Originally Posted by: vanityphotostudio

Is it common to have a hard time learning to strum with a pick? When I use my thumb everything is smooth and I can hear the song and the rythymn but when I use a pick I just hear a bunch of rough noise with no rythymn ? I have layed ukulele for about 3 years and so use to just playing chords and rythymn strumming with my thumb. I do not know if that has anything to do with it but I feel I need to solve this issue

thanks asking this question as i came in the forums to ask exactly this, im also coming from the ukulele and am finding it hard to use a pick the thinner dunlop ones as manXcat mentioned are easier but not the same, like you im not sure whether to spend some real time getting it right or carry on as i am i dont want to find out later i really should of masterd it before then. But thanks to the anwsers here i think im going without a pick, let me know how you get on.

Jay