How do you hold your pick?

[*insertcoolname]

I don't want this to be a pick vs. fingers thread so if you have opinions share them elsewhere. I just wanted to know how other people hold there picks. I put two fingers and a thumb on mine and curl my other two fingers in. (I play with fingers, too!)

[Sneckumhaw]

Generally between my thumb and forefinger and leave my three other fingers free to pluck some strings.

[stillborn86]

I usually hold it between my thumb and the first part of my fore-finger (everything from the top joint to the tip) in a perpendicular fashion. So I usually just naturally hold it with those two fingers.

I usually don't play with a pick, but now I have been avoiding it since the people I play with want me to play with the 'devil horns' where you use your ring finger and middle finger to hold the pick to your thumb and extend the fore-finger and pinky. It just feels odd and I don't like it.

I want to say it was either Kiss or AC/DC that did that and I guess it's coming back around this area...

[middy]

I usually don't play with a pick, but now I have been avoiding it since the people I play with want me to play with the 'devil horns' where you use your ring finger and middle finger to hold the pick to your thumb and extend the fore-finger and pinky. It just feels odd and I don't like it.

That is the most ridiculous thing I've heard in a long time...

[UnDoNe]

Thta's the funniest thing I've heard in a long time! Probably looks quite ridiculous

[brainhii]

that devil horn thing is hilarious don't ever play like that cuz it probably sounds like crap haha as for me when i play with a pick i hold it between my thumb and index fingers and curl the other ones up. i t feels right, but if that's a technically wrong way to do it, someone plz tell me

[lemur821]

Thumb and index. I'm against two-finger pick holding because I think it requires you to either hold the pick at a funny angle to the string or push with your middle finger to get a good grip. Thumb and index holding lets all the squeezing come from your thumb.

[birdxofxprey]

Originally Posted by stillborn86

I usually don't play with a pick, but now I have been avoiding it since the people I play with want me to play with the 'devil horns' where you use your ring finger and middle finger to hold the pick to your thumb and extend the fore-finger and pinky. It just feels odd and I don't like it.

you should tell your drummer to hold his sticks like that, and your guitarist should be made to do it too. does the singer hold the mic with the stupid devil horns?

jeez, what next.

[JAUQO III-X]

I hold my pick between my index and middle finger.

[cowsgomoo]

Originally Posted by stillborn86

I usually don't play with a pick, but now I have been avoiding it since the people I play with want me to play with the 'devil horns' where you use your ring finger and middle finger to hold the pick to your thumb and extend the fore-finger and pinky. It just feels odd and I don't like it.

If I were you i'd extend them your middle finger...


anyway, re the topic: I hold the the pick between my thumb and forefinger, and use the other 3 fingers for anchorage/muting

using the middle finger to hold the pick too is unnecessary for me, and I feel less mobility when i've tried it...

[Depth_Charge]

On the rare occassion I do, between the upper side of my folded index finger and thumb, my wrist strums the string(s), and you only just see the pick stick a few mm out. Helps free my ring/pinky for chords if need be.

[lenkyloos]

Hmmm, I hold my pick the way most do with my thumb and index finger.
I don't know if others do this, but I put my thumb so that its making a 90 degree cross with the index finger (the index finger bent a bit), with the pick between the two. Just seems most comfortable, and I keep the rest of the fingers out for anchorage/muting etc. Oh, and I use the top flatter part of the pick as opposed to the part most people use. I just find I can get a bit more power because more surface area of the pick is hitting the string.

Go figure.

Anyway, cheers.
Dan.

[Rids]

Haha, 'devil horns' is the one of the worst little nuances to have penetrated music culture.
I saw red hot chili peppers play the other day, and some freaks in the audience were holding up the 'horns'.
Hell, I saw people doing it at Big Day Out when John Butler Trio were playing (not sure if JBT are known outside Australia...)

[Anscari]

Originally Posted by stillborn86

'devil horns'

Talk about lame posing...

Man, if a band asks to to play like this, just quit. They're not worth your time.

[DJ-Jazzy-Jay]

When I do play with a pick, I hold it between my thumb, my index, and middle fingers.

[Amitio]

I use my index and thum to fold the pick, and then sort of fan out my other fingers!

Like the OK hand gesture you can do!

[Phalex]

When I use a pick I hold it between my thumb and the first joint of my index finger. I hold the majority of the pick between my fingers, with just a small bit of the pick exposed.

[Sneckumhaw]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

I hold my pick between my index and middle finger.

Intriguing! Sounds difficult, though. Just a guess, do you do this so you can use your thumb to slap at the same time or something like that?

[JAUQO III-X]

Originally Posted by Sneckumhaw

Intriguing! Sounds difficult, though. Just a guess, do you do this so you can use your thumb to slap at the same time or something like that?

Exactly.

Here's an example.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV10D9Mp7_8

[Sneckumhaw]

Originally Posted by JAUQO III-X

Exactly.

Here's an example.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oV10D9Mp7_8

Very cool technique.