How To Hold A Guitar Pick Correctly - Music To Your Home

If you are just starting to learn guitar, you may not be aware that how you hold the pick matters.

While beginner guitarists may not feel the need to use a pick right off the bat, playing with one and learning how to use it is helpful and recommended. 

In fact, learning how to hold a guitar pick properly is a vital technique that every beginner guitarist should master. Holding the pick the right way will make playing the strings easier.

But if your grip is too loose or too tight, creating the proper sound will be a challenge. Mastering the guitar at any age does require learning chords, but before you jump into the strum, make sure you understand how to hold a guitar and a pick properly.

Even if your fingers are not in the right place, utilizing the proper holding technique for your pick will create a better sound.

Taking guitar lessons from a professional is the best way to learn the proper pick-holding technique.

Many times, self-taught guitar players have developed improper habits for holding their pick. For example, when a guitar player is losing their pick time and time again while strumming, improper pick-holding technique is often to blame.

So, is there a correct way to hold a guitar pick? Definitely! This article will outline how to choose the right pick for you and go through the steps of learning how to hold a guitar pick correctly.

We’ll also provide some tips for changing up your grip to find what’s most comfortable for you.

Choosing the Best Guitar Pick for Beginners

Choosing the right guitar pick begins with understanding the different types of guitar picks since different picks are used in different ways.

First, thinner guitar picks are best for strumming, while thicker picks are used for lead guitar rhythms, electric guitar (for solos), and bass guitar.

There are also “in-the-middle” picks that are not thin but not too thick. These are often the best guitar picks for beginners because they’re not flexible enough to slip in your hands, but not so thick that they catch your guitar strings.

There are different materials used for guitar picks.

You can get a pick that is plastic, metal, or even rubber and each type of material will produce a slightly different sound. In general the stiffer the material the deeper the tone, the more flexible the material, the higher the tone. 

Picks also come in different sizes. The size pick you need will most likely depend on the size of your hand. Experimenting with different sizes, materials, and thicknesses is the best way to find the right guitar pick for you.

Picks aren’t expensive, so try a variety to see what you like. There is no wrong choice for which pick you choose to play with. It is more a matter of which pick feels best in your hands, helps you feel more relaxed, and gives you the sound, strumming, and picking effects you desire.

Keep in mind that flexibility will be most important for learning picking and alternate picking techniques, so a thinner pick that has more bend is often a great choice. Flexible picks are also more forgiving than thicker picks, so if you pull or strum too hard, you don’t risk breaking it.

How to Hold a Guitar Pick Correctly

The pick’s appearance sometimes gives beginning guitarists the wrong impression of how it should be held.

The term “pick” seems to indicate that you should pull the string upwards from underneath it, which would mean you want a firm grip on the pick. However, that is not the proper technique for picking.

Instead, you should approach the strings with your pick from an angle. The force will have a better balance if you’re holding the pick at a decent angle when you strike the string. 

Here are four things to keep in mind:

1. Your grip should be just firm enough to keep the pick from falling out of your hand. A lighter grip will help your arm stay relaxed.
2. The placement of your thumb on the pick is key. The pick should come out from the side of your thumb, never the tip.
3. Start by holding the pick close to its tip. This will give you more control as you practice and get the feel of using a pick.
4. Remember to move the pick by flicking your wrist up and down, not your fingers.