@@eclark9965 I played with the 3-finger grip for damn near thirty years. Just didn't feel right with only two fingers and I never pressed the issue. Finally forced myself to only use two fingers for a full week to give it an honest try and see what the deal was, but it only took perhaps a few days for me to click with it and naturally go for the 2-finger grip. I've been happy with it so far. I feel like it loosened up my hand and wrist a bit and it now feels awkward trying to go back to using three fingers 😂
@@bluewater82 after years of just using my fingers and thumb pinched to first finger for the strumming, I’m floored by the articulation the pick has given me. I’m going to force myself to keep using it and perhaps learn hybrid picking. It’s great that there’s always room to improve.
@@wyly4864 congratulations 👏🎉 you have the best name in history. Are you a guy Casey or a female Casey? Just curious. The girl Caseys that I knew in school spelt it like "Kacie".
@@iz2333 what? I'm not even a guitar player and I've tried two different ways of picking when I was trying to learn at one point. Also it's immediately obvious to me that three fingers would be sturdier than two, kind of like the dude says in the video
@@SuperLockguyah, your trippin' and don't what your talking about, because you don't actually play guitar. 2 fingers is all you need and is much better for grip and palm muting. Sure you can get used to anything, but the fact of matter is that you don't actually need a pick and can use the tip of your pointer finger pressed against the thumb and shred. No pick needed. Doing this is painful and requires training to get used to, but it's the fact of the matter. No one technique is ever the best way for everything, but using 3 fingers to hold the pick is more awkward ergonomically and requires more movement from your hand to do things. It is definately not "better" then using just 2 fingers in any way.
@@dickrichard626 okay man you're trying too hard to be a big shot funny guy and not acknowledging what I'm actually talking about. I already admitted I didn't play guitar but thanks for anybody that can't read. If I played guitar for 30 years, I would have tried every damn way there is to pick, all I'm saying. Maybe it's cuz you're not good at comprehending things
Let me introduce you to another legend named Dave Mustaine that plays killer riffs and sings. They are the last of their kind and it will be sad when both bands hang it up.
Thats surprising. When I was learning guitar and started getting into metallica I quickly realized hetfield used 3 fingers and always downpicked. I picked up the downpicking but 3 fingers didn't feel right for me
Take a nail and a hammer and punch three or four holes with somewhat pronounced edges into your picks. They'll never rotate unwantedly again. It's the old Rick Parfitt trick.
Same, I actually got to finally meet him back in early 90s 91ish Oakland, And i can tell you he didn't disappoint, he actually Clowned my friend who is also a lifelong M. Fan.
if that pick his using is the same one as the set I got (the pack was labelled with his name and the picks have a wolf head on them) they are definitely worth the extra money, I love how they have little grip dots for a better hold.
Some guitarists, like Dimebag, score their pick with a razor blade or similar to make a hashtag shaped mark on it for a much better grip, it works well...
I’ve been playing for 30+ years and I never even realized that I also use three fingers for picking until seeing this short just now. Not even kidding.
@@H.E.M. 3 fingers gives you more control over the pick for chugging and down picking and like he said it prevents it from rotating at higher speeds which happens to me a lot playing their songs because I use 2 fingers 😂
@@zuckleyplays4120 Nah you’re just holding the pick wrong. Don’t hold it like a pencil ✍️ Look up the correct way to hold a pick. Not saying you have to play that way because who cares. But I’m saying this because I use to have the rotating problem but if you hold it right it shouldn’t since is clamp between your thumb and the side of your Index finger.
I also hold on to my plectrum with three fingers and I also use a 1 mm thick tortex by Jim Dunlop purple or black for control stability and really fast no fail playing, almost there are those times where transitioning from a finger picking into picking or vise versa that the sweaty hand just can’t seem to get a good hold and it goes flying, so I have to rapidly grab another one off the double sided tape on the bottom edge of my guitar and hopefully not miss more than a couple of milliseconds doing so….it’s a real challenge to play metal and diversify slow clean acoustic sounding parts in a song say as fast as master of puppets, i at 53 years old just learned that whole entire song, both parts and it is now my warm up song and also my gauge to see if my applying band prospects have that king of determination and skill necessary to be able to not just play it, but play it perfectly with no bad or missing notes and all downstrokes, I applaud you James and all of Metallica for that matter …. Doing that for thirty fivish plus years and stilll continuing to not only play it but holy smokes I think you guys play it faster and better than ever now….and all your other quick songs that take just a bit more skill than all but a Minuit few in this world can even close to play it right….one of my new favs that you do of mine personally is moth into flame, where do you get that inspiration from….I get mine from the one day hope of being on stage with Kady Gaga , that just makes me work my ass off to play better and better, thanks for the awesome inspiration of a die hard metal guitarist Kevin D.Brunswick
I’ve been playing guitar for 40 years and I have never seen anyone hold a pick like that. It obviously works for him. But, it would be uncomfortable for me.
