9 replies to this topic

[irondethpepper]

I've got a bit of a problem with my pick slipping whilst strumming, it's happened before but I adjusted the way I held it and it stopped but recently I've been getting into funk style guitar and obviously you need to strum pretty hard. Well the problem's back, my pick slowly slips away from my fingers whilst strumming. Anyone else have/had this problem?

I use .60 Tortex Picks most of the time (I know this is a JF fan forum but no, I don't use them because John does, I always thought he used .50mm picks and only found out after I went from .50mms to .60mms cause they were too thin)

[Face Turn]

I use Tortex's and currently i use 73 mm's and don't seem to have any problems. I'm not sure whether that's just because i've practiced a lot more but i know i used to have a similar problem when strumming in a funk style with thinner plectrums, they just seem to richochet more when hitting the strings. However if you don't fancy trying a slightly thicker plectrum maybe try a pick which has a grip on it, might make it easier?

[Laura]

Yeah, I would definitely try a pick with a bit of a grip on it as the previous poster suggested. Also, I use 'Gorilla Snot' - it is just a sticky substance you can get at most guitar stores for preventing pick slippage. It comes in a neat little container and it smells like pine trees! I got it because, like for you, my pick tends to slip when I'm playing songs that involve lots of chords (I don't have much of a problem for soloing).

[funkdubious]

I don't think the type of pick is going to make it slip more than any other. How are you holding it? have you had any lessons because this may seem daft and Im maybe teaching you how to suck eggs but until I had lessons I was holding my pick completely wrong.
The best way to describe holding a pick correctly is to do a thumbs up,place the pick on the top finger with the point pointing to your left(if you're right handed) then bring your thumb down.
Also don't hold it too tightly or you'll tense up.
Hope this helps!

[zabar]

The correct way to hold the pick is, of course, very important, but it also depends on how long you have been playing guitar. As time goes by you feel more and more secure and at-home with the picking and strumming so maybe the slipping problem will go away on it's own...

I hope it will!

[irondethpepper]

Face Turn, on Nov 7 2008, 10:48 AM, said:

I use Tortex's and currently i use 73 mm's and don't seem to have any problems. I'm not sure whether that's just because i've practiced a lot more but i know i used to have a similar problem when strumming in a funk style with thinner plectrums, they just seem to richochet more when hitting the strings. However if you don't fancy trying a slightly thicker plectrum maybe try a pick which has a grip on it, might make it easier?

I just tried, no luck :/
It's the resistance of the strings I think...

Laura, on Nov 8 2008, 12:05 AM, said:

Yeah, I would definitely try a pick with a bit of a grip on it as the previous poster suggested. Also, I use 'Gorilla Snot' - it is just a sticky substance you can get at most guitar stores for preventing pick slippage. It comes in a neat little container and it smells like pine trees! I got it because, like for you, my pick tends to slip when I'm playing songs that involve lots of chords (I don't have much of a problem for soloing).

Cool, I looked into that, couldn't find them on any online stores in Australia so I'm going to see if the local store have them ('Hi, do you have an Gorilla Snot?')

funkdubious, on Nov 8 2008, 01:17 AM, said:

I don't think the type of pick is going to make it slip more than any other. How are you holding it? have you had any lessons because this may seem daft and Im maybe teaching you how to suck eggs but until I had lessons I was holding my pick completely wrong.
The best way to describe holding a pick correctly is to do a thumbs up,place the pick on the top finger with the point pointing to your left(if you're right handed) then bring your thumb down.
Also don't hold it too tightly or you'll tense up.
Hope this helps!

Oh that way, really don't want to change my picking technique, playing that way is way hard, especially for chords (imo)

zabar, on Nov 8 2008, 03:06 AM, said:

The correct way to hold the pick is, of course, very important, but it also depends on how long you have been playing guitar. As time goes by you feel more and more secure and at-home with the picking and strumming so maybe the slipping problem will go away on it's own...

I hope it will!

Thanks man, me too, I hope it when it goes, it goes away for good

Cheers for all the replies

[Laura]

Hmm...I didn't think about whether or not Gorilla Snot is sold outside the U.S....but it should be! Hope you can find some, Irondethpepper! It is kind of funny asking for it (I brought a non-guitarist friend with me to Guitar Center here and she looked so perplexed when I asked if they had any gorilla snot).

[brad32]

You can punch a hole in the middle of your pick, or use a knife to score it a bit. I have these one picks, Snarlin Dogs Cat Tongue style pics and it had a patch of texture (That feels like a cat tongue if you can imagine) where you hold the pick and that is the best non-slip pick I have ever used. Try some, they are great.

[irondethpepper]

brad32, on Nov 24 2008, 07:05 AM, said:

You can punch a hole in the middle of your pick, or use a knife to score it a bit. I have these one picks, Snarlin Dogs Cat Tongue style pics and it had a patch of texture (That feels like a cat tongue if you can imagine) where you hold the pick and that is the best non-slip pick I have ever used. Try some, they are great.

Cats tongue? oO Interesting

I have started putting marks in my picks which have helped. More importantly I've changed the way I hold the pick ever so slightly...now I can strum all day without it moving

Guess what I need now is suggestions for some songs with a lot of funky strumming

Oh and I'm thinking of trying Jazz III's for leads and 'shredding' stuff, there seems to be a lot of hype about them

[this velvet glove]

That used to happen to me all the time so I used gorilla snot but they also have textured picks