pick practice

[Pillgrimm13]

ive been playing for 20+ years and since i started ive always finger picked or slapped rarely if ever using a pick. in the band im currently in i think im gonna have to use a pick because of the speed of the music.
when i pick my timing is off and it dosent feel natural, anybody have any practicing tips to improve my skill speed and timing with a pick?

[mwesth]

Don't squeeze the pick too tight, and let your wrist and fingers do the work. AND check out Carol Kayes website The Official Carol Kaye Web Site, you'll find a lot of tips and tricks.
Good luck!

[jgroh]

Play all the songs you play now but only with a pick. I keep the pick parallel to the string and try to get the maximum effect with the least amount of work.

[ChasBass]

The Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin will give you a good challenge.
I use it for a quick warm up.

[AmadeusXeno]

Every time I learn a new technique I always start with the basics. Bust out the metronome and practice your scales and other riffs. Where you already know how to play you'll learn how to get that pick working in no time.

[carlthegroover]

Try to hold the pick between the thumb and index fingers, leaving the least amount possible of the tip exposed. And don't squeeze it. If you do this properly you'll find you can control your strumming way better. Otherwise, you'll feel like the pick is flailing all over.

Strum the strings with the flat part of the pick, and don't be afraid of picking a bit harder.

Practices your downstrokes and upstrokes. First just do quarter notes of downstrokes and then change to quarter notes of upstrokes. When you feel comfy, alternate downstrokes and upstrokes. Once you master it, go for eighth notes.
The sound quality of each type of stroke is different, and you may wanna use that to your advantage. Also, in fast songs with a lot of eighth/sixteen notes, you'll find the alternate strumming is way less demanding than just one way.

I find that a good way to stabilize your strumming hand when picking is to rest your hand on the bridge. That way you can palm-mute the strings easily.

Oh, and along the same line, be aware of muting strings that are not used, mostly with your fretting hand.

[mcblahflooper94]

You dont need to use a pick. Do what I do:Flamenco strumming.
Flamenco strumming is going back and forth with your finger, much like a pick. In stead of just pulling on direction, you can go back and forth. Imagine a broom. Back & forth... Back and forth
Do this with one finger at first, build up speed and control. Then try two, then go to 3.... Etc
I'm still trying to master two.
Who ever said you needed a pick? (: