How to Pick a Guitar Properly
Learning how to pick a guitar properly is just as important as learning how to play. Sounds from a guitar are made by picking the strings of a guitar. Sometimes picking is called “plucking”, but you shouldn’t get confused if that term is used, they are all essentially about the same thing. Different ways exist through which you can pick a guitar and they are:
Picking.
Strumming.
Playing.
Sliding.
Sweeping.
In the end what it boils down to regardless of how you do it, is that you need to make the strings vibrate in order to arrive at the sound that you need. When picking a guitar is involved, a lot of vibrations exist. Think for example of the standard style of picking a guitar which means that you have to hold your pick between the flat of your thumb and the side of your index fingers. This can easily be done with your fingers anchored or when they are spread across the pick guard. A lot of people prefer this standard pick style and make use of it when they play the guitar. A number of other people tend to discover that pressing their thumb against the side of a finger may prove rather disconcerting so they opt for an alternate pick position.
One version of the standard style usually involves keeping the remaining fingers placed in a fist. The fist may be loose or tight but that doesn’t matter. No contact will exist between your hands or the guitar, all that will touch is your pick. What some people find troublesome about this picking style is that they tend to easily lose control while they play and the fingers may slip easily.
One other pick style that may be used as well, is one in which the palm rests on the bridge, sometimes behind or at other times in front. You can also have your fingers open or closed in this position. This tends to be very helpful for people who play an electric guitar and would rather avoid feedback.
Another different picking style is called circle picking. With this you hold he pick the same way that you do in the standard style but you move by flexing the first joint in your thumb and your index finger extends past the second joint. You can then slide the pick over the string before crossing it, turning in counterclockwise on the down strokes and clockwise on the upstrokes. You will actually make a circular motion while playing.
These aren’t the only ways that a guitar can be picked, a number of other ways exist and some may have no name. Every guitar player will define their own rhythm and have their feel. When you have discovered a comfortable pick style, then it will be a whole lot easier to play without straining your fingers or wrists and without losing control over the chords and the sound you intend to produce. At this stage you will be a much more confident guitar player.
Darren Williger is a tea drinking, guitar playing, low carbohydrate eating, wine making sales maker who writes for GuitarDetails.com, LearnGuitar.WS, and TopSalesMaker.com.
