i've been wondering why strumming with my pick was so hard and sounded terrible, i completely gave up on using it. turns out i've been using the hardest pick known to man, i cant even bend it at all 😂 i had no idea there were different sizes
Me too my only pick (friend gave it to me) is really firm and I thought I was the worst guitar player in the world, but then I cut out a pick from an old card and it sounded so much better
At the Hard Rock in Universal Studios Orlando, they will take your hotel keys and turn them into picks when you leave! I have a bunch and it’s so cool! Best part? I DONT EVEN PLAY GUITAR
Justin would be so proud, I bought the thinnest the shop had and have a 0.38mm. Wondered my my 0.9mm pick was destroying my strings until I started following his lessons. Such a good teacher!
Thank You!!! I've been discouraged when trying to use a pic for a while now (I even switched to a classical guitar and started only fingerpicking & hand strumming). Out of all the videos I watched seeking help you were the only one that talked about pick thickness. I've switched my .7mm pick to a .38mm and it's made a huge difference! Thanks to you my steel string guitar is back off the rack.
I started off using medium picks but my guitar teacher who was a phenomenal player, used thin picks. So I worked my way down to red Tortex .5mm. Used them for years. But eventually found them squidgy. So moved to orange.6mm. Then settled for yellow .72mm for a few years. Recently I went to 1mm. Just far more control. But still prefer the .72 for chord work.
One thing that I do is use a hole punch and make a hole in the center of the pick. It really helps you to get a good grip on the pick and control the angle. Improves your grip on the pick. Doesn't work with my Dunlop fattie though.
As someone in the very beginning stages of dealing with depression, I laughed my funking ass off!!! Just picked up a GORGEOUS Ibanez Gio HHS and Vox AD50VT amp last night for a creative distraction. Hopefully I can make my dog a fan. She’s freaking out. I love seeing the reactions of your amazing talent and skill.
I already completed the previous beginner course but I'm doing this new beginner course again just because I love his videos and I want to improve my skills
I am a beginner and i prefer a thicker pick. I don't like the clicky sound from thinner ones. When strumming you keep your wrist loose and also a different angle on the pick, experiment with how you'd like it yourself, i like to keep it a bit outwards. With a jazz 3 or similar it makes it easily roll off the strings. Fun skill to learn from the start too.
I've been teaching myself guitar for over a year now and just recently decided to start learning how to use a pick. It definitely does work to use a simple fingerpicking pattern just to learn concepts and be able to play basic songs. When it comes time to learn the more technical stuff, though, it seems like picks are the best way to go.
im a bass player learning guitar and using a pick has been almost life threatening for me because of the frustration haha. my fingers are built to pluck not strum :(
Justin I am so incredibly grateful to you. The website and app are awesome. I picked up the guitar when I was 15 and put it down again a few months later thinking I would never be any good. I’m now 35 and have picked it back up because I just love music so much and you have given me the tools and the confidence to let go of past worries and just enjoy playing. Thank you for your magic.
Great tutorial video, Justin! I got myself the thinnest pick (0.50mm) I could find. But as a novice guitar player, even 0.50mm was too stiff and thick for me, which made strumming very difficult, especially strumming up! Strumming down was okay, but strumming up was always the problem which felt like going against the grain and most of the time the pick got stuck on some of the strings. I think the problem, when strumming, in general is this: we’re not supposed to hold the pick parallel to the floor(ground). When strumming down, we’re supposed to hold the pick at an angle where the tip of the pick should slightly face up. When strumming down, the tip of the pick should slightly face down. Since I was not able to find a thinner pick than 0.50mm, I made my own, cutting my own guitar pick, using the thinnest possible plastic I could find, which was a disposable plastic cup on which I first outlined the actual shape of the pick. I was curious to see if using a thinner pick really helped and made things better with strumming and also with down-up picking. And wow! At my first attempt using the pick I, myself, made, I just loved it. I had no problem with picking strings or with strumming. And I loved how natural the strumming felt. The pick I made was very “forgiving” because it was very thin and flexible. Even if I wasn’t fast enough to change the angle of the pick when strumming up and down, the pick easily gave in and bent and slid over the string, rather than resisting the string and getting stuck. I definitely recommend that you try the thinnest pick you can make or find. If the pick happens to be a bit too thin for you, you can always find something thicker to cut yourself a new pick. It is just a trial and error to find out what works for you. Also, make sure the material you use "retains" and keeps its form. Meaning, after a down or up stroke, it doesn't stay bent.
How do you know when it’s time to replace a pick? Like when is it too worn to work accurately? I’m sure it’s different between light and heavy picks, but a general idea would really be useful to know. I’d love to request a video on that subject because I don’t always know how to determine when it’s time to toss my picks and move on. I’m sure others would appreciate that as well. Perhaps you can make a general “when it’s too worn” video for picks, strings, capos, guitar case latches, anything else on a guitar that could wear like fret wire, etc. Would help beginners play better if they know how to recognize when our equipment is starting to show signs of wear and needs replacing! I like the Dunlop Gator Grips the best. I generally use a .96 for strumming and 1.14 for more accurate picking. But sometimes I use other picks and sizes. I’m still experimenting as my skills get better. Been playing about 1.5 years now, and I see that often specific picks suit certain style of songs. The material changes the sound too. It’s harder than people might think settling on “the” pick, but I am sure many guitarists switch it up in a similar manner.
