Strumming

I'm extremely frustrated. I'm still a beginner, although I can play most of the basic chords, some bar chords, etc. My aim is to write my own songs but, as I'm self-taught, I guess I've fallen into some outstanding habits; one of which is associated with strumming. Whenever I attempt to strum my chords, the pick always wiggles out from between my fingers. It doesn't fall out of my hand, but I'll reach a point where I'm strumming while holding the very edge of the plectrum. I can't determine what the problem is, and it's a longstanding habit that's threatening my resolve to fully learn this instrument. Can anyone provide any insight?

Hey, there! Sorry for your frustration.

Originally Posted by: lrmaloneyWhenever I attempt to strum my chords, the pick always wiggles out from between my fingers.

This is a matter of finding the right amount of pressure & leverage to use when strumming.

Have you gone through the Fundamentals courses here?

www.guitartricks.com/course.php?input=1

GT also has two great instructors for acoustic strumming styles. Lisa has lots of great basic strumming lessons.

http://www.guitartricks.com/instructor.php?input=311296

As well as Caren!

http://www.guitartricks.com/instructor.php?input=1796810

Hopefully if my fundamentals courses can't help, then one of those ladies can! Let us know how it goes! And best of success. :)

Thank you so much for the reply.

Having already watched your fundamentals course, and after now having watched the others, I can say that I'm still experiencing the same problem. I align the pick with my index finger to act as an extension of it, grip it with my thumb (not too lightly or too tightly), yet the plectrum continues to slide away the longer I strum (which isn't very long). It's clearly my technique, but I can't put my finger on what aspect in particular is causing this. Maybe I'm not holding it tightly enough? But if I were to hold it any tighter, the pick wouldn't work with the strings in the correct manner. My arm and hand are straight as I strum as well.

I should note that I play an acoustic. I'm not sure of the string gauge, but they aren't terribly thin. The plectrum itself is quite thin; as thin as the make can go.

I had the very same problem, pick was always spinning around / sliding away from me. I watched (and rewatched) the beginner pick video here and scoured youtube videos to find some clue to what I was missing. I don't know if it was chance, or if something clicked from it, but this is the video I ran across that seemed to make the fix for me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JBxNFEg0nU

I started off using the yellow Tortex which is when I was having the slipping issue. I switched to the .38 white nylons he shows and its thinness (being more forgiving than the thicker picks) allowed me to focus more on form while strumming instead of constantly dealing with the pick moving around.

After a while, I switched back to the yellow Tortex and found that the issue was...well...much less of an issue. I was even able to just pick up a Jazz III pick shortly after and use it for clarity working on scales and such. Hope this helps!

(As a point of reference, I just started learning guitar in January.)