I've been having trouble with holding my pick between my thumb and index finger lately. They'll move around on me and sometimes they'll fall to the ground or inside the guitar.
Guess it's due to nerve damage in my neck and I'm losing a little grip. Arthritis can be a problem too.
I started looking online for thumb picks (the picks that attach to your thumb) like the Banjo guys often use and was surprised at how much they cost these days.
I have a bunch of celluloid picks(tort colored with Fender logo) lying around that I wasn't using. So I got a few of those picks and wrapped one around a writing pen and clamped it with a clothespin. Then I used the hairdryer on hot to heat the pick for a couple minutes and then let it cool down. Then I removed the clothespin and the pick was in a permanent U shape. Then I glued it to the top of a choice pick with superglue.
Now I have a ultra tin pick, a thin pick, a medium pick and a heavy pick with an attached fold over pick that folds over the top of my thumb tightly and keeps the pick where it needs to be. Still need the index finger to help keep it in place, but it doesn't move around or come out from between my finger and thumb. Also It didn't cost me anything and I'm making use of picks that were not being used.
Hope someone finds this useful.
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Great idea.
I used to buy the NYLON brand and score the tops crosshatch style at an angle with a craft knife to make them a little grippy.
In the end though I just threw them away and learned to just use my fingers because they would still wiggle away and escape.
Yeah. I was always loosing mine so I just stopped. Seems the best way as you don't need to go looking for fingers when you want to play something
I've drilled holes in pics to help me feel them in my hand. Just that little bit of rough surface helps from time to time.
I tried that... I also found that on a pick you can take a utility blade and make a bunch of cuts in different directions, it raises the surface up enough to make the surface grippy...
maybe glue a spot of sandpaper to the pick?
Kind of leery of the sand paper idea. Might end up with raw fingers.
I had thought about using a utility blade. I might go ahead and try that now. For me the 'odd' sensation helps me to better concentrate on holding the pic. That's why I don't always use the pics I drilled. Only go to them when I start having problems. Then go back to the full pics. 3/8 drill bit. Noting real big.
I've had pics spin on me. I'll be playing on point. Then the long flat. Then one of the upper corners..... There are times I'll strum with the sides of my fingers wile holding a pic. Let loose my middle, ring and pinky. Let them strike the strings instead.
I bought a few picks back in the 80's that had a thick top with raised circles on them made by Pick Boy. They worked great till now. I've seen ones with holes drilled through, cork glued to the middle and rubber o rings too. Whatever works for you is good.
Glad I figured out how to make some "clip on" picks, hope it helps someone else.
Please keep listing ideas for others that might find them useful.
Or large paper clips.
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