@@yeeyee1690 the “correct” way to hold a pick is by placing the pick on the side of your index finger and then clamping it with your thumb so it doesn’t rotate as James says. But people hold picks with the tips of their fingers (like James) which isn’t “correct”. I only know this because I took a few lessons a few years back and that has stuck with me. Whenever I try to go back to my old picking habit I just hear the teacher saying that’s wrong 😞
I use 2.5. LIke, two fingers are doing almost all the work but third one is there for support. Doing it with 2 only seems hard and actually holding the pick with all 3 slows me down.
@@zZLemonGrabZz it’s very common I personally use Van Halen style Hetfield and regular open hand/mouth grip. I actually mainly use a cross between Hetfield and regular and my middle finger just supports my index
Actually though, as someone who learned both the "normal" and triple finger pick - it's more to do with attack angle and palm muting. I find getting a near 90* attack on the strings with palm muting is significantly easier with a guitar that's slung lower. It's not just possible to get the same attack and palm mute with traditional style picking
Been playing for 25 years now. Started at 14. Always wanted to be a lead guitarist but when I started to learn songs from Metallica and watching James play I said fuck it. Rhythm guitar it is for me. I don't even hold the pick the right way but I can definitely pick with 3 fingers as James does specially on fast songs.
I also do 3. The first time I discussed this topic with someone I learned most people choke it really hard under their thumb with a two finger grip. I hold it on the tips of the 3 fingers, it gives more control and you can really adjust the flex. I think I developed that style because I play with very small, rigid picks
If there's ANYONE to teach picking technique- it's this man. There may be faster legato players, even cleaner pickers... But NO ONE is as accurate EVERY single night/note
That's a bold statement. One that is only backed up by your opinion. James is great but there are a million 15 year olds that can downpick as fast and clean as he does.
I started the same way as James. Switching to 2 with a curled index finger improved my picking precision for lead playing and speed. I will say I prefer 3 with acoustic-style picking, though. He's right about the point of the pick rotating.
@@the_minimalistic_adventure his elderly voice is BEGINNING to creep in. You missed that important word in my original statement, King Daft. Listen to him interviewing in 2015 and now. His elderly man voice is starting to take shape.
I've always found that 3 fingers has helped me aswell especially when I started but now I switch between 2 and 3 depending on what I'm doing. Really just comes down to what's most comfortable for the player
I finally found a guitarist that uses 3 fingers like I do! I thought I was odd. I'm just like Papa Het! Now all I have to do is master the insane down picking and become awesome... 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
I had the same problem growing up. Switching from saxophone, my pick just kept sliding out of my fingers. It might’ve been that I saw a video or two of James playing, but for as long as I can remember I’ve been playing with three as well. Makes for killer downstrokes and complete control. I’ve never been able to play any other way in my 10yrs+ of playing guitar.
I use three fingers and it used to still spin playing 30 years ago. While playing really heavy music in the death metal scene. I started using jim dunlop stubbles (concaved version ) and haven't had any problems with my pick spinning at all ever since. I'll go back to sharp plectrum now and then but always go back to JD STUBBIES CONCAVED
I once tried playing the Master Of Puppets riff as close to the original speed as I could with all downstrokes. Holding the pick with two fingers set my wrist on fire in seconds. However, when I held it with three, I was not only able to stave off the wrist pain for longer, but I could pick much faster. The only thing about holding the pick with three fingers is palm muting is a little more awkward...
Hearing him talk about the pick moving around while holding it with two fingers is pretty amazing, would’ve thought someone as experienced as him wouldn’t have that problem. Something I still have trouble with at times, might need to try this.
That’s a really interesting insight, because just now trying it out, it feels like I’ve got more stability on the down picking than just using two fingers. I also feel like I’m using more wrist action than arm movements.
Woah, same for me, gotta use that third finger on the pick or it "wanders" all over the place (driving me nuts in the process) no matter how loose or tight I hold the pick. But, using 3 fingers (most of the time) with a hard-grade pick combined with the grippy rubber pads on each side....presto!...it works amazingly well...super accurate and comfortable control. I'm just blown away that James Hetfield has the same issue...lol...
