Pick Technique: Why Do the World's Best Guitarists Play on the Round Corner?
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Published 2024-04-22
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All Comments (21)
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I always used the rounded corner, didn't pick it up from anyone, just felt more comfortable that way. Was surprised when I found out so many other did it too, thought I was always just "wrong".
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Goes to show you, no matter how many years you’ve played, you still learn new things along the way. Much thanks. I’ll be giving this a try.
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Someone—I wish I could remember who—suggested years ago that I try a mandolin-style pick, which has three rounded corners. I loved the sound immediately, and I got lots of positive comments on my tone, so I’ve never looked back.
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I had been playing for a year or so, I was probably 9 or 10, in the mid 1960's, when I told my guitar teacher that I didn't like the slapping sound my pick made on the strings. He told me to spin the pick around and play with the corner. I played that way from that moment on, probably the last 58 years.
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Never heard about this before - very interesting!!! Thanks!
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I started with the rounded corner some six ago, after 15 years of playing with the tip of the pick and suffering from its ergonomics. I learned about the round corner on a Guthrie Trapp and Uncle Larry video and it blew my mind. Never went back to the tip. Better tone and easier ergonomics for me.
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Even if I try to use the point, I always find myself unconsciously using the round part without trying. Best comfort, best tone, best control, and no rotation. Yeah, thanks for the confirmation. I just thought I was weird, but now I'll just let my freak flag fly.
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Wow, Great Stuff🎉
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i got the idea for trying this from watching the video of Jimi Hendrix live at woodstock, he was switching between using the point of the pick and the rounded corner, you could see at times the point of the pick sticking out away from the strings as he was using the corner.
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I've always liked using the rounded corner. More Comfort, More Control. Makes for great Pinch Harmonics as well.Just sounds great. Fender medium.Nice Attack.
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I experimented with that before. I din't know that others have, too.
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Rounded corner for me. I've been playing for over 35 years and it just feels better to me. I've tried to use the pointed end but I always go back to the rounded corner. Thanks for posting this topic!
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My guitar teacher in nyc (Joe Giglio) turned me on to this in the early 00’s and I’ve never looked back.
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I've only been playing for a couple of years but I picked this up by chance when I saw Uncle Larry using the wide end of the pick. I was having trouble trying playing shuffles like La Grange and thought I'd give it a try. Another thing I discovered by chance was when I bought a novelty pick (Jason's mask with holes for the eyes) and the pick didn't slip as much in my sweaty fingers. So now I drill holes and use the wide end much more, depending on the song.
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FYI Trey Anastasio of Phish famously uses the rounded corner of an Adamas graphite 2mm.
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The "point" is for specific shreddy type things, the corner is for other riff styles. Reasoning: depending on the riff, you dont want the pick grabbing the string and getting stuck.
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Been playing for decades and I've never heard this! In fact, over the years I've searched out more and more pointier picks and now play a Petrucci jazz 3 style pick. I can see how it might be effective for blues soloing where you actually want to play harder with more wrist action. Neat, thanks for sharing!
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I learned it from Bireli Lagrene and many gypsy jazz players (1.5-2mm). Volume, tone, speed, and sure grip instantly increase every time I suggest a student move from the tip to the shoulder of the pick.
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I got my first guitar about 1965 and have always used the point of the pick. That was up until a couple months ago I was watching an interview with Ricky Skaggs and he mentioned he played with the round corner so I gave it a try. My first thought was why didn’t I try this years ago. Now that’s the only way I hold my pick.
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Interesting,will try,thanks.
