Holding pick too tight causing unwanted tension?

[espm1000]

I recently figured out that I am holding my pick really tight after talking to Joe Stump at a master class I took. Could holding the pick that tight limit speed, control, and cause unwanted tension in your elbow/forearm since everything is connected?

[Padawan]

Of course, just hold the pick how you always do and feel your tendon and muscles with your other hand. If there's tension it means that you use to much pressure. In fact, you don't need any pressure at all, if your pick slips away you have to change the way you hold it.

[DracWell]

I just learned how to hold my pick with a less tighter grip, but I haven't figured out how to pick hard without holding the pick too hard. Feels like my body (mind?) is working against itself.

[Padawan]

For me, angling the pick was the key. I would no longer accidently pick with the side of the pick and it would not slip away anymore. I also think that it gave me more control and allows me to pick harder. (and faster!)

[smallbusrider]

Hard is a relative term...firm is more like it. Grip onto the pick just firmly enough that it does not "give" between your finger and thumb when you pluck a string. Generally,the thicker the pick, the more firmly you need to hold it. If a pick can bend it takes some of the stress off of your finger and thumb by "soaking up" the energy created when plucking a string . A thicker pick transfers more of the energy to the finger and thumb because it will not give. Hope that helps.

[oRg]

I hold my pick just firm enough to make usre it doesn't fall to the floor. Once your able to do this without thinking about it is when things really start opening up complexity-wise. After switching the way I was picking I now can do some decently fast string-skipping licks with ease and without having to look at my hands.

For rhythm I angle the pick, but when I play lead I try to keep the pick flat, mainly because when I sweep I taned to keep the pick very flat. This way I can easily go from sweeping to AP, back to sweeping again.