Mike Compton's pick grip

[Mike Bromley]

Gotta love the old pfithwang!

Has a nice ring to it, huh?

[Mike Bunting]

Has a nice ring to it, huh?

Oh, yeah.

[re simmers]

I can see a real advantage to this grip. It makes sense. But I can't seem to pick the fast fiddle tunes with this grip. The pick tends to want to spin around. I thought about using "liquid nails" but I can't coordinate the caulking gun with my left hand.
Any tips?

Bob

[Mike Snyder]

Just put that tube of adhesive in yer bench vise and crank her down 'til it pops, then sop up the gravy. The pick grip thing, I've got smallish hands and the MC grip moves me away from the "sweet spot". It does enhance tone and volume, so it's a trade off. My real problem is arthritis in the index finger first joint. That tight bend gets painful.

[Andrew B. Carlson]

This was a great thread to happen upon. This grip improved my sound. With time, my hand will stop trying to go back to the old way. This has also helped my knuckle dragging quite a bit! I'm sure glad I have a big TAD Blue Chip though. A normal teardrop wouldn't have fit that well.

[Miss Lonelyhearts]

"He told me it was like strumming with your thumb, or a thumbpick and the 1st finger was mostly an anchor to keep the pick steady." As a long-time banjo picker, I like the mental image this gives me. Now off to go try it.

[Crabgrass]

The MC grip is pretty much what I stumbled on first.... But here's a funny. When I read the first post in this thread, I misread "ball of the thumb" to mean the base of the thumb, where it meets the palm Now you want volume? Try that 'un! Not very practical though, sort of like playing with an amputation.

I do wonder why they don't make picks a whole lot bigger, longer, and fatter. Seems like it would allow you to brace the pick more firmly (which gives volume) with less strain on the old joints.

[Bob Bronow]

So glad I stumbled upon this thread! After trying "the grip" I noticed an immediate improvement in tone clarity and control. Makes me want to play for the rest of the day!

[Pete Braccio]

Add me to the list of converts. Wow! I can't believe the difference in tone.

However, I'm having a he'll of a time playing rhythm with this grip. I'm hoping that will come in time.