I don't know, I'm a beginner, but best sound from my acoustic guitar comes when I play with nylon Jazz III. It's more clear, more bright, more precise. I tried Dunlop Tortex .73mm, Dunlop Tortex Jazz III, Dunlop Ultex Jazz III, Peavey 1mm and Ibanez Heavy, Ibanez Medium. But nylon Jazz III has best sound in my hands.
Thank you ! I took your advice and bought the Jim Dunlop .46mm to strum and I have found it easier to hold on to ! I think these will help me use my thicker picks being -handed myself.
I find the thin picks dont get caught on the strings, but they bend so much it takes longer to travel. Also they are usually quite long leading to a harder job co-ordinating. Found a really nice stubby that helped so much
3:57 I've been holding it "wrong" for so long....I've been playing casually for like 14 years and just now getting used to the "leading edge" angle of pick holding....makes shredding a lot easier even after only like a month, funny though I used to hold it like that just for pinch harmonics since they're way easier in that position but then would revert, my technique needs a lot of retooling after that sort of change for sure
Justin, thank you for showing your pick positioning with the index pointed toward the strings. All these years I have been resting the pick on the side part of the knuckle. What a difference this has made! Much more accurate. Thank you and UA-cam 👍
@@xxMpEGxx There's really thick ones too like 2.5, 3.5, etc. (like Dragon's Heart, Gravity, Chicken Picks). Those have bevels on the edges though to help release the strings.
Thanks a lot for all your videos! I started playing with Jazz III and got pretty comfortable with it. But one day I realized my guitar was sounding completely dull, with absolutely no brightness and "twang". I tried many parameters (strings, cable, amp, position of the amp in the room....) and at some point I grabbed a .72 pick. My guitar came back to life! The difference in sound is extremely impressive. I don't know if it's related to my pickups or way of playing, but I observed the same difference with different guitars.
From looking at some videos from metal players about picks, they often started with Jazz III and then moved on to other brands like Dragon's Heart, Gravity, Chicken Picks, etc. and said it made a big difference in the tone and playability. They're fairly expensive but supposed to last a long time. Like a Dragon's Heart is $15 each but rated for 1k to 1500 hours depending on which model.
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I was learning guitar with a very thick guitar pick and was losing it due to frustration and nearly gave up. Guess who just ordered some thin guitar picks and is fully excited to continue learning to play again 🎸
I got a bunch of different picks, the one I use the most is a Dunlop U.S.A 0.96mm. It’s still a bit flexible and I can pick the chords nicely. I am a beginner and have been playing since January.
Benn playing guitar on and off for years and started 10 years ago with your beginner videos but had to stop due to college and life. I started playing again about a month ago with my Seagull S6 and I love it. Guitar Center just sent me a coupon for being a nurse and I bit the bullet and pure tased at Gibson G-45 Studio for $800.00 USD. I feel like an idiot for spending this much on a guitar but also extremely excited to start my Journey again with Gibson and your videos. If I end up not playing as much at least the Gibson can stay in the family and ill pass it down to one my my kids.
How you doing Justin? I think I should've started out with a lighter pick because I've always thought , when I was strumming especially up , the pick seems to get caught on the strings and because of that reason never had a good strum unless strumming hard. Thankyou dearly for the lesson and I'll tell you what happens, cheers.
How do you feel about cutting your picks out of the lids on plastic margarine tubs. You but one pick and then you can scissor out additional picks using lids of differing thicknesses. They are very flexible, but they aren't nylon or any of the plastics that are typically used by pick makers, so that's why I'm asking for your opinion.
I have been playing for half a year not using a pick. Discovered that using one enables me to more accurately target indivudal strings. And with a pick I can take full advantage of the capabilities of the instrument. :) Thanks for the pick introduction. ;)
I’m a beginner and I learned strumming with my nails and it was fine but now I’m trying to learn how to strum with a pick but I really cant , either way I hold it It’s gonna just flip on other side or just touch the tip of my finger
@@darrenstorer1526 Thanks man I’ll keep in mind , but now my strugle is doing bar chords cause after 2 minutes my thumb gets numb and I can’t bar anymore
I use Dunlop jazz 3s max grip personally, I've experimented with lots of picks and I've settled on these. Side note I think I hold my pick slightly differently to everyone else, I hold it with my thumb, index and middle finger, been doing it that long that just using thumb and index feels wrong and I can't play well like that.
i recommend you learn Both finger picking and a guitar pick i started with a pick but then found i couldnt play nothing else matters so i tried fingerstyle it works much better for this particular song, of course the pick is handy when strumming open chords
Hi Justin. I have a question. What gauge Blue Chip do you use with an electric guitar. I have a blue Chip 1.5 mm which I find somewhat thick for an electric. Debating between the 1.25 and 1.0. Your thoughts please. BTW, I play mostly finger style holding the pick in the crook of my finger for when I want it for soloing or just to play a chord with more emphasis. I'm not a beginner. Thanks.
Picks aren't expensive. Try to buy a demo set of a brend, they usually have one of every thickness for you to try. | LievenDV | JustinGuitar Official Guide
omg❤ you have a lot of acoustic guitars😮🎉 I definately started playing guitar 8 months ago by borrowing one from a friend..but buying my own is still difficult😢 may be oneday someone gonna gift one to me. Music is a healer.
