DESCRIPTION:
If you would like to gain full access to all our Guitar Teaching Materials please visit the Secret Guitar Teacher Site and take a free tour: http://www.secretguitarteacher.com/youtube/ssb.php?lp_id=392

Here's the video transcript:

This is a question I get asked from time to time - what's the right way to hold the pick or plectrum? Well my short answer to the question is - there isn't really one right way to hold the pick. But I am going to show you a suggested starting point. If you have never used a pick before, or feel at all awkward or uncomfortable using one - this may help get you going.

Assuming you are right handed (if you're left handed simply reverse these instructions), start by taking hold of the pick in your left hand, holding it by it's pointed end like this. Then hold out your right hand, more or less as if you were about to shake hands with someone. Now balance the pick on the edge of your right index finger so that the pointed tip of the pick extends 2 or 3 mm, say about 3/8 of an inch, further than your finger tip . Now close your thumb over the pick like this.

Grip the pick firmly, but not too tight - allow enough slack for the pick to be flexible...like this rather than like this.Now get the idea that as you strum downwards, your thumb is pushing the pick whilst your index finger holds on just firmly enough to prevent the pick from moving around too much...and as you strum upwards, get the idea that your index finger is pulling the pick up and that the thumb is hold it just firmly enough to prevent it moving around ,

Notice that holding the pick firmly, but not too tightly allows it to reverse direction as you strum so that it is always pointing backwards...trailing behind the motion of the pick...

A lot of beginners make the mistake of holding onto the pick too tightly and this not only makes for rather a harsh sound...but also tends to actually increase the likelihood of the pick leaping out of your fingers because, it is in effect, fighting the strings of the guitar.

From this basic starting point, which you may like to spend some time practicing so that you get used to it, you can gradually explore some of the finer points of pick -wielding technique.

One of the first things to experiment with is the amount of pick you leave hanging out - the amount by which the pick extends past the fingertips. I actually find that, much of the time, I have the pick so short that I am in fact partly using the finger and thumb to contact the strings the pick is just there to prevent the finger and thumb from too much wear! But if I want individual notes to stand out a little more distinctly, I let the pick out a bitand now I'm picking, more than strumming, the strings...

If I want quite a hard edge to my sound I swivel the pick round so that it is very much in line with the index finger ...and keep the tip just protruding -
I probably use this to pick notes when I play most riffs for example...But for most strumming action I allow the pick to swivel round so that the tip is almost pointing into my palm ...and now I'm using more the rounded edge of the pick, to get a nice smooth sound from my strumming.

Of course, all these little trickss take practice time to get right on top of and eventually, these little detailed adjustments make themselves automatically as you play. But early on, it is important to push yourself to experiment and see what different sounds and feel you get by changing different things.

For example, the angle of approach to the strings can make a considerable difference...If you play at right angles to the strings, your pick is offering maximum resistance and the sound will be bright and loud. To tone this down, simply play more diagonally across the strings so that the pick offers less resistance - think of brushing rather than striking the strings

Notice that this can further be altered by changing the angle of the pick to the face of the guitar - 90 degrees - stronger resistance - brighter sound - flatten the angle like this and the sound softens.

There is of course always more to this subject, but I think the contents of this short lesson should be enough to get you going and encourage you to experiment.

Really the last word on this is the last word on guitar playing technique in general - let your ears decide what is right and wrong; better or worse; and always adapt how you approach things to suit the musical needs of the moment.

If you found this little video useful, please click on the ‘Like’ button if there is one, or leave a comment, and do feel free to share the video with your friends.
And if you’d like to gain full access to all our guitar teaching materials, please visit the Secret Guitar Teacher Site and take a FREE look round at what's available there...

See you again soon!