When most players are starting out they will be using a pick or plectrum to play the guitar. Although there are slight differences in how the guitar pick is held from player to player, generally it is held between the thumb and index finger.
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| Pick is held between thumb & index finger |
Index finger curls to avoid strings
player “chokes-up” on a pick the more control one will have – i.e. the less of the point of the pick a player uses the easier the pick is to control. This is especially true when playing single notes as opposed to chord strumming.
Choking-up on the pick
Not choking-up on the pick
Another consideration to mention regarding “Pick Basics” is how the pick is held in conjunction with the rest of the hand. There are three formations that the hand will generally take when playing: the fan, fist or cup. First, in the fan formation the fingers which are not holding the pick (middle, ring and pinky) are outstretched and slightly bent at the second knuckle to create a relaxed hand. This formation takes its name from the outstretched fingers mimicking the “guard-sticks” of a hand fan. Second, the fist formation has the remaining fingers actually “tucked” into the hand as if making a fist. Third, the cupped formation is somewhere between the fan and fist, as the remaining fingers curl-up to “cup” the hand.
Fan
Fist
Cup
The hand formation a player adopts seems to be of natural occurrence. I have experimented with all three and favor the fan or cupped formation as my hand feels relaxed and the weight more evenly distributed throughout. Conversely, the fist formation feels “heavier” or “awkward” and my hand tends to tense-up. Needless say, with my students I tend to stress extending the fingers outward in a relaxed manner when playing.
I hope this has provided some food for thought as next month we’ll be continuing with more building blocks to be covered in the first lesson.
