Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: sambo on February 27, 2006, 09:25:50 PM

Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on February 27, 2006, 09:25:50 PM: ok so ive recently discovered that the way i hold a pic really affects my playing. so heres a cr@ppy diagram with the two main methods ive come across: anyone got any others?

in the one on the left- the thumb is at a right angle to the index finger- the index finger is a bit too u-shaped however but you get the idea. this is the method my teacher uses.

in the one on the right, the angle between the thumb and index finger is shallower. also the gap between the two 'shafts' of the thumb and index finger as it were, (not the finger-TIPS where the pic is actually held) is bigger and more circular than in the diagram on the left. basically, in the one on the right, its like your a diving instructor making that "A-O.K" kind of sign- nick you should know what i mean! :P and in the one on the left the thumb is flatter and pressed against the finger much more.

dunno if anyone can actually understand this lol...

anyway anyone have a preference or any other way?
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: Dakine on February 27, 2006, 09:29:30 PM: Yep
I hold it so it don't fall out too often :P and is comfortable.

Sam, you analyse too much.
STOP writing and GO PLAY GUITAR!
:lol:
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on February 27, 2006, 09:30:32 PM: haha!!!! lol analysis is good! i think its cause my brain is too mathematically/technically orientated... i struggle to just 'do'- i have to think about it first.
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: Dakine on February 27, 2006, 09:32:14 PM: Thinking about it too much can make it "strained" and less spontaneous. Actually, thinking about "it" too much can make ya blind LOL
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on February 27, 2006, 09:33:02 PM: hahaah!!! :lol:
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: Dakine on February 27, 2006, 09:37:21 PM: BTW, EVH and cpl. others hold the pick with thumb and first two fingers. And then at times with thumb and middle finger leaving index finger able to pluck strings.
There is No right or wrong way.
Just technique, being comfortable and playing :)
Alternate picking IS however a needed tool, much more so than how the pick is actually held :P
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on February 27, 2006, 09:41:50 PM: really? i didnt know they did that... could be interesting to look into..

i suck at alternate picking- only recently started getting anywhere near a decent technique of it.
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: Elliot on February 27, 2006, 10:06:32 PM: gripping the pick really close to the tip is one of my favourite techniques for cool tone.

While we are on this subject, get into acoustic fingerstyle, go and see an old master like Davey Graham or some classical genius like John Williams and you will understand that the right hand is more important than the left for the production of tone.
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on February 27, 2006, 10:07:51 PM: yer holding the pick closer to the tip is cool. might have to check out some of those acoustic peeps you mentioned.
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: Dakine on February 27, 2006, 10:13:09 PM: I remember a Prince's Trust Concert at Knebworth on TV once.
At the end they came back onstage one by one.
When Clapton came on he had all the backing singers/chicks hanging round him.
Then Mark Knopfler came on and started playing with all 5 fingers on his right hand. You could see the women look at him, jaws dropping, then Clapton was ABANDONED post haste and they clung to Mark LOL.
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: Elliot on February 27, 2006, 10:13:20 PM: Well Davey Graham's The Complete Guitarist is just awesome - he did the Irish fiddle thing (which is like shred in the acoustic world) long before everyone else and is still the master.

You do have to like the diddly diddly irish thing though.
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: Dakine on February 27, 2006, 10:15:55 PM: Try ALL sorts Sam.
I still use my fingers as well as pick at times (my teacher thinks I am crazy/odd at this point lol, but encourages me).
It's a hangup from playing bass for years. I never really used a pick with bass. Could use all my right hand fingers and play faster than with a pick and got great tone to boot.
Dunno think I can play "slap" style with the guitars to well though LOL
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: indysmith on February 27, 2006, 10:23:56 PM: Quote from: Dakine
BTW, EVH and cpl. others hold the pick with thumb and first two fingers. And then at times with thumb and middle finger leaving index finger able to pluck strings.

I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST ME THAT DID THIS. i feel somewhat reassured now...this is how i hold a pen aswell, haha
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on February 27, 2006, 10:29:26 PM: lol when you say you use your fingers- you mean you actually use it like a bassist does or like you finger-pick eric clapton tears in heaven style? im gonna check out that diddly diddly thing lol- sounds wicked.

and indy.... YOU FREAK! its so weird how people hold pens like that lol...
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: Guitarzan on February 28, 2006, 02:15:29 AM: I hold my pic with my thumb at a right angle, I don't know why.

I have a good video of Eddie's picking style on my Myspace.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=46415945
He holds the pick with his thumb and middle finger, you get a really good view of it in the vid. Plus he somehow gets it to sit in between the joints on his middle finger when he does his tap solo.

Just my $.02
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: Guitarzan on February 28, 2006, 02:15:48 AM: I hold my pic with my thumb at a right angle, I don't know why.

I have a good video of Eddie's picking style on my Myspace.
www.myspace.com/therealjoecool
He holds the pick with his thumb and middle finger, you get a really good view of it in the vid. Plus he somehow gets it to sit in between the joints on his middle finger when he does his tap solo.

Just my $.02
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: Guitarzan on February 28, 2006, 02:16:33 AM: I hold my pic with my thumb at a right angle, I don't know why.

I have a good video of Eddie's picking style on my Myspace.
www.myspace.com/therealjoecool
He holds the pick with his thumb and middle finger, you get a really good view of it in the vid. Plus he somehow gets it to sit in between the joints on his middle finger when he does his tap solo.

