Most beginners usually start playing the guitar (strumming) using a guitar pick, so its important that you learn to hold it the right way. There are other guitar playing techniques where you don’t require a pick, but usually that’s done when you have some experience playing the guitar. Learning how to hold the guitar pick correctly is one of the basics of learning to play the guitar. This beginners lesson will teach you the right way to learn to play the guitar.
Most Beginners Hold it Wrong
Most beginners straightaway (instinctively) hold the pick/plectrum between the tips of their thumb and index finger, when they first use a pick.
But that is not the correct way to hold a pick, as it results in lessened stability.
How to Hold a Guitar Pick?
here’s how to hold a guitar pick, and use it to play the guitar. When sight reading, remember that your “picking hand” is the one which is nearest to the bridge of the guitar.
Here are the steps:
- Place your guitar pick between your thumb and index finger. The pick should be located behind the knuckles.
- The pointed end of the pick should point away from your fist, and should protrude by about a half an inch.
- Hold the pick firmly between the fingers.
- Place your picking hand over the soundhole (of acoustic guitar), or over the body (of electric guitar), with the fingers hovering over the strings.
- The picking hand does NOT rest on the strings or the body of the guitar.
- Use your wrist for motion (instead of using the entire arm) and strike the string. Based on how the string rattles, you may strike the string forcefully or softly. Do the same in the upwards direction.
- Repeat the process several times — one stroke downward and another stroke upwards (known as ‘alternate picking’). Keep the strokes short, and use minimum motion of your picking hand
- Do this to strike all the strings (one at a time).
Common Beginner Picking Problem
Even after you learn the right way to hold the plectrum, you will still face a few additional problems — almost every beginner faces this, and its okay, because with practice these issues will go away.
- Pick is not stable in your hand
Pick is not stable in your hand, it turns around between your fingers.
With practice, you will realize that you cannot hold it it too loosely, or hold it too tight. Holding it too tight makes it uncomfortable. Holding it too loose, makes the pick move around. With practice, you will know how much pressure to apply. - Pick gets caught in strings
When strumming, remember that with the downward strum, the pick is facing down, and with the upward strum, the pick has to face slightly upwards (in both the directions, the pick is at an angle of around 15-20° to the face of the guitar). Also, the pick should glide over the strings with a loose wrist.If the angle and the pressure is not right, the pick will get caught in the strings.
- The pick feels too small/big
Picks come in different shapes, sizes and styles. Generally, larger picks are better for strumming, and smaller picks are better for playing lead.Besides the shapes and the sizes, the thickness and material of the pick also affect things.
So the best approach is to buy a variety pack of picks, and try out all the different kinds of picks.
What Guitar Pick to Use?
You’ll definitely need some guitar picks; and its best to buy in bulk (a set of picks…say about 10 of them). You will need them, not because they break, but because its very easy to misplace them (so go for bright colored ones).
You’ll just not remember where you’ve kept them, even if its in your house.
The good thing is that guitar picks are inexpensive, so get a few, and feel free to experiment with different shapes and brands. Start on something that is medium gauge (to begin with), something that is not too flimsy, nor or too hard.
As mentioned, guitar picks come in varying thicknesses, weights, shapes, and there are several brands to choose from. If you’re a beginner, try out different picks so that you will know what feels best to you.
- Beginners usually prefer lighter weight picks for strumming.
- For picking scales and basic riffs, a medium weight pick usually works better.
- For playing leads on an electric guitar, heavy weight picks work better.
To Conclude
As with any new thing, it will take some time getting used to holding it, and will feel a bit awkward initially, but that’s perfectly alright. Pay attention to your picking hand when practicing, and try to be consistent — downstrokes should sound virtually identical to your upstrokes. That’s how you hold a pick the right way, to play the guitar.
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FretStudent says
Its important to experiment with pick gauge & holding.
I use Pick-grip method where you make an “O” with your thumb & Index finger, with very small gap between pick-tip & thumb. I use my thumbs to mute the strings above the pick & free fingers (mid, ring & pinkie) to mute the strings below the pick.
One of my students is comfortable holding the pick between the middle finger and the thumb as he uses the index finger for support, depending on whether he’s playing a chord or strumming individual strings.
There are some inexperienced teachers who just ask you to use a big & thick pick and start playing rhythm, they don’t know about string muting!