The Acoustic Guitar Forum

The Acoustic Guitar Forum (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/index.php)
-   General Acoustic Guitar Discussion (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=24)
-   -   How much do you choke up on your pick? (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=612869)

Chas007 04-14-2021 04:43 PM

How much do you choke up on your pick?
 
How far do you allow your pick to stick out past the edge of your thumb?
Do you hold it differently for strumming than you do for picking?

DukeX 04-14-2021 04:49 PM

I'm always shifting the pick, depending on the piece I'm playing.

B. Adams 04-14-2021 04:52 PM

Back when I used thin picks, I'd choke up on them a lot when doing anything but strumming. Eventually I realized that such a thin pick was hurting my technique and tone and I went to much thicker picks. It was a bit of a learning curve, but now I don't need to change finger position on my pick depending on what I'm playing. A thicker pick also plays and sounds better for me.

I probably hold the pick about halfway down.

Rev Roy 04-14-2021 05:27 PM

I use a thin pick so I choke up a bit when picking and back off a bit when strumming. Tiny adjustments. So natural for me now I don’t even notice I’m doing it...

https://i.postimg.cc/Y9bh0k02/8-D103...449-E599-C.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/D00mbD4r/98119-...321-B103-C.jpg

s2y 04-14-2021 06:00 PM

I don't expose much of the tip. I can pick directly over a Strat middle pickup without hitting it.

Rudy4 04-14-2021 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B. Adams (Post 6690790)
Back when I used thin picks, I'd choke up on them a lot when doing anything but strumming. Eventually I realized that such a thin pick was hurting my technique and tone and I went to much thicker picks. It was a bit of a learning curve, but now I don't need to change finger position on my pick depending on what I'm playing. A thicker pick also plays and sounds better for me.

I probably hold the pick about halfway down.

Ditto this. It's exactly what I would have written.

Large triangle Primetone 1.4mm smooth picks make my life easier.

rstaight 04-14-2021 06:42 PM

Can't move around much with a thumb pick. But when I'm using a flat pick I'm all over.

srbell 04-14-2021 07:24 PM

It depends on what/how I'm playing. Sometimes choked up, sometimes not. Grip is sometimes tight, loose, or anything in between. I'll use the pointy end of the pick and also the more rounded top corners of the pick. All of these things affect the tone and I change what I'm doing as needed while playing to change the tone and dynamics. I've found that pick material, thickness, and technique can change the sound of your guitar even more than different strings, and will allow you to do so on the fly.

Wade Hampton 04-14-2021 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DukeX (Post 6690786)
I'm always shifting the pick, depending on the piece I'm playing.

Same here. As there’s been a general migration to heavier gauge picks, there’s been a corresponding loss of pick choking and loosening techniques. But with light, medium and medium-heavy picks, there’s just SO much tonal variety that can be found simply in the way and the places you hold the pick.

Hope that makes sense.


whm

guitar george 04-14-2021 07:53 PM

For strumming I use a light pick with only about 1/4 of the pick sticking out beyond my index finger. Unfortunately, I often find that the pick slides around in my fingers and I have to adjust it when it gets out of place which is not always easy to do while strumming.

Ray175 04-15-2021 01:57 AM

Strumming, I leave quite a lot of the pick exposed. For picking, and particularly fast runs I leave very little exposed and angle the pick at about 30° in relation to a line parallel with the strings -this way the pick encounters less resistance and faster, more accurate picking is easier.

beatcomber 04-15-2021 05:23 AM

Not only do I adjust my grip depending on the desired tone, I also slightly rotate how parallel the pick surface is to the strings.

guitararmy 04-15-2021 06:11 AM

For lead work, I barely have the tip exposed (good for pinch harmonics on the electric stuff)
For strumming, about 1/3 exposed. I still drop picks a lot!

rokdog49 04-15-2021 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rev Roy (Post 6690812)
I use a thin pick so I choke up a bit when picking and back off a bit when strumming. Tiny adjustments. So natural for me now I don’t even notice I’m doing it...

https://i.postimg.cc/Y9bh0k02/8-D103...449-E599-C.jpg

https://i.postimg.cc/D00mbD4r/98119-...321-B103-C.jpg

About like this.

fazool 04-15-2021 07:00 AM

Im primarily a fingertip player so when I use a pick I choke way up and actually have a style that uses my fingertips to control/mute the strings depending on what Im playing. sort of like palm muting with my fingers while picking (hard to describe)


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:58 AM.

Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum

vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=