I've personally found the .88 pick to be most accomodating to my style, from the start (which was a week ago). I got a bag of 12 picks at my favorite instruments distributor with varying materials, sizes and thicknesses, and I haven't tried all of them yet, but hte quite stiff one suits me well
I learnt without a pick its been hard to learn to change all six strings using a pick.and the pick brings out a more crispy sound .ive had to learn how to play with a pic n im enjoyed it
Hey @justinguitar can you please clarify how should I keep other three fingers while holding the pick? Should they be curled into my palm or should keep them extended? I have seen lots of different opinions on your website and over the internet. Is there a right or wrong way to do it? Is there any advantage of doing it one way over the other?
How do I keep the pick from not moving? I am holding it exactly as you shown in this video, but after just a few strums the pick is pointing towards the bridge of the guitar and I have to correct it over and over. Don't know what I'm doing wrong
Justin, your guitar tutorial are fantastic. I comment on this endless idea that there is always some variable in the mix, some variable that if you change it then "viola" everything is perfect. You (meaning the "musician" in my comment) have everything organized but you are just not satisfied. You just can't get the idea that there is something that needs changing, this something when realized and changed will make everything just perfect. Example. I think we all know some version of the story where Eddie Van Halen (miss you Eddie, thanks for all the good times) figures that if he changes the line voltage, the AC input voltage to his "amp" the song will be a hit. This story is so often repeated I just bet there are videos dealing with it. The thing that smells bad. Electronic equipment is designed to work the same with these small 1-2v variances in line voltage as line voltage is never 100% to the millivolt stable. It is by comparison very stable but variances are dealt with in the design of the amp. That's my example of why a person needs to get the idea out of their head that there is just that one item that needs a change and after that,all is perfect. Practicing more will give more predictable results.
I've been using Pick X (by Kalamity Klaire) paired with a Fender Medium. I really like it! Are you familiar with Pick X? If so, what do you think of it?
I always had problems with those type picks. It was too big and bulky. It was like trying to strum with the blade of a shovel. I switched to a mandolin pick, and everything else fell into place.
I have always preferred playing without a pick, and I even know how to play bossa nova, wich isnt played with a pick. And now, after MONTHS with my guitar I realised that i need to know how to hold a guitar pick. Lets go
I don't really use a pick, much, but it is mainly because I don't want the volume, indoors. I live in two tiny rooms and don't want to bother my neighbors with my repetitive sounds. But, when I take it to the creek, and play outside, I try to use the pick(s). In fact, I just ordered some speciality picks, from Guitar Center, just to see which is best, for me. When I learn scales, I am going to get an elec-acoustic, and I am going to get a teeny-tiny amp, for sure.
Hi Justin. I'm not sure whether I want an SSS or Humbucker guitar. However, SSS is my preferred at the moment. Would you suggest for me to go for the SSS or something like HSS?
I find that as a beginning guitar player having a humbucker gives me some fun tones to play around with that I don't have with just single coils. Playing powerchords with a humbucker through a drive channel with gain is a lot of fun bang for the talent buck. If you like experimenting with tones, I would get an HSS and a modeling amp. You'll probably spend too much of your practice time playing with the amp settings (totally guilty myself) but it is a lot of fun. If you absolutely love SSS Strat style tones and the genres that most often use them and are buying an expensive guitar, I would buy the SSS. It wouldn't make sense to spend a pile of money on a HSS if your whole reason for wanting to play guitar is to play like (insert your favorite SSS Strat player here). If you keep playing you will eventually be hiding guitars from someone and buying guitars that look suspiciously alike (what? no I only have one sunburst guitar. It probably just looks different today because I'm using a different cable...) So buy what is going to make you happy and want to play today.
This might be too late, but I suggest you go for HSS. They're just more versatile when it comes to tones. Also, there's less hum. SSS is just fine, if you've already bought one. They can handle a lot of things too. The famous fender sound is all single coils.
whenever I pick a string my index finger touches the string and if, I let a bit more of the pick outside my hand just shoves the pick even deeper inside the guitar 💀
I bought a variety pack like over a week ago for $10 total including shipping and first of all, it was like 3-4 days late and second of all, THE PACKAGE WAS EMPTY
Can anyone tel me why my pointer finger doesn't press as hard? My guess is its pushed in and can Press Any Harder because the string put a dent in it, but all the other fingers are fine???
Whenever I'm out of picks, cut out picks from ice cream containers. Its not that bad..i like the flexibility; it thins out eventually plus save heaps of cash🙂
My pick makes a very loud noise on the strings! It stands out so much almost as if the strings were muted. Is that normal my pick 1.5 mm its the only on I have rn
The "best" guitar pick is the one you have with you. As you progress with guitar playing, you'll find what works best for YOU. Once you're comfortable with your playing, you'll find different things to improve your playing or sound. My first pick was a small piece of tree branch (maybe as thick as a toothpick) that my grandfather would use, then I moved on to toothpicks, coins, borrowed picks from friends, guitar center picks, credit card pieces, etc. Eventually I started buying and trying different picks until I found one I was comfortable with, played with it for many years, then found a different one that I liked better. Don't stress about what the "perfect" piece of gear is, the important thing is that you PLAY and try to keep getting better.
There is nothing more humbling than making decent progress in your guitar journey without a pick and everything being fine and dandy, then picking up a pick for the first time and trying to strum.
