Pick problems

[gplayer33]

Maybe someone has some advice. I am a beginner. I have been playing for a little over a year give or take. I have always held the pick using almost three fingers, the index, thumb and as a balance the middle. I started watching some clips and noticed that no one else held it this way and just used the index and thumb. I have attempted to break my habit and switch over to holding it the same but the pick keeps sliding out of my pinch and moves almost completely to the side no matter what amount of pressure I use. I constantly have to stop and slide it straight again. Any ideas of what I am doing wrong?

[ChipShank]

In all honesty, I would only switch if it's giving you real mechanical problems with your picking technique. I wouldn't do it just for the sake of being "normal". ;) J/K

No seriously though...
There are a lot of really good players that hold the pick with the thumb/index/middle finger combo. Steve Morse (one of the most prolific alternate pickers EVER), Eddie Van Halen (at times), James Hetfield, Doc & Dallas Coyle (God Forbid), Glen Drover...I'm sure that there are many, many more that I'm not thinking of off the top of my head. But suffice it to say, that holding the pick like this can work for you, so don't feel that you HAVE TO change, just because most players don't hold it exactly like that.
If you really feel that it's holding you back somewhat, then that's a slightly different story.

Hope that's somewhat helpful. :)

Don

[gplayer33]

This was very helpful. I will quit this because it makes me feel like I am starting all over again. Thanks.

[ChipShank]

This was very helpful. I will quit this because it makes me feel like I am starting all over again. Thanks.

I think that most players out there go through similar issues right around the point that you're currently at....It's all part of the learning curve. About 2yrs into my own playing, I started taking lessons and I completely changed the way that I picked...more for mechanical reasons, than asthetics.
I remember reading something like one of those Mel Bay beginner books and it talked about exclusively using wrist motion for alternate picking/strumming/etc....then I got hit with a double whammy of realization moments when I started taking lessons & when I went to a Vinnie Moore clinic. Both Vinnie and my teacher incorporated picking motions that used a great deal of forearm motion, as opposed to just wrist motion. That really opened things up for me, because it fit what felt much more natural to me.

Likewise, if using the thumb/index/middle finger combo "feels" more natural and intuitive to you, I would go with it and take it as far as you can before trying to completely re-vamp your approach. I don't know what kind of music you're into or wanting to play....but if your goals are even semi-shreddy...see if you can dig up some video footage of Steve Morse and watch his picking motion. He may not be the out and out fastest player in the history of the world, but he picks plenty fast and not many players out there can rival his lines for picking complexity...so it can work just fine for you.

Like I said though, if you quickly find yourself hitting a wall with your mechanics, and all the intense practice in the world doesn't seem to be helping...then you might want to find a teacher or some one that can take a look at you technique and help you find out what's bogging you down.
Otherwise, embrace your differences and use them to make your own playing unique.
Best of luck to ya.

Don