How to Play Guitar

Guitar Lessons – Right Hand Picking Technique

When first learning how to play guitar solos, it is very important to have proper right hand picking technique; so in the first of these guitar lessons we’re going to look at the guitar pick and the proper way to hold the pick for speed and accuracy.

I prefer a smaller than standard size guitar pick (teardrop shaped), which allows me to play guitar more nimbly (and faster) with less pick getting in the way. When you first learn to play guitar, you most likely started with a standard size medium guitar pick: which is good for strumming. For these free guitar lessons you might try a smaller, thicker guitar pick.

Thicker picks have more resistance to the string, which allows me to play the guitar with more surgical accuracy. But, that being said, choosing a pick is a personal choice.

To hold the pick properly make a hook shape with your right index finger with the finger tip pointing back at your body (your fingernail will be facing left), and place large portion of the pick on the side of your index finger (also pointing left) and hold the pick firmly in place with your thumb.

Now you can rotate you hand into playing position, and you’ll see the tip of the guitar pick under your thumb.

Place you wrist, or rather, the very bottom part of the fleshy palm of your hand just behind the bridge of the guitar; now you know how to play guitar with proper wrist positioning. This will allow you wrist to have a proper pivot point.

For these guitar lessons, we’re going to use an alternating guitar picking style. Simply put, every stoke is going to be down-up-down-up, much like the pendulum of a grandfather clock or the arm of a metronome: which will also help you keep time.

So, now we’ll play 16th notes on the guitar. We’ll start with just one note. Play a G note by place your third finger on the fourth string at the fifth fret.

Starting with a down stroke, play down-up-down-up each stoke consistent with each other (in terms of time) and count out loud:

1 e + a 2 e + a 3 e + a 4 e + a

The strong beats should be hit with a down stroke, so in these guitars lessons the example above would have the downbeats and the “+” placed with down stroke and the “e” and “a” with up strokes.

We can slow this down and play eighth notes:

1 + 2 + 3 + 4 +

With this example, the downbeats (1, 2, 3, 4) would all be down strokes, and all the “+” up stroke.

You should feel the string resist against the pick, just before you release the energy sounding the note. Strive to have the time the note rings to be consistent, regardless of whether you’re hitting a down stroke or an up stroke.

Your wrist barely needs to move, and the closer the pick is after you strike the string, the better. This will allow you to play quicker. Extra movement makes for greater distance for the pick to travel, causing you to play slower. For this tremolo guitar lesson, and learning how to play guitar in general, try using this clear, nimble approach.

Now you’re ready to try this electric guitar lessons at even quicker tempos. Remember, to try to main, regardless of speed, even strokes. And, as always, have fun.