost you can in a 10 dollar or 100 dollar pick that you can't find in a pack of a dozen somewhere.

[@johnphillips752]

I've thought about these very points a lot more in the last 5 years, but I've played for over 50 years. I think you covered all the bases sir. Very well done. I'm playing with the 3mm Big Stubby these days, but that migrates around as I try new picks.

[@MaxRichMusic]

Thanks for sharing! That’s one of my old favorites! Check out Wegen picks if you like the stubby

[@musicken33]

You explain things very well. Clear and concise. Thanks!

[@MaxRichMusic]

Thank you! I appreciate the comment

[@MVWDave]

Thank you for the clear explanation of these very important principles. Would you also recommend a thicker pick with a sharper point for acoustic guitar? Does it depend on the sound you're going for, or the type of playing (strumming vs. more lead playing)?

[@MaxRichMusic]

With acoustic you can get away with a slightly more rounded tip. Unless you’re doing a lot of Al Di Meola style acoustic shredding.

[@MVWDave]

@@MaxRichMusic Thank you.

[@musicaleltd]

re: moving pick in the hand....covering the pick with index finger AND thumb, good advice.....never knew this; however, one issue that arises when this happens (i've tried it the way you suggest) is that my index finger scrapes the strings inadvertently and REALLY screws up the sense of rhythm. i'm assuming too much index finger is exposed on the bottom of the pick? TIA

[@MaxRichMusic]

Yeah, most likely your index finger isn't going across at a perpendicular angle to the pick, but more like a 45 degree angle. This leaves the tip of the finger closer to the tip of the pick which can cause contact. If you can get the index to basically mirror the thumb you should be able to avoid that.

[@thebrysmith3]

Just started using Dunlop Gloss Flow 3.0 mm picks. After 40 years, I might have just found the right ones.

[@NoBSMusicReviews]

Although I do hold the pick naturally and don’t bend my thumb, one of the greatest guitarists ever, Frank Zappa not only held the pick “unnaturally” with his thumb, but he constantly also flexed his thumb while he picked. I’ve actually never seen anybody pick in such a way. It seemed to require a huge amount of effort. And yet he was a fantastic guitarist. Watch some videos of his playing and you will see what I mean.

[@localbod]

Great. So, at least I now know that I have to completely change my pick grip / thumb picking position. I guess it won't take more than a couple of years to get used to it. 👍

[@MaxRichMusic]

All changes to technique can seem daunting, but using the right practice strategy you can implement anything really quickly.

[@localbod]

@@MaxRichMusic Thanks for the advice. Having realised that I suffer from some of the issues you outlined, I am determined to adjust my technique and practice until it becomes second nature.

[@blakeburns8688]

John Frusciante uses .6 orange dunlop tortex picks. You definitely don’t need a thick heavy pick to be a great player or a good tone.

[@rustythoughts]

Paul Gilbert also uses thin picks, for many years also using the 0.6 orange Dunlop Tortex, and more recently using 0.5 custom picks.

[@fenderlead1]

@@rustythoughts when I pre-ordered his “Behold Electric Guitar “CD I got some of his signature picks. I don’t know how he does it… But then again I don’t know how he does 99.98% of what he does so I just strap in and enjoy the ride lol

[@joeyoungs8426]

I’ve been using the red 0.5mm for decades. I have a few that are years old and they all have the curve of my thumb baked in. The perfect pick for me.

[@andreasfetzer7559]

Imagine how John could sound if he would use a good thick pick.

[@blakeburns8688]

@@andreasfetzer7559 the issue is he would have less control his dynamics of being able to pick softly vs hard. He uses a boss CE-1 which has a preamp which when it hits its “peak” it breaks up, and when picked softly does not hit that peak and remains a clean tone. A thick pick is great if you want more even dynamics.

[@ajimtoddd]

it worked , thank you dad !