Fuckin love you Pops Het.....absolute guy who is tuned in to what the fuck is goin on.....36yrs of absolute eye opening composition for me....inspiration at the very best!!! X
Ive used 3 fingers picking for 19 years of playing. Its 100% a bad habit and limits my playing, but now seeing Hetfield does the same, I dont feel as bad. I agree with him, i get a lot more control w/ 3 vs 2, but it makes sweeping and appregios in general much harder.
I’ve been playing since 2008 and had never thought about the fact that I, too, use three fingers when picking. Sharing this with Papa Het makes me feel powerful 🤘🏻
You’re Awesome!♥️ One of a kind, James♥️You!! You keep doing you & you’re awesome!! Legendary♥️🤘♥️Love you always! You’re style guitarist & lyrics is your Own!! Rock On!⚡️
I round my picks at the bottom, the part that touches the strings, so that there is no pointy part to catch onto the strings when I'm tremolo picking. Works wonders and helps me pick faster. You can do this easily just by rubbing the bottom of the pick on the pavement.
It’s not just about the grip of the pick, it’s the sturdiness of the fingers. There’s no play when using more than two fingers when picking fast. I would only recommend using the pointing finger to hold the pick when you need to alternate pick arpeggios
When I play rhythm parts I use three fingers as wel. Makes me able to hit those downstrokes with way more aggression and precision. Learnt it from the best rhythm player in metal when I started listening to Metallica when I was 10 years old (y) I only switch to 2 fingers when I'm playing fast solos that require pick slanting but I'm more of a rhythm player anyway, just like James (y)
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who holds a pick with three fingers, I thought I had just learned it wrong and I’d have to relearn but every time i tried 2 fingers I was super uncomfortable. It’s nice to see that holding a pick with 3 fingers isn’t gonna hold me back
I saw a picture somewhere from Kill/Ride Era and James is holding his pick exactly like he described in this interview. If you're a guitarist used to holding with 2 index+thumb, it takes some getting used to, but it allows for more control and power in your picking hand. If only it increased my down pick speed as well 😮💨
I've always used three fingers more control. Also when I first started I couldn't alternate pick for you beginners and I could only up stroke. I was really concerned that I eventually had to alternate my picking and was generally worried that I couldn't down stroke. It felt uncontrolled because up stroke gave me a feeling of grip on the strings. But like anything you fear once you practice it slowly it will come to you and now I look back and laugh at how worried I really was about mastering alternating picking!!! Hope this helps any beginners out there. Small steps lead to big things just keep at it and it will come to you.
Misha Mansoor of Periphery has a similar technique where he also holds the pick with 3 fingers (at least, I remember hearing him say that on some interview years ago).
The secret to his down picking so well In all honesty I can't tell you bc i based my playing on James Hetfield so most of my experience is down picking so its not as hard for me
I play with the round edge. I also curl my finger to hold the pointed end on the inside of my finger so it doesn't rotate and use my thumb to grip it. Guitar players pick up little quirks that just seem to work and it's different for all guitarists.
I can't do two fingers either. My middle is on flat side close to bridge end and my index is partially on the edge of the neck end of the pick. Thumb flat across the backside. It gives me great balance and control
i have multiple grips my favorite is whole hand backing up the pick ill switch to a one a 2 or 3 sometimes i leave the index out and hold with middle and thumb for taps i try to use multiples always sometimes anchored sometimes not depends on song and guitar
I play blues and funk but always used 3 fingers for some reasons. The pick rotates using 2 fingers, unless if I put a lot of pressure making the plucking sound like shit. I tried holding it with 2 fingers (correctly, with the exact right angle), but it doesn’t work for me, guess it’s because my hands skin is insanely smooth and my hands sweat quite a bit sometimes. Never understood how to make 2 fingers work, but with 3 I feel i have much more control even to the intensity i pluck on the strings! Especially with funk grooves and ghost notes/muting.
He's got some kind of Gallup style picking technique he uses, it sounds really good for the thrash sound, haven't heard too many other players do it that good.
And Just for All made me pick up a guitar. Father wasn't home, mom was busy and I got curious about "the dad's side" of everything. Found vinyls, old coins, tapes, Camel Joe money, LA Rams & Raiders Memorabilia, etc... Then Metallica Tapes! Dyer's Eve - musically and lyrically - got me
I love that this is the only time I've ever seen someone who advocates holding a pick the way i do, and it's the guy who i spent all my beginner years replicating.
