Place your non-dominant “fingering hand” along the neck of the guitar, with your thumb holding the back of the neck and your fingers resting on the strings. The strings should face away from you, roughly perpendicular to the ground. Rest the body of the guitar on your knee, or use a shoulder strap to play standing up. Rest your arm on the top of the guitar–the curved ridge along the narrowest edge of the body–and swing your hand down to rest on the strings. If you’re using an acoustic guitar, rest your fingers on the strings over the hold; if you’re using an electric guitar, rest your fingers on the strings between the last fret and the pickup bar.
Use the “O” method. Hold the pick between the pad of your thumb and the side of your index finger, and form your fingers into an elongated “O” shape. This grip balances control and tone. Use the “pinch” method. Hold the pick between the pad of your thumb and the pad of your index finger. This method may be best for those who use thinner-gauge picks and spend most of their time strumming. Use the “fist” method. Hold the pick between the first joint of your thumb (below the pad) and the side of your curled index finger, near the first joint. This method is often favored by bluegrass players, and it may be best for heavy picks. [1] X Research source
Be fluid, and don’t grip your pick too hard. You need to be loose and flexible with all of your motions. If you are too rigid, your picking will sound rigid and off rhythm, too. [2] X Research source When you strum, you may keep your wrist fairly rigid as you brush the pick across the strings. Ultimately, finger-and-wrist technique is only a tool to enable you to play fluidly. When you find a method that feels comfortable, build upon it.
You can strum up-down (high, thin strings to low, thick strings) or down-up (low, thick strings to high, thin). You can strum any section of strings (say, 2-4, or open G to open E) for the desired effect. Try holding certain strings to form chords when you strum. The strum is a versatile part of any guitar player’s repertoire, and the better you get, the cleaner your strums will get. Make sure to hold down strings tightly when you finger notes and chords, and don’t be discouraged if your chords come out muted and sloppy at first. Build your finger strength and keep practicing. Again: thinner picks generally make for a gentler, quieter strum, and thicker picks generally generate a heavier, more powerful strum.
You can keep a chord formed with your non-dominant hand on the neck of the guitar, then pick a single note–or several notes in succession–from that chord. Try maintaining chord “forms” when transitioning between strums and plucks so that you don’t need to shift your non-dominant hand so dramatically. Plucking a note makes it more distinct. Especially on acoustic instruments, you may not be able to achieve the same volume or “weight” with a pluck that you can on an electric instrument. Use plucks to make space between your strums.
Thin picks usually range from 0. 40 to 0. 60 mm. They are best-suited for acoustic strumming, and other situations when you want a treble-heavy tone. Thin picks are often used to fill in the rhythms and mid-range in rock, pop, and country songs; however, they lack the heft for rock rhythm and lead. Medium picks range from 0. 60 to 0. 80 mm. This is the most popular pick thickness: it’s a good combination of stiffness and flexibility that works equally well for acoustic rhythms and powerful leads. Medium picks aren’t ideal for zingy strumming nor powerful lead lines, but they are versatile. Heavier picks–really, anything thicker than 0. 80 mm–generate a heavier sound. At the lower end of this range, you’ll still have enough flexibility for crunchy rhythms, but you’ll also have the firmness you need for full-bodied chord arpeggios and fat lead lines. At the thicker end of this range, above 1. 5 mm, you’ll get increasingly cleaner, mellower, warmer tones. Your sound will become deeper more bottom-heavy: the thickest picks, from 1. 5 to 3 mm, are used by jazz and metal guitarists.
You may also find heavier rubber or metal picks that are designed for practicing or for specific styles of playing. Consider using a metal pick for a higher-pitched sound, or a rubber pick for a thicker, heavier sound. If you aren’t sure, try out a few styles of pick before you commit. You can find guitar picks at most music stores, certain music-culture boutiques, and online. Try out friends’ picks and note the thickness, brand, and material. Figure out what works for you: a pick is a personal choice.
If you try to play with a pick and then switch over to finger-picking later on, it may take you anywhere from a few weeks to a few months to regain the level of dexterity that you’re used to. Consider starting out with finger-picking if you think that you’ll switch at some point. Use the pads of your fingers to pick upward (high strings to low), and use the nails of your fingers to pick down (low strings to high). Use several fingers to strum for a fuller sound. Practice, practice, practice. If you are committed to learning to finger-pick, don’t “cheat” and use a plastic pick. Take every opportunity that you can to improve your technique. Play riffs and songs slowly, all the way through, and build your speed. When you become quicker and more confident in your finger-picking practice, try plucking two strings at once–or even three. Use your fingers to develop complex melodies.
