👕 Get New Ernie Ball Merch Now!
  • Ernie Ball
  • Music Man
  • Sterling by Music Man
  • Security notice: Ernie Ball staff will never send you a direct message about a prize or giveaway, and will never ask you to click a link to "claim" anything.
    If you receive a message like that - even from an account whose name looks official - do not click the link. Please report it using the Report link on the message so the moderators can act. A scam campaign impersonating admin accounts was blocked on 29 July 2026; those accounts are banned and their messages have been deleted.
Ernie Ball Music Man Custom Design Experience

Anyone Adopt SM's Picking Style?

Y

yesandno

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 20, 2003
Messages
104
Just curious and if you do how it works for you.
I began using it a while back for about six months. I could even play real fast rhythmical strumming chordal stuff. Then I eventually reverted back to the usual method but am looking to go back to it.
For me, the pro's were that having three fingers gripping the pick gave lots of sheer force to be able to pick with the full flat side of the pick against the string which really makes the sound pop out and percussive. That's harder to do with two fingers....the pick hits the string at an angle giving a softer attack. Which, to me, is why other speed pickers don't have the same 'ooomph' to their lines as Steve does. I do have an Albert Lee vid and it looks like he grips with three fingers sometimes.
Also the sureness of the grip on the pick really helps nail fast passages and those fast percussive pickup lines. Arps are easier to play alternate style and faster and string skipping is a bit easier.

The cons for me (which could be resolved with more practice) is not being able to play in a more looser, free, jazzy bluesy way. Also, gripping the pick this way made it feel real unnatural and hard to hold the pick the usual way after a while of doing it exclusively.
I think this time I may try to incorporate both styles, switching betwen the two depending on the circumstances.
Jon
 
To answer your question, for me no. I prefer the Eric Johnson pick and fingers approach. It feels so natural to me. But if you can incorporate any of SM playing style/techniques into your own more power to ya. He's a phenomenal player and a hell of a nice bloke too.

Colin
 
Hello

I use the "3 fingers technic" like Steve. It is very efficient when you have to play fast lines. But of course, you are not obliged to play ALWAYS with this technic.
In the same song, you will use it for the fast lines in alternate picking, after that you will use the "standard" technic and after that you can use the "country" technic (pick + fingers).
Steve does that perfectly ... in my case I try to do my best :D
If you have the DVD of Steve, you can see nice examples. The right hand of Steve is always moving ... changing the pickups configuration ... doing volume or tone swell ...

Best regards
 
When you say three fingers - do you mean thumb, index and middle finger?

That is not that uncommon is it? I think Eddie Van Halen also holds the pick the same way. Or is there something unique about the way Steve does it?
 
that all seems very difficult to me, heck, it is all i can do just to hold on to the pick and keep the beat!! :D
 
I started using that technique about two years ago, and it's taken me about that long to get a fairly decent handle on it- at first, my plan was to totally revamp my right hand technique, but I've found myself switching it up a lot, just like some of you mentioned above.

For certain things, the "three finger grip" is essential- arpeggios, string skipping, etc.-
I like to practice "tumeni notes" and the intro lick on "User Friendly" and even though I still have a long ways to go to make them sound good, the 3 finger grip really helps.

however I find my right hand reverting to my old grip sometimes, especially when I'm playing pentatonic scales.

I still have a lot of trouble with string noise when I use Steve's grip because my right hand is higher off of the bridge, and that is something I really need to work on.
 
I've always held the pick with 3 fingers. I'm a Lefty playing standard "Righty" guitars (Like Steve) and when I started playing it was all I could do to not drop the pick out of my stupid right hand. My ring finger and pinky tend to stick straight out unless I'm using them to pluck strings. I don't always pick every note-sometimes I prefer the way it sounds not to. I can also play faster without picking every note.

I never really studied anybody's picking technique-maybe I should start.
 
I think it's a matter of preferance and personal style. It might not work for everyone the same as it does for Steve or some other players as well. I tried to also play with the 3 finger grip picking, but I had trouble doing pinch harmonics. I still dont know how he does it so well with the 3 finger grip, because the thumb is in a weird place that way and you would have to move your whole hand forward. Well anyway, I just stick with the 2 finger grip and it works for me. I am still of course learning and trying to figure out what is more efficient for what I am trying to do. But I do have kind of a hybrid Steve's style, because my right hand pinky rests on the pick guard and sometimes I anchor it UNDER the high E.
 
