Picking Question

[Tony Clevenger]

Hi all,

I have spent many hours reading through these forums and have learned an incredible amount. Thanks to everyone who is so helpful on here!

On to my question, I have been playing the mandolin for about 3 months. I've played guitar for about 15 years, and since I never had formal lessons, I know I developed some bad habits. I am going to start formal lessons in the next couple of months.

But, I'm worried I may be developing a bad habit that I need to stop. I don't seem to hold my pick the way the books I've read tell me to, or the way I've seen it held in videos. I hold the pick between my thumb and index finger, however my index finger sticks out almost straight, not curled. My other fingers are curled in. So, my hand sticks out further from the strings due to the extended index finger.

This is just the way I always picked on the guitar. Does anyone think this is a problem? Its very comfortable for me, and I can pick much faster this way, but is it limiting me, or will it cause problems in the future as I continue to improve and learn more techniques? I've read some threads on here about things such as planting, where there are folks on both sides, and that may be the case here, or I could be doing something that I need to stop immediately. I am paranoid about bad habits.

Aside from worrying about things I probably shouldn't, I am just LOVING this instrument. I bought a very inexpensive Johnson a few years ago online and threw it in the closet to collect dust as it had horrible fret buzz and wouldn't tune. Just a few months ago, I realized you actually had to set the thing up, so I did, and it sounded good I thought, and played fine. Yesterday I played an Epiphone MM-50 and found it was 100x easier to play, so I left the guitar store with it. I know its just considered a beginners mandolin, so I can't even imagine how well a professional quality instrument plays and sounds. I need to not even touch one for 5-10 years because I have a really bad habit of leaving guitar stores with instruments.

Thanks!

[MT_player]

Glad to hear you are enjoying the mandolin. My suggestion to you is to let tone, volume, and comfort guide your technique. I tend to not think about the mechanics of my hands, instead focus on slow relaxed playing with a loud, rich tone on every note. Don't be distracted by what your hand position looks like, if it sounds good and you're comfortable you're on the right track.

Good luck!

[Jim Broyles]

The only problem with sticking your index finger straight out is that the grip on the pick has less finger/thumb surface contact and as such is precarious for highly animated playing. For quieter picking or strumming, it should not be a problem. I would attempt to get used to pointing your index finger back toward the tailpiece, laying the pick on the first joint and holding it in place with the pad of the thumb. You will probably notice an increase in volume and a fatter tone. The actual grip of the pick, as long as it isn't too tight or too loose is toward the bottom of my order of importance for mandolin playing. You'll see all different grips used by pro and amateur alike, and as long as you can get a nice tone and the volume you want, that should be all you need.

[f#54]

I held the pick the same way when I first started mandolin also, from years of playing guitar...But I have learned that
-It only took 2 or 3 weeks to get a feel for the closed (partial) fist grip
-After that I had a another option available, which seems to work better for me
-The scale length on the guitar makes the strings flex easier
The mando strings are stiff,
-The closer the pick is to the pivot point=more torque.
-The closer the pick is to the pivot point=More speed
-I don't know for sure, but I dont think you will or can develop a good tremelo with your index finger straight out
These are my observations and in no way reflect those of the rest of M.C.;)

[Tony Clevenger]

When I play with my index finger curled, I definitely get more volume and a fuller sound (I think, but it could just be in my head), but I also find the pick slips in my fingers and I have to regrip it, but that may just be the picks I am using. I need to find some decent picks.

I also find it awkward to strum up with my finger curled, as I have to use more wrist than when the finger is extended, but I'm sure that goes away with practice.

Thanks everyone for your replies!

[Rob Gerety]

I made a decision not long ago to develop the classic grip you see recommended all over with a loosely closed hand and the index curled back. I was having a lot of trouble, on mando and guitar, preventing the pick from moving around and working its way out of my hand during long hard picking or strumming tunes. I find the classic grip works best for me and solves the problem I was having. I wish I had learned to use it when I started playing. Would have saved me a bit of a struggle down the road.

[Fred Keller]

I'm definitely not a doctor, but having your forefinger extended as you describe requires the tendon of that finger to be flexed. In other words, your hand is expending some energy to keep it that way whereas in the "closed fist" grip--forefinger curled back--the tendon is naturally relaxed.

The reason that particular pick grip is best for most people is simply that it is the most relaxed position your hand can be in. Extend your fingers or close them tighter and your muscles and tendons start working. In addition, the position you describe seems to me (I could definitely be wrong) to require more movement from fingers to hit the strings while the closed fist uses the wrist to generate movement. Wrist usually trumps fingers for speed, efficiency, and accuracy.

This does not mean you can't make your grip work as others have said. It just means that you may not be starting from a position of maximum rest.