I'm sure this sounds really simple but I'm talking about playing good bluegrass rhythm. It seems to move when I play anything very fast.
I've been use to old time country where you drag a little coming back up across the
strings. Hope this makes sense. I use a heave triangle pick with an eagle on it.
Just wondered if I could get a better bluegrass rhythm by changing something. I'm getting a little older and still have a lot to learn about the guitar. Any pictures would help a lot.
Thanks Paul

I've wore a hole through the pick guard and partly through the wood from my little finger dragging while playing rhythm.

Posted - 02/07/2010 :  13:52:44    

I use a regular (heavy) pick not a triangle and file the end just a bit. The key is to hold the pick between the pad of your thumb and the first joint of your 1st finger. Check out this Tony Rice clip starting around 1 minute of so.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JFgC3Ub10E

Or this one at 2 and half minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko1H...ture=related

Bruce

Edited by - bbjork on 02/07/2010 13:55:33

Posted - 02/10/2010 :  01:47:17    

I hold the pick a little different depending on if I´m strumming rhythm och picking melody. If I strum I like to hold the pick more against the tip of my indexfinger. When I play melody I hold it between the tip and the first joint.

Posted - 02/12/2010 :  23:02:22    

I use a standard Fender-type heavy pick, BUT
I hold it sideways, and use one of the two rounded corners.
The pick acts stiffer that way, produces less pick noise,
gives you a wider gripping area, and has less leverage trying to pry the pick out of your hand.

It took about a week to get used to it, but it increased my speed and improved my tone, and I can't imagine going back.

Peculiar side benefit:
Yesterday I was in a guitar shop, and the only key-chain pick caddy I had with me was a crummy design that makes it very hard to get the picks out with your fingers... you need needlenose pliers!

Well, I got frustrated, looked down... and there was a pick on the floor with the tip broken off.
Didn't matter to me, I used the remaining round corners, no problem!!!

Drawback: Any pick that has a built in grip CANNOT be used sideways.