[@MaxRichMusic]

hahaha thats awesome

[@MySlyFly]

.88mm tortex Flow. Sometimes go up to a 1mm .

[@raythaw1916]

Dunlop Primetone 1.3 semi round

[@larrylorenzen2449]

A pointy pick gives a bright tone where a rounded pick gives a fatter, fuller tone like for jazz.

[@johnlocke7097]

There are other videos saying the opposite to this, how do you know who is correct?

[@richardclark.]

Buy grabbing your guitar and trying it both ways. Lol.

[@sergeantdef.3572]

This man is doing it thr right way.. But i also think..hold a pick the way you feel the most comfortable.. I think everybody hold the pick a bit different.. I have seen many people hold it as a fist.. Me..i hold it the way this video tells..

[@josephleto7583]

I've used the Dunlop .60mm Shark Fin Guitar picks for many years. Please let me know your thoughts on using them. BTW: I also use the standard Dunlop .60mm Sand Grips. Love them both. I do already follow your ways of holding the pick. Thank you for confirming that! ,;-)

[@MaxRichMusic]

As I say in the. Video I’m not a fan of thin picks because it’s too hard to predict when the flex will give out and the pick will break through the string. That said, the shark pick is a cool shape that I’ve used in the past

[@gorimus]

There's no right or wrong way - staying natural is the key (as mentioned). Bending the thumb or not, the angle of pick attack, pick thickness, pick material, etc don't matter. Many guitar players use weird positions (see kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIPJd5SQjMyUfK8) Bonus: Matteo Mancuso doesn't use a pick and shreds like hell with amazing accuracy and dynamics.

[@RoddSantiago]

Nothing wrong with a flexed thumb, actually an extended thumb will need more force to stabilize the pick because it's in a weaker position which will result on more tension on the hand, not saying your method is wrong, the hand should be relaxed, but everyone needs to find their own grip.

[@pulidomi]

but if you tilt the pick it will no longer swing 7:11

[@MrMarkar1959]

I got different Plectrums for different songs,,,aint just ONE gonna work

[@davidjohns4745]

Tip number one: Call it a plectrum.

[@gunsofsteele]

Ain't got no time for those big, fancy words. We's got picking and grinning to do. ✌️

[@davidjohns4745]

@@gunsofsteele If there’s more than one you can call them Plectra if that’s better for you.

[@glennmartin4232]

Sorry I don’t agree. Most great guitarists don’t use the pointy end of the pick. It’s to brittle and bright. Picking is very individualistic. No two players pick exactly the same. It takes time to find what works but one thing is It comes from the wrist and not the arm for speed.

[@1964vintage]

Real plastic and real bone, Big buttons and loose change, Tighter fit than a Pringle chip, Uber factories Uber home made. For Numero 1 the other hand, The middle finger Mr Sand Man, You say pick, no sir plectrum I say, Gotta be good stamped with a name. So I tuned in to tune out, No such thing a KZbin fail, Yet now I’m totally lost, Because I play with my nails.

[@paulmanley7863]

I have never used a pick. Try growing your nails.

[@MaxRichMusic]

I've had nails for 20 years and have played classical guitar professionally for that entire time.

[@karayuschij]

So, Pat Metheny is a very bad guitarist……

[@MaxRichMusic]

definitely not

[@errolducase]

All you did was talking.

[@101proguitarist]

Yeah, what do you want him to do? Sing the lesson??? 💀

[@jamesball5743]

You talk too much

[@musicalcrime3856]

There is no right or wrong way to hold your pick. It’s what works for you. Go and have a look at marty friedmans technique. His is one of the strangest. But it works for him. If you can execute your chops in the strangest ways. Then good for you. Do not follows others just because they say you should. See what works for you and what makes it easier for you to go up and down the strings. It’s very simple. Just play and have fun. The minute you analyse how you’re playing, the fun goes right out the window. I should know. So you go and have fun being your own unique self. God Bless.