God damn, when I first started playing and had no idea what I was doing I held my pick with three fingers for like the first couple months, then I got guitar lessons and first thing my teacher did was break that habit and made me play with just two fingers. I could have been James Hetfield!
If you can't get a good grip on a pick, scratch it on the side walk, or some concrete, the scratches will let you get a tighter grip so it doesn't move around while your playing
I also hold a pick this way. What James doesn’t tell you is how terrible it is for lead guitar and alt picking that requires string skipping etc. Its great for tight and fast down strokes or gallop picking tho. Im currently trying to unlearn this picking method.
I do the exact same thing unless I’m alternate picking bc I wanna have as much control as possible. Good to know one of the best guitar players in the world does to
i hold it with two fingers. my thumb and the side of my pointer(like you would hold a coin or card but on the last knuckle). very stable(especially with a thicker pick with depressions on the sides). but maybe 3 fingers is the key to fast downpicking. im kind of fast. i can play creeping death and such.
I actually have had the rotating pick problem for a few years now. I’m primarily a drummer so I haven’t really cared about it, but after seeing this I’m gonna try it and see if it helps.
I started out using three fingers. The problem is the guitar pic naturally points somewhat up when you do that. Since your guitar points up a bit too, you are always picking almost flat across the strings, which I guess is fine for some people. I found it's easier with 2 fingers since I can adjust the angle of attack more by changing the grip a bit..... But who am I to argue with James Hetfield.
I hold my pick in a similar way as James, with 3 fingers, except my ring finger is folded instead of being extended like James, I only leave my pinky out for muting the strings when palm muting. I'm a self-taught guitar player, I never really took any lessons, I learned trying to play songs I like, that's how I ended up holding my pick like that. (I realized I was holding my pick similar to James like 5 years after I started playing guitar)
"That's what"
-She
This is hilarious 😂
That's what she said!
Джеймс приезжайте В Россию мы ждём вас металлика вечна 🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Perfect bahahahaha
Lolllllllll
The pick rotates on him because he beats the shit out of it on the strings. That's how metal is played
Rotates for me too.
@@eclark9965 I switched to Jazz III picks with the aggressive grip texture and it eliminated almost all pick rotation. Give em a try!
@@bluewater82 thanks for the tip man. I’m working on the pick work now. Trying to get it going.
@@eclark9965 I played with the 3-finger grip for damn near thirty years. Just didn't feel right with only two fingers and I never pressed the issue. Finally forced myself to only use two fingers for a full week to give it an honest try and see what the deal was, but it only took perhaps a few days for me to click with it and naturally go for the 2-finger grip.
I've been happy with it so far. I feel like it loosened up my hand and wrist a bit and it now feels awkward trying to go back to using three fingers 😂
@@bluewater82 after years of just using my fingers and thumb pinched to first finger for the strumming, I’m floored by the articulation the pick has given me. I’m going to force myself to keep using it and perhaps learn hybrid picking. It’s great that there’s always room to improve.
*My girlfriend hearing first 5 seconds of audio*
Her: WHAT.
Didnt even pass my mind 😂
Hahahaha
🤣
@@Casey3-P-O Ayy! My name is Casey! 😂🤘
@@wyly4864 congratulations 👏🎉 you have the best name in history. Are you a guy Casey or a female Casey? Just curious. The girl Caseys that I knew in school spelt it like "Kacie".
he also plays power chords with his pinky like a real man
Kirk bars with his pinky too and a lot of guitar players do because it protects the wrist.
I started doing it since I saw kirk@@jamesragsdale8202
there's no other way to do it
@@lalolanda3996I mean, technically, it’s just a 1 and a 5, but that octave 1 added is just natural
@@princelysnail1998 of course. Sometimes I also add a lower octave for that 5
After 30 years of trying to play like James and now I know what I've been missing.
You really never tried picking with three fingers in 30 years?
@@SuperLockguy That's a man who's dedicated to consistent technique
@@iz2333 what? I'm not even a guitar player and I've tried two different ways of picking when I was trying to learn at one point. Also it's immediately obvious to me that three fingers would be sturdier than two, kind of like the dude says in the video
@@SuperLockguyah, your trippin' and don't what your talking about, because you don't actually play guitar. 2 fingers is all you need and is much better for grip and palm muting. Sure you can get used to anything, but the fact of matter is that you don't actually need a pick and can use the tip of your pointer finger pressed against the thumb and shred. No pick needed. Doing this is painful and requires training to get used to, but it's the fact of the matter. No one technique is ever the best way for everything, but using 3 fingers to hold the pick is more awkward ergonomically and requires more movement from your hand to do things. It is definately not "better" then using just 2 fingers in any way.
