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  #16  
Old 04-15-2021, 01:20 PM
Jim Comeaux Jim Comeaux is offline
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Choke up? Actually, I have gone in the other direction. I was using a 351 shape medium Fender pick because, well because that’s what I am used to and what I felt most comfortable with. On a suggestion from my Brother I tried a “heavy” pick. To my surprise, it wasn’t muck of a transition. It all came pretty naturally. I found my self choking down (exposing more pick) and did not experience any loss of control of the pick, slipping and sliding and such. The most notable change, for me at least, is that I now have many fewer fingernails or finger tips accidentally snagging strings at the wrong time and place. I have also noticed that I am playing louder now without any conscious effort to increase the attack or the force used to pick a string.
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  #17  
Old 04-15-2021, 04:08 PM
Dru Edwards Dru Edwards is offline
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I just picked up my pick and that's about the same as I hold it. But, I do shift it and "choke up" less when I'm doing some string muting.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rev Roy View Post
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...



<<snippet pic>>
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  #18  
Old 04-16-2021, 01:01 PM
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Pura Vida Pura Vida is offline
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I hold my pick with my thumb and middle finger, so the grip and angle are a little different. I adjust as I play, depending on the effect I want to achieve, including positioning my index and ring fingers along the side of the pick to provide some additional rigidity.

I'm mostly playing 1.0mm Dunlop Primetone picks.
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  #19  
Old 04-16-2021, 01:28 PM
DukeX DukeX is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wade Hampton View Post
...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...
You just nailed it, Wade.

Last edited by DukeX; 04-16-2021 at 01:35 PM.
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  #20  
Old 04-16-2021, 02:17 PM
Scotso Scotso is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Wade Hampton View Post
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
You can do the same tonal variety with a heavy pick. It is just a slightly different technique. Either way...go with what works for you. There is no correct
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  #21  
Old 04-16-2021, 04:21 PM
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brencat brencat is offline
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I tuck my pointer finger in with the pick resting on the bend of my first digit and clamped down with my thumb. Doesn't move at all this way, and works for flatpicking and strumming. About 2/3 to 3/4 of the pick is covered:


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  #22  
Old 04-16-2021, 04:45 PM
gibpicker gibpicker is offline
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I only choke up if I'm just trying get a base hit. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
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  #23  
Old 04-16-2021, 05:06 PM
Chas007 Chas007 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gibpicker View Post
I only choke up if I'm just trying get a base hit. Sorry, I couldn't help myself.
So only when you're going for the low E string?
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  #24  
Old 04-16-2021, 05:34 PM
Brucebubs Brucebubs is offline
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I'm just glad you spelled the thread title correctly.
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  #25  
Old 04-17-2021, 11:25 AM
Csi_Basel Csi_Basel is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by brencat View Post
I tuck my pointer finger in with the pick resting on the bend of my first digit and clamped down with my thumb. Doesn't move at all this way, and works for flatpicking and strumming. About 2/3 to 3/4 of the pick is covered:


Thats a couple of the clearest pictures I‘ve seen on how to hold a pick properly!
Thanks a lot for sharing.
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  #26  
Old 04-17-2021, 07:03 PM
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Pura Vida Pura Vida is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brucebubs View Post
I'm just glad you spelled the thread title correctly.
I see what you did there.
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