Zaxist

Hey! well where to begin.

Ive been playing for 8 years and concentrating on metal rhythm for about 4 of those. Now by all means I consider my self a pretty good rhythm player, but in the last couple of days I've been trying out these Jazz III picks that seem to be all the rave.

Now whilst playing these I noticed that when I was executing fast downpicking I seem to be often clipping small parts of my index finger or even nail on the string a split second before the pick or in some cases after. Like I said this is a very, very minor clip of the finger, not a giant wack o the strings. Now this is giving me no unwanted noise what so ever, but after a while it can begin to hurt the skin just below my nail on the top side of my index finger and it swells and grazes and all sorts of stuff.

Yes I know how to hold my pick properly and comfortably, so I don't attribute it to that.
I switched back to a regular Dunlop 1mm pick and found that though less common, the same thing was still happening, like I said though, it is not giving me any noise at all even under high gain.

I have attached a picture showing the part of my index finger that I'm talking about, (Im a lefty).

So my question is this: Is this just something that happens and over time you can learn to live with, or try and make it happen less often, OR is this a serious flaw in my picking technique, since I haven't had a lesson in years??

Thanks fellow metallers in advance!

Zac.[/IMG]http://s1277.beta.photobucket.com/u...a286ea.jpg.html

KailM

I think that you should switch back to a pick that works for you. I use large, equilateral triangle shaped picks and that's all I can use. When I try to use small, normal picks like a lot of other people I hit my fingers all the time and can't play worth a shit.

With my normal large picks I can play blisteringly fast metal rhythm, tremelo picking, pinch harmonics, accurate leads and everything. Do what works for YOU.

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Junior#1

Just because Jazz 3's feel comfortable to some people doesn't mean that you have to use them.

And your picture doesn't show anything that can help us. It's far too blurry. Or maybe I'm just far too drunk tonight. Either way, a video would help us more.

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Zaxist

Cheers dudes btw KailM, another part of my question was, is it "normal" (for want of a better word) even with a general large to pick to hit your fingers here and there a bit?

steven seagull

No that's not normal - it simply comes down to poor technique, which is down to a lack of effective practice. Picking is pickingm there's no such thing as "metal picking", it's the same basic action regardless of what you're playing or how fast you're playing.

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StrykVladzimsky

I use Jazz III's regularly and I've never hit my fingers against anything...

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Spaztikko

I use Jazz IIIs for lead and stuff, but I hold mine with the 2nd finger as well, so when doing fast chug I'll hit my middle.

Now I do lead work with my Jazz, and use a ginormous mandolin pick, which is essentially a giant elongated one for chug. I'll post a pic sometime maybe, it really is unique.

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Zaxist

Yeah, thanks everyone, I think since I notied it two days ago, I seemed to have disciplined my hand a fair bit, and its getting better, should just take a week or two.

Zaxist

And Steven thanks! Yeah I think I knew that it was poor technique, I'm more just wondering if it is really something to worry about drastically? or gradually fix it? and how "common" is it amongst metal players?

Thanks in Advance.

Zac.

KailM

Well, it's "normal" in the fact that if you don't practice enough, you'll hit your fingers. You need to choke up on that pick a bit more/curl your fingers in a little more.

My issue with small picks is that I have gorilla hands and fingers, so I need a larger pick.

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I march to the rhythm of a different blast-beat.

Schecter Blackjack ATX V-1
Epiphone LP Studio w/ Dimarzio D Sonic bridge pup
Peavey 6505+ 112 w/ Eminence Governor
TC Elec. Hall of Fame 'Verb/Flashback Dly
Ibanez TS-9/MXR 10-band EQ
Boss HM-2

Zaxist

Alright cheers dude, Ill concentrate on that.

Zaphod_Beeblebr

So how does that work out for gigging? -_-;

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J_W

Sounds like you are angling the pick upward and your finger is hitting first. Hold the pick at a 90 degree angle to the strings. That's all I can think of. I never hit my fingers when picking so I would say it's not normal.

Freepower

Can you upload a pick of the way you hold the pick? You're almost definitely doing it wrong if you're having this problem.

If not, then the obvious thing is to make smaller, neater picking motions and show very slightly more of the pick.

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Spaztikko

Pretty ok, since I tape my picks to my guitar. Its a shitty aria, I don't care about the paint.

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