Hello I wish someone will help me. I'm a beginner. Like really a beginner.. When I first started learning I only use my fingers I can hit the correct string without looking.. but now I Want to use a pick the problem is I find it hard I miss the correct string if I'm not looking and It's just feels wrong.. I play acoustic.. should I stick to just using my finger or it's wrong?
I used to shoot video of musicians, all over Austin, and I would hand out picks as my calling card (I did it for free, just to put them out there, and to provide some of them with something to send to venues, to get bookings.) My picks are .92, from Steve Clayton, and i pay a bit for them (quite a bit.) They're printed with a kitty-cat, on the loo, and no; not my cat. One of the metal-frontmen named them, "pussy picks", and a lot of Austin musicians have them. I hope, soon, I get to hand them out, again. The printing on the picks makes grasping them super easy.
I have not been able to hold pick properly while strumming, Every time I do strumming then pick either goes down or get rotated automatically, its been more than 2 months, even I have seen lots of videos for "how to hold pick" any suggestions for that?
Are you using picks with any grip or just smooth? Cheers 😊 | close2u | JustinGuitar Official Guide [ www.justinguitar.com/ ] & Moderator on JustinGuitar Forum
Uhm I’m confused. Are these beginner videos just the same as the first grade beginner ones? Just finished them but this looks very similar to me. Can someone confirm they’re the same before I watch the same videos again?😅
Well, i should have watched that befor buying my pick's. I didn't think it makes much differenc, cause it' just the thing you hit the strings with. So i bought the once that look the best, think 1,6mm not sure anymore xD
At 60yo and played all my life I still find a pick clumsy. The problem being nails can break so I try but much prefer nails. I am gonna try a wooden one next
Those all belong to Justin indeed; it's a nice collection and some are real investments (in tone!). some info: www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/justin-s-amps-gg-002 | LievenDV | JustinGuitar Official Guide
@@justinguitar Cool. I'm actually in the market for a teeny-tiny amp, because I'm getting an elec-acoustic guitar. I'll check this out. Btw: got my (upside-down chords) tee, the other day. Love it!
I used to use 3 fingers, until I realized it made for very poor technique and was hard to improve beyond a certain point like that. Mostly because your wrist kinda ends up bending inwards towards the guitar that way. I played like that for 10+ years but finally made myself do it like is shown in this video. It sucks at first and feels weird but eventually you get the grip and attack angle right and my playing became much better after.
I'm at the point where I want to choke up on the pick because I'm learning to pick faster but my index finger keeps touching the strings and it's really annoying 😬
I think you either don't give the pick enough room coming out of your hand or you need some training on your srtumming accuracy. Perhaps your "angle of attack" is a bit off? www.justinguitar.com/modules/strumming-techniques-1-2 | LievenDV | JustinGuitar Official Guide
Guess who just bought 12 picks without knowing their thickness
did the same :D
I wanna say you, but that seems too obvious. 😅
Me to 😀
This guy 🤘
@@alecchapman8635 r/whooosh
i've been wondering why strumming with my pick was so hard and sounded terrible, i completely gave up on using it. turns out i've been using the hardest pick known to man, i cant even bend it at all 😂 i had no idea there were different sizes
Haha the ol bass pick on guitar, absolute string wrecker
Me too my only pick (friend gave it to me) is really firm and I thought I was the worst guitar player in the world, but then I cut out a pick from an old card and it sounded so much better
Yep, I didn’t realise the thickness mattered lmao, been using my bass pick which is hard af
At that point you might as well use that "guitar pick" that you get with cheap phone disassembly kits as an actual guitar pick.
i’m using a cut up arcade card as my pick lol
Haha what ever suits you best man!
@@yourgbm9186 Why?
If it works, it works. 😎👍
At the Hard Rock in Universal Studios Orlando, they will take your hotel keys and turn them into picks when you leave! I have a bunch and it’s so cool! Best part? I DONT EVEN PLAY GUITAR
You have love resourceful people :)
I just broke my pick while tryna fold my pick... DANG
Same....
@@jl_1139 looool
Ah darn
Lolol
@@jl_1139 F in the chat bois
Justin would be so proud, I bought the thinnest the shop had and have a 0.38mm. Wondered my my 0.9mm pick was destroying my strings until I started following his lessons. Such a good teacher!
so far this playlist has been really helpful. thank you!
Thank You!!! I've been discouraged when trying to use a pic for a while now (I even switched to a classical guitar and started only fingerpicking & hand strumming). Out of all the videos I watched seeking help you were the only one that talked about pick thickness. I've switched my .7mm pick to a .38mm and it's made a huge difference! Thanks to you my steel string guitar is back off the rack.
I started off using medium picks but my guitar teacher who was a phenomenal player, used thin picks. So I worked my way down to red Tortex .5mm. Used them for years. But eventually found them squidgy. So moved to orange.6mm. Then settled for yellow .72mm for a few years. Recently I went to 1mm. Just far more control. But still prefer the .72 for chord work.
This guys so nice and such a good teacher
One thing that I do is use a hole punch and make a hole in the center of the pick. It really helps you to get a good grip on the pick and control the angle. Improves your grip on the pick. Doesn't work with my Dunlop fattie though.
That changes the stiffness though.
As someone in the very beginning stages of dealing with depression, I laughed my funking ass off!!! Just picked up a GORGEOUS Ibanez Gio HHS and Vox AD50VT amp last night for a creative distraction. Hopefully I can make my dog a fan. She’s freaking out. I love seeing the reactions of your amazing talent and skill.
