Holding a pick with 3 fingers.

[blaze]

Hi iv been playing guitar for about 7 months (4 seriously). Well i hold my pick with 3 fingers. thum on top and pointer and middle right beside each other on the bottom both evenly touching the pick (understand?). Well i dont belive this is very common and was wondering if this is a bad idea or will hurt my playing now or later down the road. I seem to be able to strum fine, but my friend was saying that it was really weird. Id like to hear what you guys think? It feels uncomfortable to use two right now. should i change over??? thanks.

[jsgksu]

Thats the way I play, Ive been told to change my style but it feels very funny the so-called "right" way and I feel like I have no control over it and end up dropping it very often. If someone can actually give you a good reason as to how it could hinder your playing then maybe it would be good to change now before you get to set in your ways, but I cant see a reason the other way would be better and its to late now for me to switch anyway, Ive been playing for a few years.

[DreaminBassMunky]

For about a year I played with the pick upside down. I still do from time to time...the point is that it's all a matter of preference.

[grock]

i hold my pick between my pointer and my thumb with the pick perpendiculer to my thumb. like this. this is more natural because of the mechanics of the wrist. you should be moving your wrist to pick and not your whole arm. i would be weary about holding it the way you described because in 20 year or 5 or even 1 year you may have to quit playing because of wrist problems. you can do a lot of damage to yourself by using incorrect technique and turning your wrist in directions that "feel" natural but really aren't. for some people it won't be a problem to do it the "wrong" way and for others it will. but the "right" is all but garunteed to not cause any problems. that's the main reason why they tell you how to hold a pick like instructors all tell you.

also by restricting that middle finger you lose out on advanced techniques that will involve using the middle ring and even pinky to pick strings along with the pick.

but really, i work in an office and we have a guy who's job is to make sure and educate people about correct typing technique and posture and stuff and i have corrected how i do a lot of stuff because of the carpel tunnel possibility. i must say be careful with that wrist postition and that technique you have described cuz i can't see anyway (trying to mimic what you described myself) that that won't be doing some carpal tunnel type damage.

[grock]

i'm not saying that it will absolutely cause you damage, i mean carlos santana holds his picks like that (i've been told) but just be careful about it and consider changing for health and for the advanced picking techniques.

[Ando]

Thats the way I play, Ive been told to change my style but it feels very funny the so-called "right" way and I feel like I have no control over it and end up dropping it very often. If someone can actually give you a good reason as to how it could hinder your playing then maybe it would be good to change now before you get to set in your ways, but I cant see a reason the other way would be better and its to late now for me to switch anyway, Ive been playing for a few years.

That's way I was after I switched to the so-called "right way."

Took some time, BUt I'm used to it now.