Close trigger vs. extended trigger: pros and cons?

Playing Technique
#1

I’ve started using a “tighter” trigger grip recently, by which I do NOT mean “more force” but “pick is partly over the DIP joint of the index finger, but slightly past” I’ve found that this paradoxically allows me to use less force holding the pick and still get good haptic feedback. It also seems to enable a wrist-only DBX motion that I find quite awkward when using an extended trigger grip (pick mostly held by the thumb over the distal phalanx of the index finger).

Are there any notable pros and cons to these two grips? The pick is roughly the same distance from the axis of motion (i.e., held by the same part of the thumb). I had found that the extended grip was crushing and causing me skin pain on my index finger.

The only drawback to the “closer” grip that I’ve found is that the wrist range for tracking seems lower, making crosspicking and string skipping less comfortable. Also, less of a drawback, but the close-trigger grip I’m talking about seems to work better (particularly when standing) with a sharper pick, since it’s harder to get a low edge picking angle.

Reference:
extended trigger, which causes some discomfort:

image
image764×1037 23.9 KB

close trigger:

image
image976×1220 31.2 KB

#2

I used the pick-holding technique from the first picture for about a year, and after every intense practice session, my index finger would start to hurt. The discomfort was barely noticeable at first, but it got worse over time, and my index finger even developed a slight deformity. What’s more, I found this method made my playing unsteady. So I switched to the technique in the second picture—similar to Paul Gilbert’s—and I’ve felt much better ever since.

But a very talented electric guitarist friend of mine uses the first technique, and he says he’s never felt any discomfort at all.

If you look at it from a pendulum (is that the right term?) perspective, the first technique has a slightly larger swing range, and the fingers bear more pressure as well. The second one requires a slightly bigger angle from the wrist or arm when picking strings, but it feels really stable to me. So I’m trading a bit of movement angle for more playing stability.

I’m using a translation app to talk to you, so my wording might sound a bit odd or stiff.

1 Like
#3

You’re describing something quite close to what I’ve experienced.

I think PG used (when he was using a trigger grip) the more extended version, not the close trigger that it seems we both use. But if it works, it works!

#4

Rule of thumb: if it hurts, don’t do it. That said, I’ve more-or-less always used extended trigger without issue - I’m in my mid forties now and have played for 32 years. I have a couple of (maybe) tips.

First, I’ll sometimes brace the index finger with the middle finger. This makes the entire structure feel more secure to me. However, there are plenty of times I don’t do this, and I am still without issue, which leads into:

Second, I do not use much strength at all to hold the pick. I am not sure how, exactly, but through experimentation with attack and keeping pick depth relatively shallow, I can keep it in a consistent spot without moving around, despite the light grip. It’s possible it’s an illusion, but in the two photos above, it looks like the thumb is applying a good deal of strength, with the flesh whitening a bit at the tip. The index finger can’t really push back against that, so that might be the root cause of the pain.

Anyway, all that to say - if the second grip is better for you, it’s better!

1 Like
#5

I think these are great points!

I don’t think I’m death gripping the pick – BUT I find “pick flop” really disconcerting and don’t like it. It may be as simple as the geometry of close-trigger minimizing flop even with minimal pressure: I have pretty small fingers.

1 Like
#6

I think the question is too broad to be answered without more details, like:

what arm position and motion are you using, in combination with those different pick grips?

Or more practically, try both and if it feels and sounds better… it is better :slight_smile:

Yes, we could have more nuanced situations like “feels better, sounds worse” or “feels better for lick type XYZ but worse for ABC” etc. :smiley:

Edit: example that comes to mind. Guthrie Govan seems to use a closed grip for single-note picking, but a more extended one for his legendary “funk strumming” technique.

1 Like