I appreciate your replies, guys...both serious and funny. ;)

There is 2 well known guitarists that come to mind that can make their notes pop while picking ~conventionally~......Al DiMeola and John McLaughlin.

However, all artists mentioned are not human!
 
Hookpunch said:
When you say three fingers - do you mean thumb, index and middle finger?

That is not that uncommon is it? I think Eddie Van Halen also holds the pick the same way. Or is there something unique about the way Steve does it?
Click to expand...

Well, how *my* fingers interpret it is that the top of the pick is against the pad of the thumb (as usual). Then the other side of the pick is held on the side of my middle finger ....not fully on the pad...not fully on the side...in between.
Finally, the middle of the index fingers' pad rests against the actual edge of the pick for added strength and stability. Whether SM does this, I have no idea. The point being the strong stability really helps in the playing and sound of passages.
Your milage may vary.
:)

I'm not an EVH expert, but from looking at a VH concert dvd I recently got (and some old GP interview I vaguely recall), I think he uses his thumb and middle in a takeoff of the 'usual' way so his index finger is free to tap, but he also reverts at times to the standard thumb and index pick hold too.

Sorry for being so pedantic about picking..
 
Hello

I don't know exactly how Steve holds his pick. In my case, I do not use the "sharp" corner of the pick but the 2 other corners (I use classic picks Dunlop 0.73 mm). Thus, you can easily hold the pick with 3 fingers. You need to practice because using the "unsharp" edge of the pick is not easy. But in a few weeks, you don't see the difference.
Another advantage : you can use the 2 unsharp corners, so your pick lasts longer :cool:

The picking technic is so important, Jon you are right to be "pedantic" about it. Look Django : 2 burned fingers in the left hand, but the right hand was so good that his playing was incredible...

Francois (another maniac of the picking technics ...)
 
Hookpunch said:
I think Eddie Van Halen also holds the pick the same way.
Click to expand...

I think he holds it mainly with his thumb and middle finger. It resulted that way due to using his index finger for tapping and showing lead singers the door :rolleyes:
 
actually ed does it 3 ways. when just playing your basic stuff he holds the pick as you would normally. when he does the tremelo thing and some fast stuff its the thumb and middle finger and when he reallys gets goin its all 3 fingers with the index on the side of the pic. and when people bash him its just the middle finger lol. :p
 
yesandno said:
Any one adopt Steve Morse's picking style
Click to expand...
I did cause Steve Morse is my hero.
I like keith's thoughts about the hair though

I think Sterling plays mostly with his fingers and not really with a pick. When I saw him play a SiLO Bass I really rather enjoyed watching his technique. Although at The last Biff Babies all star bash which was way super cool, I got an Ernie Ball pick that said "Big Poppa" on the other side. It went straight into the scrap book. I make no more comments about hair.
 
Roubster said:
I think it's a matter of preferance and personal style. It might not work for everyone the same as it does for Steve or some other players as well. I tried to also play with the 3 finger grip picking, but I had trouble doing pinch harmonics. I still dont know how he does it so well with the 3 finger grip, because the thumb is in a weird place that way and you would have to move your whole hand forward. Well anyway, I just stick with the 2 finger grip and it works for me. I am still of course learning and trying to figure out what is more efficient for what I am trying to do. But I do have kind of a hybrid Steve's style, because my right hand pinky rests on the pick guard and sometimes I anchor it UNDER the high E.
Click to expand...

Hand size might have a bit to do with it. Steve has really large hands and can wrap his entire hand around the neck of his #1 so that his fingers touch or they might even overlap. So, what's 'normal' for him, might be a stretch for lots of other players.
Janice
 
I stumbled across the three finger pick grip by accident. Although I only using in passing, it became avaluable morsel of my ability when I leave a two handed tapping lick because I use my middle finger to tap.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Classic Rock N Roll Slinky
Back
Top