Short Description: This article teaches you the correct way to hold the pick.

Losing a pick is the easiest thing in the world. So, go get yourself at least a dozen picks to start with. They are available quite cheap - you could get a good pick at less than a dollar. These come in various shapes, sizes and color. Any shape would do, but go for the ones thick enough to withstand the rigors of sustained striking.

With the problem of choosing a proper pick over, let’s get down to the issue of how to hold it properly.

Relax your “picking hand” and let the palm face you. Then curl your fingers in a loose fist and rotate your wrist till you’re looking at the knuckle of your thumb.

Gently slide the pick between your thumb and index finger so that the pointed end protrudes outwards. It shouldn’t hang out too much otherwise you wouldn’t be comfortable while strumming. Ideally the back end of the pick should be somewhere behind the knuckle of your thumb. Roll open the other three fingers.

Hold the pick firmly but don’t clasp it hard else strumming becomes muted. It might slip off a few times in the beginning but soon you’ll be used to it. Just push it back if it slips.

Sling your picking arm gently over the body of the guitar and rest the pick on the third string just above the sound hole. Plant your other three fingers on the face of the instrument. Then, without moving your wrist, let your arm fall freely using elbow as a pivot. Stop the moment you’ve picked the lowest string. Repeat this exercise starting from the topmost string till you can strike all the strings as your hand falls across them. See to it that you aren’t missing any while moving down.

Now try to pick your way upwards, without moving the wrist of course. Just brush the strings as you move up. You might not be able to hit all the strings - you needn’t anyway. The up strum is usually “off beat” and always weaker than the down stroke. Repeat these movements till you’re comfortable holding the pick.

You’ll surely be surprised if I tell you Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix and Mark Knopfler had their unique styles of holding the pick. So, don’t be too fussy about the “correct” way of holding it. Just see to it that you’re comfortable while holding it and can pick the strings without too much effort.