Weak 'picking' fingers

[ReinierK]

Hi,

I seem to struggle with my 'picking fingers'.. It feels like they are too weak to hold the pick firmly, without over-stressing them...

It's weird, but it's an important quetion for me, since it's one of the reasons that I'm not very accurate at playing guitar...

Any advice? I tried to hold it with 3 fingers, but my hands are way too large for that...

Also, I seem to hit the strings with my thumb a lot, because I can't hold the pick much higher (I use yellow tortexes, so they're not very small!)

[oRg]

Try a smaller pick like a Dunlop Jazz III.

[AlivArmageddawn]

If you are beginner it is important that you should use thinner pick for starting point (0.5mm) -because it is easy to hold and grip. Don't play lead right away, you should concentrate on playing rhythm (chord or strum). When you are overcomfortable (I mean you dont ever think about it...you just grab it on!), then gradually increase for thicker pick when you can play the rhythm easily (the rhythm you play, should have a good tone and perfection before you can called it 'easy' -for instance, if you want to be metal musician you should know how the metal sound should be aren't you?..heavy metal groove, thrashing, palm muted death riffing, fast strum black metal...and a lot more to learn)
When you ready for playing lead, try to alternate pick fast on one string (down up down up -keep going...). Then the process going until you get to more and more thick pick (it should be thicker pick if you want to play lead -1.0mm:normal). I hope this help (and understand hehe...)

[ReinierK]

I should have mentioned that I play for over 8 years already...
And since I'm more into Jeff Buckley / Muse style, I don't want to use ajazz pick, because imo it doesn't strum very nicely...

Plus, they are small and that's one of my problems...

[AlivArmageddawn]

Oh is that so. Use Fender pick (quite easy to find doesn't it?). It's white and big. Omiya pick (I don't think this popular). It's black and big. I used to have both. Lighter pick will bend easily and it's easy to strum but playing lead, it will easily broken the pick...

[forgottenking2]

I don't know how you're holding your pick, and since you've been playing for 8 years this sugestion may be too obvious so if it is disregard it.

Hold the pick so there's only a little bit sticking out of your hand. If you've gotten used to playing with the pick sticking out a lot this may feel ackward at first (and you might hit your fingers against the strings) but keep at it. It'll force you to improve accuracy and your fingers will have a much better grip on the pick.

I hope this helps.

[perth]

Hi,

I seem to struggle with my 'picking fingers'.. It feels like they are too weak to hold the pick firmly, without over-stressing them...

It's weird, but it's an important quetion for me, since it's one of the reasons that I'm not very accurate at playing guitar...

Any advice? I tried to hold it with 3 fingers, but my hands are way too large for that...

Also, I seem to hit the strings with my thumb a lot, because I can't hold the pick much higher (I use yellow tortexes, so they're not very small!)
practice! you may not need to hold the pick as firmly as youre trying to - or your muscles may have been poorly trained from bad habits. either way, focused picking exercises should help you figure out what works best for you as well as strengthen your picking muscles.

personally, all my picking comes from my thumb and index finger (not my wrist). it took quite some time to build up enough dexterity to play without using my wrist, but my accuracy and phrasing have improved dramatically.