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I've Been Holding My Pick Wrong (what I'm changing in 2026)

BERNTH Guitar Academy

26,032 views

🎸 GET THE RELAXED PICKING PACK Tabs, Guitar Pro files, backing tracks, play-along videos, and the full ebook for all exercises in this video: 👉 Patreon: bernth

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If your picking hand feels tense, inconsistent, or like it's fighting you at speed, this video walks through exactly why - and what to do about it.

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#guitarlessons #pickingtechnique #guitartechnique #alternatepicking #guitarpractice

20 Comments

@BERNTHGuitarAcademy Creator 2 months ago Pinned

🎸 GET THE RELAXED PICKING PACK Tabs, Guitar Pro files, backing tracks, play-along videos, and the full ebook for all exercises in this video: 👉 http://www.patreon.com/bernth

@Kitten_Party 2 months ago

Learning bluegrass took my alternate picking and inside out picking to a supersonic level, after playing 25 years, 3 months of learning bluegrass tunes and keeping downstrocks on the downbeat absolutely changed everything by loosening it alll up and emphasizing the rhythm.

@Lee1307 9 days ago

Man, your tutorials are changing the way I play. I am not even kidding. Finally an amazing YouTuber who teaches correctly. I’ve been playing guitar and forcing my playing for over ten years until I got to a point where I couldn’t get better because of tension and wrong technique. I’ve recently changed my picking grip and whilst it feels uncomfortable it is correct now and I am getting cleaner and better with no pain in my hand or arm! I am enjoying guitar playing! Thank you Bernth.

@plutoniumcar 2 months ago

Thank you, brother. So many good tips and techniques in your arsenal.

@AizaakThurston 2 months ago (edited)

This is a crazy video to see as a newbie who a few months ago googled how to hold guitar pick and ended up adopting yours based on an older video :P (After watching i'm relieved, I hold the pick the same way and I was already going for economy of motion and relaxed grip)

@MC-zv2zu 2 months ago (edited)

I am so glad you exist and I have the opportunity to see your videos. Thank you a million times 🙏🙏🙏🤘🤘🤘

@dawnjonsin9447 2 months ago

Can't wait to try this. Recently, I've been recording and hearing back what I practice and I am so dissatisfied with what I hear. Every note sounds stacatto, even when I'm slowing down and being extremely mindful. I'm hoping this helps tremendously.

@newaysonly 2 months ago

GREAT! exercise #2 we can play on every set of 3 adjacent strings in the same scale.

@zdknzdkn 2 months ago

Amazing! It's hard to find well-explained insights about "conscious" approaches when you're not yet aware of them yourself. With time, if you're lucky, you start to recognize those things. But finding someone like you, who is conscious of them and can clearly explain the why and how to overcome them, isn't common.

Thank you❤

@Albert2027-hq4xp 2 months ago

Excellent Monsieur 🎸👏🎸👏👏👏

@benwong4352 1 month ago (edited)

Bernth, this actually really helps, I was practicing 8th notes and 16th, I couldn't really get it down, tried Lots of exercise，did the time, still didn't get it, until NOW, after I relax my griping just as the vid mentioned, I GOT IT 🥹 I GOT IT, many many thxxx man 😭💙

@ramonleonegea 2 months ago

Very nice Bernth, I actually play electric guitar with my fingers, so it doen´t apply to me, but I like to watch your stuff, cheers Ramón.

@AdrianTsod-gt1tz 2 months ago

Thank you for the tip, actually I have been holding my pic for many years for the same way, and keep losing my grip on it. But i learned some things here that hopefully will maybye give me a better pic technicue

@scissorjammer 1 month ago

Your pick videos are very helpful, but it would be nice to include some information on strumming pick technique as well

@KanhaSahu-r8r 2 months ago

Thank you ❤️

@TSpooning 2 months ago

Great tips? This reminds me of when a friend tried to teach me how to grip a golf club. He tried to slide it out of my hands and said that if he could, then I'm gripping the club correctly.

It's because our muscles naturally contract when we start moving at a higher speed, so we can hold it loosely and our grip will do the rest. Applying that to our pick grip makes a ton of sense!

@pafpro34 1 month ago

Exercise 2! play ignominious and pale solo

@Durkhead 2 months ago (edited)

I like to hit the string with the side of my thumb so it makes whatever notes or chords have more embellishment

@MegaCherokee69 2 months ago (edited)

I tried to change my pick attack up by using light tension to hard tension to see what felt more natural. Relaxed was a lot better and I had more control. Everybody should check this out. It can only help.

@burnsontherun 2 months ago

Next time you do this can you address what type and thickness of pick that you prefer? I get this is personal but it may be a good starting point for others to dial in their setup. Some people may be using the wrong type or thickness of picks in general which could also be impacting their progress! Thanks for the vid as usual!