I already completed the previous beginner course but I'm doing this new beginner course again just because I love his videos and I want to improve my skills
I am a beginner and i prefer a thicker pick. I don't like the clicky sound from thinner ones. When strumming you keep your wrist loose and also a different angle on the pick, experiment with how you'd like it yourself, i like to keep it a bit outwards. With a jazz 3 or similar it makes it easily roll off the strings. Fun skill to learn from the start too.
After watching your fingertip strumming, it's literally like you're using the thumb to strum, while holding the pick lightly.
Same
I've been teaching myself guitar for over a year now and just recently decided to start learning how to use a pick. It definitely does work to use a simple fingerpicking pattern just to learn concepts and be able to play basic songs. When it comes time to learn the more technical stuff, though, it seems like picks are the best way to go.
You would not believe how I struggled (as a fingerstyle bassist learning guitar) with my plectrum grip until I found this video. Thanks, Justin!
im a bass player learning guitar and using a pick has been almost life threatening for me because of the frustration haha. my fingers are built to pluck not strum :(
Huh, I like how he talks and doesn't play the guitar for like 8 mins before he talks... No showoff here.
Oh god these bots are everywhere now
@@manedwolfwithagmailaccount1478 They really are.
Justin I am so incredibly grateful to you. The website and app are awesome. I picked up the guitar when I was 15 and put it down again a few months later thinking I would never be any good. I’m now 35 and have picked it back up because I just love music so much and you have given me the tools and the confidence to let go of past worries and just enjoy playing. Thank you for your magic.
Great tutorial video, Justin!
I got myself the thinnest pick (0.50mm) I could find. But as a novice guitar player, even 0.50mm was too stiff and thick for me, which made strumming very difficult, especially strumming up!
Strumming down was okay, but strumming up was always the problem which felt like going against the grain and most of the time the pick got stuck on some of the strings.
I think the problem, when strumming, in general is this: we’re not supposed to hold the pick parallel to the floor(ground). When strumming down, we’re supposed to hold the pick at an angle where the tip of the pick should slightly face up. When strumming down, the tip of the pick should slightly face down.
Since I was not able to find a thinner pick than 0.50mm, I made my own, cutting my own guitar pick, using the thinnest possible plastic I could find, which was a disposable plastic cup on which I first outlined the actual shape of the pick. I was curious to see if using a thinner pick really helped and made things better with strumming and also with down-up picking.
And wow! At my first attempt using the pick I, myself, made, I just loved it. I had no problem with picking strings or with strumming. And I loved how natural the strumming felt. The pick I made was very “forgiving” because it was very thin and flexible. Even if I wasn’t fast enough to change the angle of the pick when strumming up and down, the pick easily gave in and bent and slid over the string, rather than resisting the string and getting stuck.
I definitely recommend that you try the thinnest pick you can make or find. If the pick happens to be a bit too thin for you, you can always find something thicker to cut yourself a new pick. It is just a trial and error to find out what works for you. Also, make sure the material you use "retains" and keeps its form. Meaning, after a down or up stroke, it doesn't stay bent.
How do you know when it’s time to replace a pick? Like when is it too worn to work accurately? I’m sure it’s different between light and heavy picks, but a general idea would really be useful to know.
I’d love to request a video on that subject because I don’t always know how to determine when it’s time to toss my picks and move on. I’m sure others would appreciate that as well. Perhaps you can make a general “when it’s too worn” video for picks, strings, capos, guitar case latches, anything else on a guitar that could wear like fret wire, etc. Would help beginners play better if they know how to recognize when our equipment is starting to show signs of wear and needs replacing!
I like the Dunlop Gator Grips the best. I generally use a .96 for strumming and 1.14 for more accurate picking. But sometimes I use other picks and sizes. I’m still experimenting as my skills get better. Been playing about 1.5 years now, and I see that often specific picks suit certain style of songs. The material changes the sound too. It’s harder than people might think settling on “the” pick, but I am sure many guitarists switch it up in a similar manner.
I don't know, I'm a beginner, but best sound from my acoustic guitar comes when I play with nylon Jazz III. It's more clear, more bright, more precise. I tried Dunlop Tortex .73mm, Dunlop Tortex Jazz III, Dunlop Ultex Jazz III, Peavey 1mm and Ibanez Heavy, Ibanez Medium. But nylon Jazz III has best sound in my hands.
Just purchased the Dunlop 0.38mm pick. I wish I’d had one earlier. So much better. Thanks Justin.
I started playing using your advice for pick thickness and how to hold the pick and it worked really well - thanks Justin 👍👍👌👌👏👏
Thank you ! I took your advice and bought the Jim Dunlop .46mm to strum and I have found it easier to hold on to ! I think these will help me use my thicker picks being -handed myself.
I find the thin picks dont get caught on the strings, but they bend so much it takes longer to travel. Also they are usually quite long leading to a harder job co-ordinating. Found a really nice stubby that helped so much
3:57 I've been holding it "wrong" for so long....I've been playing casually for like 14 years and just now getting used to the "leading edge" angle of pick holding....makes shredding a lot easier even after only like a month, funny though I used to hold it like that just for pinch harmonics since they're way easier in that position but then would revert, my technique needs a lot of retooling after that sort of change for sure
Justin, thank you for showing your pick positioning with the index pointed toward the strings. All these years I have been resting the pick on the side part of the knuckle. What a difference this has made! Much more accurate. Thank you and UA-cam 👍
I thought my .90 mm pick was quite thin but .46 mm? WOW.
there's also a .38
Started with a .73, thought it was thin, moved on to a .81, thought it was thick; today I learned that was just a tiny fraction of the spectrum 😂
@@xxMpEGxx There's really thick ones too like 2.5, 3.5, etc. (like Dragon's Heart, Gravity, Chicken Picks). Those have bevels on the edges though to help release the strings.
Thanks a lot for all your videos! I started playing with Jazz III and got pretty comfortable with it. But one day I realized my guitar was sounding completely dull, with absolutely no brightness and "twang". I tried many parameters (strings, cable, amp, position of the amp in the room....) and at some point I grabbed a .72 pick. My guitar came back to life! The difference in sound is extremely impressive. I don't know if it's related to my pickups or way of playing, but I observed the same difference with different guitars.
From looking at some videos from metal players about picks, they often started with Jazz III and then moved on to other brands like Dragon's Heart, Gravity, Chicken Picks, etc. and said it made a big difference in the tone and playability. They're fairly expensive but supposed to last a long time. Like a Dragon's Heart is $15 each but rated for 1k to 1500 hours depending on which model.
Love you justin, Thanks for all the effort🌸
the best guitar lessons on the internet by far - fantastic comprehensive resource
Thanks
Thank you Geoff .. super appreciated.
Cheers 😊
Thank you for this playlist, Justin!
From the bottom of my heart, thank you. I was learning guitar with a very thick guitar pick and was losing it due to frustration and nearly gave up.
Guess who just ordered some thin guitar picks and is fully excited to continue learning to play again 🎸
Bozo
very helpful, i never knew whether to use a thin or thick pick, thanks to ur video, thin and clicky was the way to go for me!
Wonderful, good to know infos... I should say Must know basics .. Thank you Justin 👍
You helped me a lot in my Guitar learning.
Liked n subscribed 🎸
I really like the Dunlop .88mm to just over 1mm thickness with very sharp pointed tips. Jazz 3 picks are my favorite to use if I can find them.
I got a bunch of different picks, the one I use the most is a Dunlop U.S.A 0.96mm. It’s still a bit flexible and I can pick the chords nicely. I am a beginner and have been playing since January.
Benn playing guitar on and off for years and started 10 years ago with your beginner videos but had to stop due to college and life. I started playing again about a month ago with my Seagull S6 and I love it. Guitar Center just sent me a coupon for being a nurse and I bit the bullet and pure tased at Gibson G-45 Studio for $800.00 USD. I feel like an idiot for spending this much on a guitar but also extremely excited to start my Journey again with Gibson and your videos. If I end up not playing as much at least the Gibson can stay in the family and ill pass it down to one my my kids.
There are worse things to spend $800 on. I hope your journey with your Gibson is going well.
Justin is a great teacher because he doesn't give you absolutes. There is no "right" pick. Use whatever feels best for you and gets the job done.
How you doing Justin? I think I should've started out with a lighter pick because I've always thought , when I was strumming especially up , the pick seems to get caught on the strings and because of that reason never had a good strum unless strumming hard. Thankyou dearly for the lesson and I'll tell you what happens, cheers.
Tortex TIII in .88. That's THE pick, at least for me. Jazz IIIs are also good but less ideal for strumming.
How do you feel about cutting your picks out of the lids on plastic margarine tubs. You but one pick and then you can scissor out additional picks using lids of differing thicknesses. They are very flexible, but they aren't nylon or any of the plastics that are typically used by pick makers, so that's why I'm asking for your opinion.
I have been playing for half a year not using a pick. Discovered that using one enables me to more accurately target indivudal strings. And with a pick I can take full advantage of the capabilities of the instrument. :)
Thanks for the pick introduction. ;)
My favorite is the Dunlop 0.38 since I'm doing percussive strumming mostly
I'm a beginner and this is really helping thanks
I’m a beginner and I learned strumming with my nails and it was fine but now I’m trying to learn how to strum with a pick but I really cant , either way I hold it
It’s gonna just flip on other side or just touch the tip of my finger
Keep At it!
Strumming v individual string picking requires different levels of accuracy
@@darrenstorer1526 Thanks man I’ll keep in mind , but now my strugle is doing bar chords cause after 2 minutes my thumb gets numb and I can’t bar anymore
I use Dunlop jazz 3s max grip personally, I've experimented with lots of picks and I've settled on these. Side note I think I hold my pick slightly differently to everyone else, I hold it with my thumb, index and middle finger, been doing it that long that just using thumb and index feels wrong and I can't play well like that.
i recommend you learn Both finger picking and a guitar pick i started with a pick but then found i couldnt play nothing else matters so i tried fingerstyle it works much better for this particular song, of course the pick is handy when strumming open chords
Hi Justin. I have a question. What gauge Blue Chip do you use with an electric guitar. I have a blue Chip 1.5 mm which I find somewhat thick for an electric. Debating between the 1.25 and 1.0. Your thoughts please. BTW, I play mostly finger style holding the pick in the crook of my finger for when I want it for soloing or just to play a chord with more emphasis. I'm not a beginner. Thanks.
Picks aren't expensive. Try to buy a demo set of a brend, they usually have one of every thickness for you to try. | LievenDV | JustinGuitar Official Guide
omg❤ you have a lot of acoustic guitars😮🎉 I definately started playing guitar 8 months ago by borrowing one from a friend..but buying my own is still difficult😢 may be oneday someone gonna gift one to me. Music is a healer.
I've personally found the .88 pick to be most accomodating to my style, from the start (which was a week ago). I got a bag of 12 picks at my favorite instruments distributor with varying materials, sizes and thicknesses, and I haven't tried all of them yet, but hte quite stiff one suits me well
I use a Dunlop .96mm gator grip for acoustic and a Dunlop 1.14mm gator grip for electric guitar.
Nice guitar! Strat with humbucker, single coil, and filtertron! Wow!
I learnt without a pick its been hard to learn to change all six strings using a pick.and the pick brings out a more crispy sound .ive had to learn how to play with a pic n im enjoyed it
very helpful short precise well done
Hey @justinguitar can you please clarify how should I keep other three fingers while holding the pick? Should they be curled into my palm or should keep them extended? I have seen lots of different opinions on your website and over the internet. Is there a right or wrong way to do it? Is there any advantage of doing it one way over the other?
How do I keep the pick from not moving?
I am holding it exactly as you shown in this video, but after just a few strums the pick is pointing towards the bridge of the guitar and I have to correct it over and over.
Don't know what I'm doing wrong
Are u using thick pick ?
@@flashroyal9933 no, I'm using a 0,53mm textured pick
Justin, your guitar tutorial are fantastic. I comment on this endless idea that there is always some variable in the mix, some variable that if you change it then "viola" everything is perfect. You (meaning the "musician" in my comment) have everything organized but you are just not satisfied. You just can't get the idea that there is something that needs changing, this something when realized and changed will make everything just perfect. Example. I think we all know some version of the story where Eddie Van Halen (miss you Eddie, thanks for all the good times) figures that if he changes the line voltage, the AC input voltage to his "amp" the song will be a hit. This story is so often repeated I just bet there are videos dealing with it. The thing that smells bad. Electronic equipment is designed to work the same with these small 1-2v variances in line voltage as line voltage is never 100% to the millivolt stable. It is by comparison very stable but variances are dealt with in the design of the amp. That's my example of why a person needs to get the idea out of their head that there is just that one item that needs a change and after that,all is perfect. Practicing more will give more predictable results.
I made my own little picks out of plastic just for a substitute until I bought some and they usually work well
I've been using Pick X (by Kalamity Klaire) paired with a Fender Medium. I really like it! Are you familiar with Pick X? If so, what do you think of it?
I use thumb and finger style but find it difficult doing higher speed alternate picking. I must try and use a pick.
You are the freaking best ur videos is helping me improve my technique
I always had problems with those type picks. It was too big and bulky. It was like trying to strum with the blade of a shovel. I switched to a mandolin pick, and everything else fell into place.
I have always preferred playing without a pick, and I even know how to play bossa nova, wich isnt played with a pick. And now, after MONTHS with my guitar I realised that i need to know how to hold a guitar pick. Lets go
I am one of your students and enjoying it and learning a lot.
That was useful thanks 👍🏻
I don't really use a pick, much, but it is mainly because I don't want the volume, indoors. I live in two tiny rooms and don't want to bother my neighbors with my repetitive sounds.
But, when I take it to the creek, and play outside, I try to use the pick(s). In fact, I just ordered some speciality picks, from Guitar Center, just to see which is best, for me. When I learn scales, I am going to get an elec-acoustic, and I am going to get a teeny-tiny amp, for sure.
A famous guitarist once said that a pick is an amplifyer. ;) | LievenDV | JustinGuitar Official Guide
@@justinguitar Exactly! Thanks, again, for your great video-lessons!
Scissors + expired credit card/SIM card = pick ✅
i like your thinking. next stage is angle grinder + any 50 cents coin
I have so many SD Card adapters so I use these
On the siiide of your thumb!!! :)
Hi Justin. I'm not sure whether I want an SSS or Humbucker guitar. However, SSS is my preferred at the moment. Would you suggest for me to go for the SSS or something like HSS?
It really depends on what sound you like and what kind of music as well.
I find that as a beginning guitar player having a humbucker gives me some fun tones to play around with that I don't have with just single coils. Playing powerchords with a humbucker through a drive channel with gain is a lot of fun bang for the talent buck. If you like experimenting with tones, I would get an HSS and a modeling amp. You'll probably spend too much of your practice time playing with the amp settings (totally guilty myself) but it is a lot of fun.
If you absolutely love SSS Strat style tones and the genres that most often use them and are buying an expensive guitar, I would buy the SSS. It wouldn't make sense to spend a pile of money on a HSS if your whole reason for wanting to play guitar is to play like (insert your favorite SSS Strat player here).
If you keep playing you will eventually be hiding guitars from someone and buying guitars that look suspiciously alike (what? no I only have one sunburst guitar. It probably just looks different today because I'm using a different cable...) So buy what is going to make you happy and want to play today.
This might be too late, but I suggest you go for HSS. They're just more versatile when it comes to tones. Also, there's less hum.
SSS is just fine, if you've already bought one. They can handle a lot of things too. The famous fender sound is all single coils.
Keep it up!
whenever I pick a string my index finger touches the string and if, I let a bit more of the pick outside my hand just shoves the pick even deeper inside the guitar 💀
I bought a variety pack like over a week ago for $10 total including shipping and first of all, it was like 3-4 days late and second of all, THE PACKAGE WAS EMPTY
Can anyone tel me why my pointer finger doesn't press as hard? My guess is its pushed in and can Press Any Harder because the string put a dent in it, but all the other fingers are fine???
Whenever I'm out of picks, cut out picks from ice cream containers. Its not that bad..i like the flexibility; it thins out eventually plus save heaps of cash🙂
My pick makes a very loud noise on the strings! It stands out so much almost as if the strings were muted. Is that normal my pick 1.5 mm its the only on I have rn
did anyone else realize that dunlop tortex picks had quality issues? I used a diamond fret file to gently round the edges. Much better playability.
The "best" guitar pick is the one you have with you. As you progress with guitar playing, you'll find what works best for YOU. Once you're comfortable with your playing, you'll find different things to improve your playing or sound. My first pick was a small piece of tree branch (maybe as thick as a toothpick) that my grandfather would use, then I moved on to toothpicks, coins, borrowed picks from friends, guitar center picks, credit card pieces, etc. Eventually I started buying and trying different picks until I found one I was comfortable with, played with it for many years, then found a different one that I liked better.
Don't stress about what the "perfect" piece of gear is, the important thing is that you PLAY and try to keep getting better.
There is nothing more humbling than making decent progress in your guitar journey without a pick and everything being fine and dandy, then picking up a pick for the first time and trying to strum.
Wow without knowing I bought a Jim Dunlop pick set with an .46 and .60
Hello I wish someone will help me. I'm a beginner. Like really a beginner.. When I first started learning I only use my fingers I can hit the correct string without looking.. but now I Want to use a pick the problem is I find it hard I miss the correct string if I'm not looking and It's just feels wrong.. I play acoustic.. should I stick to just using my finger or it's wrong?
I used to shoot video of musicians, all over Austin, and I would hand out picks as my calling card (I did it for free, just to put them out there, and to provide some of them with something to send to venues, to get bookings.) My picks are .92, from Steve Clayton, and i pay a bit for them (quite a bit.) They're printed with a kitty-cat, on the loo, and no; not my cat. One of the metal-frontmen named them, "pussy picks", and a lot of Austin musicians have them. I hope, soon, I get to hand them out, again. The printing on the picks makes grasping them super easy.
i've bean using a heavy pick since i bought my new guitar it was so hard thank you so much for recommending a light one it's so much easier now
I have not been able to hold pick properly while strumming, Every time I do strumming then pick either goes down or get rotated automatically, its been more than 2 months, even I have seen lots of videos for "how to hold pick" any suggestions for that?
Are you using picks with any grip or just smooth?
Cheers 😊
| close2u | JustinGuitar Official Guide [ www.justinguitar.com/ ] & Moderator on JustinGuitar Forum
Uhm I’m confused. Are these beginner videos just the same as the first grade beginner ones? Just finished them but this looks very similar to me. Can someone confirm they’re the same before I watch the same videos again?😅
@@nibla17 oh
Well, i should have watched that befor buying my pick's. I didn't think it makes much differenc, cause it' just the thing you hit the strings with. So i bought the once that look the best, think 1,6mm not sure anymore xD
I can never stop my pick from rolling to the side as I strum any tips
At 60yo and played all my life I still find a pick clumsy. The problem being nails can break so I try but much prefer nails. I am gonna try a wooden one next
Boss you are the best ......
Thank you so much...From india☺️
I notice your thumb is kept fairly straight rather than bent, does this matter Justin?
Wow I was planning to use a 50p coin as a pick.
I just noticed. Are those all YOUR amps? Holy heck! Do you sell these things? Or, do you sleep on them?
Those all belong to Justin indeed; it's a nice collection and some are real investments (in tone!). some info: www.justinguitar.com/guitar-lessons/justin-s-amps-gg-002 | LievenDV | JustinGuitar Official Guide
@@justinguitar Cool. I'm actually in the market for a teeny-tiny amp, because I'm getting an elec-acoustic guitar. I'll check this out. Btw: got my (upside-down chords) tee, the other day. Love it!
@@annebeck58 Awesome! :) Thanks for your support, Anne! Cheers.
Nice !
How to hold ~ 4:00 in
Justin: choose a thin pick for strumming
Me used to strum funk rhythms with a 1.2mm pickboy carbon pick you can use as a knife lol
I practice everyday … How often should I change my pick please?
I have the 40$ pick and was really confused when the picks bend in the video.
Been playing off and on for 25 years and I still can’t hold a pick like that. After a couple strums it moves
I used to use 3 fingers, until I realized it made for very poor technique and was hard to improve beyond a certain point like that. Mostly because your wrist kinda ends up bending inwards towards the guitar that way. I played like that for 10+ years but finally made myself do it like is shown in this video. It sucks at first and feels weird but eventually you get the grip and attack angle right and my playing became much better after.
@@procrastinator6902did your hand hurt when you held guitar pick correctly for the first couple times? Because mine aches like mad!
I'm at the point where I want to choke up on the pick because I'm learning to pick faster but my index finger keeps touching the strings and it's really annoying 😬
I think you either don't give the pick enough room coming out of your hand or you need some training on your srtumming accuracy. Perhaps your "angle of attack" is a bit off? www.justinguitar.com/modules/strumming-techniques-1-2 | LievenDV | JustinGuitar Official Guide