Just my $.02
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: WITH FULL DISTORTION on February 28, 2006, 08:29:12 PM: AHAhaHAhaH SAMBO, that diagram is as cr@py as a butt full of shites
ahaahahahahah but i got your idea
i have a hybrid style

(http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/7257/dsc036634lx.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)

(http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/2586/dsc036620hh.th.jpg) (http://img522.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dsc036620hh.jpg)
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on February 28, 2006, 08:57:33 PM: lol yer i know that diagram was sh*t lol. ahhh i see thats an interesting way.... is it just that you find that easier/more natural?
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: WITH FULL DISTORTION on February 28, 2006, 10:46:20 PM: No, my first guitar teacher played that way... i just followed him
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: donovan.x on February 28, 2006, 10:57:16 PM: I have got to hold my pick tip to string, much heavier attack and sound!
And yeah LOL I always hide my pick in the joints of my fingers, I do as much finger picking as I do anything else.
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: maliciousteve on February 28, 2006, 11:05:29 PM: I pick with my thumb and index finger pretty near the tip of the pick. It gives me more control and accuracy that way. Plus i use Jazz III picks which are gods gift :D
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on February 28, 2006, 11:12:11 PM: lol... how do you hide it in your joints?

and what are those jazz pics? yer i hold it similar to you steve- both index and thumb near the tip - at the same point. kinda thing. like the diagram one.- (ish).
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: WITH FULL DISTORTION on February 28, 2006, 11:14:57 PM: i´m using a perfect DUNLOP pic right now, but i can´t see what gauge it is
Q:/
i know that i can see a turtle, and a name tortex.
don´t know if it´s a 1,73 or .73mm
i want to know if someone uses the same pick, and what model is it exactly.
malicious steve, i ´ve noticed that when we use thick picks, it increases the VOLUME , but, you have to weaken your way to pick the strings...
ii preffer to pick it strongly, but not grotesque, ahahah and use a medium thickness pick.
otherwise, i´ll embarass myself on the playing.
i´m always experimenting with picks.
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on February 28, 2006, 11:19:07 PM: my favourite picks are the ridiculous triangular fender ones- anyone else seen/used these? get a really thin guage one and they are simply unbeatable for chord strumming (apart from stuff like metal where you need aggressive pick attack)- they're huge and so easy to hold... theyre jsut awesome.

thing is i have this thing where i always chew my picks and if its a thin guage they get manky and then snap.... :evil: but i cant help it... whenever i see a pic i always chew it non-stop- its instinctive.
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: donovan.x on February 28, 2006, 11:27:48 PM: The best picks ever are the Ibanez "Satch" graphic ones!!! They were perfect at everything!!!
And I always hide it in the joints of my "stinky finger" excuse the phrase!
Then I have P,I and A ready for a spanish bridge section 8)
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on February 28, 2006, 11:30:14 PM: ok i lost you after 'sticky finger'
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: donovan.x on February 28, 2006, 11:45:19 PM: P.I.M.A ,Thats your fingers dude!
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on February 28, 2006, 11:48:52 PM: m= middle
i=index?
p=pinky?
a= WTF?!?!?!?!?

confused?
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: donovan.x on February 28, 2006, 11:53:36 PM: For some reason...P-Thumb, I ,Index, M.. middle and A, ring finger, I knew why once but...Where am I, who are you? :D :lol: :lol:
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on February 28, 2006, 11:58:51 PM: hahaha lol.... ok i get it now....
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: Elliot on March 01, 2006, 11:07:40 AM: Its Spanish:

P = Pulgar = Thumb
I = Indice = Index
M = Medio = Middle
A = Anular = Ring
C = Chico = Little
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on March 01, 2006, 03:59:10 PM: ahhhhhhhhhh ok, cheers elliot.
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: hobleguitars on March 01, 2006, 07:21:53 PM: I use Gibson regular-shaped Thins, as they're made of this wierd material I love, that no other plectrum I've tried seems to offer. They snap after an hour or two, but are well worth it in my opinion for the feel. I hold the plectrum near the tip with the ends of my thumb and forefinger, sliding it down for tapping and fingerstyle patterns, so fairly conventially (I think).
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on March 01, 2006, 07:34:39 PM: i see. never heard of these gibson thin thingies....

yer i think you hold a pic similar to me....
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: truman on March 07, 2006, 08:56:49 PM: sam jsut shut up, how does it afffect ur playin ur amazin!
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: indysmith on March 07, 2006, 09:26:13 PM: i use a steve vai signature pick i found on the floor once. If i can't find that i use anything similar - its pretty much standard shape and thickness anyways
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: sambo on March 07, 2006, 10:26:18 PM: haha truman... im nothing compared to people on here!!

i need to get a couple of big flappy fender triangular pics- theyre my favourite- they're sooooo cool...
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: Muzzzz on March 10, 2007, 09:46:14 AM: My picking style is very firmly retarded, my thumb actually rests on my middle index finger joint, with my other 3 fingers open, but it's actually very good for the alternate picking stuff. EVH and Steve Morse are living proof that you can shred with just about ANY picking style...

(http://www.speaker-mag.de/photo/Deep_Purple/Steve_Morse_8_02_10.jpg)
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: froglord on March 10, 2007, 11:29:20 AM: I use these picks:

http://www.awe-in-one.com/

Gimmicky? Maybe, but they give you great control over dynamics, force you into a consistent gripping position (ya listening, Sambo?), grip like nobody's business, and have the perfect point for picking definition.

You've also got three different thickness points to choose from on the same pick, plus a lumpy bit that makes your strumming more jangly.

I like the Jazz III reds too, but the Awe-In-Ones are the mutt's nuts.
Title: pcking technique/style?
Post by: noodleplugerine on March 10, 2007, 01:37:04 PM: I use Pickboys, the ones with the raised dotted grip.

Prefer the plastic ones to the ceramics, but the plastic ones are so damn hard to find.