Where do you pick?

Aeon · Post by **Aeon** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:33 pm

One thing I've noticed that is very individual to a guitarist is where he/she picks at. Closer to the bridge, you get a twangier response. Closer to the neck, you get a more rounded tone. If you pick right at the octave (eg: 12th fret of an open string, 24th fret of a fretted 12th, etc.) you get a very bell-like tone. This is partly why guitar solos played up the fretboard sound the way they do...

Myself? I play kinda inbetween the neck and the bridge pickup, maybe closer to the neck -- if it were a strat it'd be between the neck and middle pickups. I don't think there is any "wrong" or "right" way to do it. You can see my "technique" here*:

Of course when you're paying attention you can vary it to get a specific type of sound. But I'm asking, when you're not really paying attention, where does your pick normally fall?

*btw, does anyone think I should demo anything, I mean my camera doesn't sound perfect but it captures the sound -alright- ...

Mo Law-ka · Post by **Mo Law-ka** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 10:47 pm

i pick between the bridge and neck pickup (on a tele). sometimes, when im being silly, i pick right next to where i am fingering, just for the lulz.

kim · Post by **kim** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:03 pm

everywhere !

Justin J · Post by **Justin J** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:15 pm

yeah, i'm all over the place. whatever suits what i'm playing.

Bacchus · Post by **Bacchus** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:20 pm

Everywhere, depending on what sound I want, but I never think about it.

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:46 pm

When I'm finger-picking I'm sort of over where the mid PUP is on a strat. With a pick, I rest my hand on the bridge and pick from there. I like to have a place to rest my hand, so I'm kinda limited to the bridge area.

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:51 pm

I generally pick very close to the neck unless I'm trying to sound extra twangy.

Reece · Post by **Reece** » Fri Jun 27, 2008 11:56 pm

Finger picking, I like to rest my hand on the bridge, with a pick i'm usually over the bridge pickup on a regular humbucker guitar.
If I'm sitting down I tend to pick closer to the neck.

freekandy · Post by **freekandy** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 1:34 am

mostly by the neck, but i go all over

Sparky · Post by **Sparky** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 2:04 am

freekandy wrote:mostly by the neck, but i go all over

Oohh, sounds kinky.

laterallateral · Post by **laterallateral** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 2:22 am

I pick between the 22/21st fret and the neck pup.
This is why top bout toggle switches never work for me.

tribi9 · Post by **tribi9** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 5:52 am

Between the neck and middle PU

Post by **Hurb** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:38 am

my nose

Post by **Mike** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:45 am

I have a spazzy style. it would be hard to pin down an area.

turtle · Post by **turtle** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 1:06 pm

Aeon wrote: But I'm asking, when you're not really paying attention, where does your pick normally fall?

*btw, does anyone think I should demo anything, I mean my camera doesn't sound perfect but it captures the sound -alright- ...

where I use my pick, when I do, (I do a lot of plucking and keep my pick in my teeth then), depends on the song, the pickup used...many variables. My index fingernail is involved often when I pick the strings too. Sometimes the flat of the thumb.

Nice demo, really sweet sound. excellent quality

Aeon · Post by **Aeon** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:52 pm

The reason I asked is that when you really break down all the variables of someone's tone, the one that really determines how a player sounds is how the strings are attacked. I mean you could play through anyone else's exact same rig, and unless you were attacking the strings in the same way you'd still end up sounding like you rather than them. Put yourself through any guitar or amp, and your character will still shine through because of this particular aspect.

Well, note choice and skill also has a lot to do with it, but my strummed "E" chord may still sound different than yours, even thru the same rig.

dodgedartdave · Post by **dodgedartdave** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 4:54 pm

Mike wrote:I have a spazzy style. it would be hard to pin down an area.

Tru Dat.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 5:40 pm

dodgedartdave wrote:
Mike wrote:I have a spazzy style. it would be hard to pin down an area.
Tru Dat.

Still streets ahead of you, little man.

Sublimedo · Post by **Sublimedo** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 6:16 pm

I think to learn guitar playing very well, one would need to be able to adjust their strumming hand for several methods but I guess unconsciously I play between the neck and bridge pickups for that overall full sound.

Ninja Mike 808 · Post by **Ninja Mike 808** » Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:55 pm

If the guitar had 3 pick ups, I could pick from the neck to the middle... Diagonally, and all...

Where do you pick?

Where do you pick?

Re: Where do you pick?