Pick control

[sboneill]

Howdy folks, I have recently started experiencing a floppy pick when I am chopping chords. My melody playing is fine but the picks moves around and up and down when I am chopping. I like to keep the pick as loose as I can and have not had this problem before but it is really gettin under my skin.

I have tried different picks, open hand -vs- closed hand. I feal as though I am really relaxed in my hand and my arm and all the way up to my shoulders.

Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated

-Scott

[Celtic Saguaro]

Make sure the side edge of your thumb is even with the side edge of your finger as you hold the pick. #If they are out of line, the pick can move around.

[John Flynn]

I think this is something most of us struggle with. I am no expert, but here is MHO: The mantra of "keep the pick grip loose" should always be followed with "consistent with maintaining control of the pick." You should use as much tension as you need, and then through practice, work on needing less and less tension. You will eventually develop "balance" in your grip that will allow you to play as hard as you want with a loose grip. BTW, the pick should move up and down and you move down and up. It should not move "around."

Some will recommend grip aids like sticky stuff and holes in the pick, but I worry that may "band-aid" the problem and not force a person to learn that "balance." But each to one's own.

[Andrew Lewis]

I agree with Mando Johnny entirely. I was just doing my "picking along with songs session" and experienced my first "Oops - almost dropped my pick" moment. For me, it was a triumph as I have been trying to keep it loose throughout a long period of jamming. This "loose pick moment" came after a lot of jamming. And here's my point: I was playing well all the way until the end with good tone. Consider this post a thumbs up for the loose grip, but the balance Johnny's referring to comes with time. Just don't start white-knuckling the pick...

[sboneill]

Thx for the suggestions. It's funny I have been playing for a while now and have never had this problem. I have always made it a point to not white knuckle it. As I said my melody playing is fine nice and loose all the way up the arm. That includes the pick.

Celtic Saguaro suggested something that made me think I have my pick just enough of at an angle when I am chopping that it moves around a bit. I have spent the last few days working on the way I attack the strings as well as making sure I work from the wrist and not the elbow. So far so could.

I will tell that standing in front of a mirror helps you see it from a different perspective.

Best Regards, - S

[Andrew Lewis]

I will tell that standing in front of a mirror helps you see it from a different perspective.
Amen to that. The mirror is great for keeping an eye on your technique. If my RH looks like Thile or Monroe's, I'm feeling good...

[jmcgann]

I hold onto about 90% of the pick, which is lots of surface tension that allows for a "loose grip". I have a small part of the shoulder sticking out (I don't use the point). Your knuckes shouldn't turn white as you hold the pick.

I used to have trouble with the pick slipping around in hot weather, and I'd crosshatch some lines with a sharp pointy object in the center of the pick (don't get too close to the playing edges).

All this is detailed in the Sound Fundamentals DVD that will be released this week...