Pick Technique: Why Do the World's Best Guitarists Play on the Round Corner?

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".

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.

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.

Never heard about this before - very interesting!!! Thanks!

Wow, Great Stuff🎉

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.

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.

I was a classical player in college who picked up (no pun intended) electric guitar about 10 years ago. I've messed around with playing on the rounded corner (I need to get back to playing that way!!).....and noticed that it sets up a better placement and distance from the other strings for the OTHER fingers. So I can easily see how someone like Tom Bukovac would like the rounded corner because of how much hybrid picking he does.

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.

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!

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!

I only felt comfortable using the round corner, tried to make myself use the point and just couldn’t get on with the point, I’ve always tried to see how some of the players mentioned hold there pick because I felt like I was not going be able to reach certain levels using the round edge hoping I would hear or see somebody using the round edge, and crazy as it is, some of the players you mentioned I enjoy had that sound I gravitate too, appreciate you bringing this into your video, sure was a relief and encouraging to know Others do the same. You are remarkable player and instructor, today is the first day in several years your channel come up on you tube, man many are missing out of a wealth of knowledge and information

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.

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.

Started realizing this and doing it very recently...nice to have some validation

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.

Interesting,will try,thanks.

Great subject.

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.

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.