It’s time to get picky

Posted by admin on 01 July 2008

Today I want to discuss a tool that will become your finger’s best friend as you begin playing your guitar… the pick!

A guitar pick is a small flat tool that you used to strum the guitar. You should purchase a minimum of ten guitar picks and they are relatively cheap.

There are different types of guitar picks but it is best to start with one that is not too hard or too flimsy. Picks are made of rubber, wood, stone, plastic, tortoiseshell, and metal and they are usually in the shape of a triangle (but other shapes are available from manufacturers).

Once you have a guitar pick and are seated in the proper position, you can begin strumming the guitar. Your picking hand will be nearest the bridge of your guitar. You should open up the hand you will be picking or “strumming” the guitar with. The palm should face you.

Then make sure the thumb is next to the index finger. Make sure that you rotate the hand so the knuckle of the thumb is facing toward you. With your free hand you should slide in the guitar pick between your index finger and thumb. That way, the pick is secure. The pick should end up behind the thumb’s knuckle.

You should hold the pick firmly and the pointed portion of the pick should be pointing away from your fist and should be sticking out about ½ inch. The hand you are strumming with should be over the sound hole if you are using an acoustic guitar or over the guitar body if you are using an electric guitar. Your strumming hand should be placed above the strings.

Your picking hand should not sit on the body or strings of the guitar. Using your wrist, not your arm, strum the lowest string downward. If the string rattles too much, do not use a lot of the pick surface or strum softer. Then pick the lowest string upwards.

Try this a few times. Try to lower the motion of your picking hand by doing a short pick downwards and a short pick upwards. Now repeat the process with the rest of the strings.

Remember that holding the pick might feel strange at first and you should concentrate on your picking hand when you begin practicing the guitar. Your downstrokes and your upstrokes should sound the same.

While I do my best to provide you with valuable insights to get you playing your guitar like a rockstar - if you wish to take it to the next level, with a multimedia program that will have you jamming along to ALL of your favorite songs FAST, I highly recommend the incredible Jamorama: