Guitar Technique: Guitar Picking Tutorial

The response from Andrew Wasson , of Creative Guitar Studio, to:

"I have a question that got me struggling for days... I didn't find a lot of information about flat picking online. Is there a good or correct way to pick when playing single notes? My pinky and my middle-finger are always resting on the guitar... Is this a bad habit?

Ive seen a lot of players have their hand resting on the bridge or at least near the bridge... Thanks in Advance!
- Julien1345

Watch as the best guitar teacher on YouTube - Andrew Wasson of Creative Guitar Studio - covers the concepts of how guitar players can develop the ability to pick with their right hand or left hand - if you're a lefty - and achieve higher accuracy and better faster picking technique overall.

Download the tab for the Classical Piece below:

Official Website:

Follow on Twitter:

MySpace:

Facebook:

[myhouse]

Cool! "My pinky and my middle-finger are always resting on the guitar... Is this a bad habit?" - this was the exact question which was haunting me past several days and I had no one to answer this surrounding me - thank you. For finally talking about this question and having an answer. Thank you once again.

[TheSaigonSaint]

I play the guitar for 11 years now as a self taught player, but my picking sucked and I have to change my picking method now. I found this video very helpful and In my opinion it's the best instructional video on picking! I will practice with keeping wour advices in mind from now.
Thank you very much!
Gabe from Hungary :)

[whiteboy]

i been playing bass with my fingers for years and never could get the whole picking thing down this video really helped my get the basics down, thanks alot man you really know your stuff

[Rootbeeroverseer]

Thanks to the user who asked this question, and YOU for answering it. This is a problem plenty of us have because with practice, my fretting got better pretty fast, but my picking never did because of the same problem. Thank you!

[bennie]

Can not believe I found such a great teacher first video. I have been teaching my self for about a year found out bad technique on strumming will hold you back and make your hand and fingers cramp good technique is effortless .I figured it worked for strummming then you tubed proper technique for picking found yours on first try Thanks so much!!!

[creativeguitarstudio]

@Tommat194 - Q). "Is the position you place the pick in your fingers supposed to be how you always play?" A). Mine moves around a bit. I loosen my grip when I play rhythm too. The limitations you might experience will generally dictate how you might have to change your picking to suit your playing style. Just keep experimenting with it and do daily exercises until you achieve your goals. I don't think I've ever seen two people use the pick exactly the same. - Andrew

[creativeguitarstudio]

Use what works best for you then. As long as you're not experiencing any hand-pain and your technique is good. However, if you came to this video due to an underlying problem, then perhaps it is time to re-think your pick technique. - Andrew

[creativeguitarstudio]

There's just the bone-stock USA Strat. volume & tone controls, (which I always keep cranked to 10 anyways). Hope this helps! - Andrew

[alnovak]

thankyou soo much!! finally someone who actually knows!!! none of that bull crap of 10 lessons and your a guitar god! what a breath of fresh air !

[buunuki]

Hi Andrew,
I just wanted to say thank you so much for this great lesson. I've been applying the techniques you outline for a little less than a week now and already I've seen a marked improvement in the clarity and precision of my picking! I too used to be a little finger planter, but your lesson has freed me from the bonds of my bad technique. I can't express my thanks enough. I'll continue to work with your techniques during the coming months and years!

[ignacywoj]

thanks alot andrew, compared to all the guitarists giving tutorials on how to play "fun" guitar probably only for your mum as the audience, you are absolutely a teaching god.

[creativeguitarstudio]

Hello northlander30,

There is a Seymour Duncan Hot-Rail in my bridge location and a Cool-Rail in the neck position.

If you pop over to my website (link is in the sidebar) and click on "GEAR, " There are write-ups and photos of all of my equipment listed on that Gear page.

Thanks for watching,
Andrew W.

[todd]

I really was struggling after switching guitars and your pointers helped me immensely

[Sherb]

You're a great teacher! Hearing you go on about picking for 10 minutes was actually very interesting and informative. Thanks!

[shenzkidd]

well done bro.
you probably have the best youtube video's in terms of breaking down information and giving out to us viewers.. i just want to show some appreciation. keep it up

[wwefroogy]

I tried switching to this seeing as it seems to be the convention. Also, a lot of my favorite players use a technique similar to this one. However, I think I will return to my old technique as I can play a lot more relaxed. Thanks for the response, Andrew.

[kaushalfb]

Thank you very much Andrew. This lesson really helped.
I've been playing for about 3.5 years now, and I've been comfortable with alternate picking for quite a while. I recently rejoined guitar classes and my teacher has been asking me to keep the hand away from the strings. He says I'll have to do it if i really want to pick up speed. Now it has been really messing up my picking specially on lower strings. But I find it a lot easier to control my wrist with your method. Thanks!! :)

[peterpanpixyland]

Very helpful Andrew.Changing a lifetime of bad habits is a tough, especially when so many say there is no one "right" way. Plus, too many teachers just don't understand how challenging and frustrating this is to get right, and won't take the time to break it down like this. You've really helped me to isolate and use the correct muscles, and now I can actually FEEL they are being exercised as I practice. How much the investment will pay off is too early to tell, but it definitely will help.

[KiKo-tjss]

Wow, your video is the answer to many questions I had before watching. Thank you so much!

[licksnkicks]

My pick angle was really terrible and was offering too much resistance.  Now I know better.  Thx Andrew!  Your the best!