Hello all.
Been playing guitar 31 years. Music major (later a minor) in college, and devoted a lot of my focus to music theory over the years.
Also have played on and off in working cover bands (the usual rock songs) as a lead guitarist if it helps give an idea of my skill level.
Was never taught proper picking technique. In fact, I have some unique (I think) habits of:
A: holding a pick with 3 fingers
B. Resting the side of my palm on the bridge when I do any intricate picking
C.: often leading and making first contact with the tip of my index finger, and ending after the pick attack with the side edge of my thumb
“C” always made me sound a little different, so I embraced it and it sort of became my “style”.
It also handicaps me from certain licks/styles. (e.g the Intro to Don’t Stop Believin, end of the Tom Sawyer solo, the tremolo picking at the end of the Gypsy Queen (Santana) solo.
I also find that I drop picks more than most while playing live. Also the pick tends to rotate sideways between my fingers after a while and I need to reset it.
I’m been using thin .73mm gray Dunlop nylon picks forever. Just started 1mm in hopes to get on track.
Also hope to hear from some folks who has/had similar issues as me, and if they fixed it!
-TW