Pick slippage

[Rock_Rocket]

Hi there,

when playing, I often have to struggle with an annoying problem. I use to play chromatic exercises to improve my picking technique and though I pay much attention to my right hand, trying to use equal strength for both up- and downstrokes, floating my right hand and picking from the wrist, the pick keeps turning inwards (did I just invent this word? :D) or falls to the floor. This is really annoying and keeps my exercises from being effective quite a bit.

Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Rock_Rocket

:)

[Koala]

Hey Rock, well, im not sure if it slips because of sweat or if it simply slides inwards. If is just slips i say you simply try to give your pick a firm enough hold so that it doesn´t slide out of it´s attack angle. If it´s due to sweat try to find picks that have a good grip on them.
Actually if it´s any of the two i recommend next time you go to the store you try all sorts of picks, choose 5 you like and buy them. Play them for a while and see which ones feel good to your hand, help your playing and give your tone the colour you like.
In my case, i always play elecrtic with Jim Dunlop Nylon Heavy, the black ones, i love their feel and their grip.

[Danster]

Hey there Rock,
I used to have the same problem. It was solved to some degree by buying picks that were textured. Cool Picks was the brand I liked best. The problem was solved totally when I started using the side of the pick to pick with instead of the pointy end. Not only did it solve the pick sliding problem, I liked both the feel and the sound of it.
Good luck!
Dan

[Bongo Boy]

Dunlop Gator Grip is also a nice pick. I like it because it's very stiff, but the porcelain texture is pretty cool too. It might help you.

[Wyll_Watts]

if you really like the tone of a certain pick but the texture isn't right and it keeps slipping out of your hand, give it some texture yourself! grab a piece of sandpaper or a razorblade and scratch up the surface to give it a nice textue to improve grip.. test out different amounts of scratching till you find a texture you like.. all my picks get the sandpaper treatment just because of my body chemistry and sweat and stuff..

Wyll

[Bizarro]

If the pick is turning inwards you may be holding it in a strange manner. This could be completely separate from a normal "slippage" issue.

I'd take a close look at the mechanics of your picking and check for anything strange. One thing to try is to hold the pick normally but a bit looser than normal. Play through some patterns and see if the pick tends to slip clockwise or counterclockwise.

I've seen people that like to have the "pointy end of the pick" point towards the bridge just a little bit. The friction from alternate picking usually nudges it a bit more and after awhile the pick really point towards the bridge, and eventually can slip out.