@@dickrichard626 okay man you're trying too hard to be a big shot funny guy and not acknowledging what I'm actually talking about. I already admitted I didn't play guitar but thanks for anybody that can't read. If I played guitar for 30 years, I would have tried every damn way there is to pick, all I'm saying. Maybe it's cuz you're not good at comprehending things
How he can play the songs he does and sing is pretty amazing legend
Let me introduce you to another legend named Dave Mustaine that plays killer riffs and sings. They are the last of their kind and it will be sad when both bands hang it up.
@@itsalwayssomething7490they are not the last of their kind, that’s just ignorant
@@itsalwayssomething7490technically the last of the golden metal kind. Metal will never be the same once these bands hang up.
@@itsalwayssomething7490check out Dave Davidson that man plays absolutely nuts riffs and sings
cant really call what dave does singing though lol@@itsalwayssomething7490
After all these years I had no idea James used three fingers to hold a pick.
So does Eddie van halen
And now your life is complete
Let me open a box of who gives a dayum. My sister plays circles around his arse.
Thats surprising. When I was learning guitar and started getting into metallica I quickly realized hetfield used 3 fingers and always downpicked. I picked up the downpicking but 3 fingers didn't feel right for me
@@johnj.baranski6553 😂😂😂. Literally laughing out loud about this.
Me trying to remember how I even hold a pick.
James: i use three fingers, my adamantium wrist and my god powers
Ayeeee, look at that, my like brought it to the number of the beast
🤯 I have that pick rotation problem. This is the first time I’ve ever hear that suggestion. Ima try it
Take a nail and a hammer and punch three or four holes with somewhat pronounced edges into your picks. They'll never rotate unwantedly again.
It's the old Rick Parfitt trick.
@@henrygvidonas9573or just buy jazz 3 picks
Try tortex picks,they have a little extra grip too them I find,which is nice
James. You're my hero. Our hero. An absolute legend. I could sit and listen to this dude for hours.
Three fingers
Same, I actually got to finally meet him back in early 90s 91ish Oakland, And i can tell you he didn't disappoint, he actually Clowned my friend who is also a lifelong M. Fan.
Hero of the day
People actually do sit and listen to him/Metallica for hours...not impressive.
if that pick his using is the same one as the set I got (the pack was labelled with his name and the picks have a wolf head on them)
they are definitely worth the extra money, I love how they have little grip dots for a better hold.
Those picks are excellent they’re the only ones I use now!
Some guitarists, like Dimebag, score their pick with a razor blade or similar to make a hashtag shaped mark on it for a much better grip, it works well...
Sounds like a slash thing 🤣 get it
@@joshmalcom89 boo
Never thought of that. I will give that a shot
Try a pick with a 80 grit sandpaper texture on both side for that kung foo grip.
RIP Dime
Damn, that is actually really interesting 🤯 I have never even considered using more than two.
When I try using 2 fingers my picks fly to unknown places. LOL. I agree.
Yeah same. I never even figured it was something unusual to use three.
Yeah why is that? I swear when a guitar pick falls it goes into some void where it will never be seen or heard of again
happens to me all the time😂😂
I use FOUR FINGERS that means I’m better than y’all
@@nemesis8626most guitarists use two fingers , you can strum with three but you don’t get much finesse or dynamics out of three
WARNING: THE MAN , HIS HONESTY, INTEGRITY, DOWN TO EARTH INTERVIEWS , REFLECT HIS LIFE. JAMES IS THE REAL DEAL. GREAT GUY.
I’ve been playing for 30+ years and I never even realized that I also use three fingers for picking until seeing this short just now. Not even kidding.
Same. I was just thinking do i use 3 ? Had to grab a pic and was like yep 3
3 fingers because the pick to huge for your baby 🥕 fingers #2fingergang
@@H.E.M. 3 fingers gives you more control over the pick for chugging and down picking and like he said it prevents it from rotating at higher speeds which happens to me a lot playing their songs because I use 2 fingers 😂
@@zuckleyplays4120 Nah you’re just holding the pick wrong. Don’t hold it like a pencil ✍️
Look up the correct way to hold a pick. Not saying you have to play that way because who cares. But I’m saying this because I use to have the rotating problem but if you hold it right it shouldn’t since is clamp between your thumb and the side of your Index finger.
Me too! 30 years, LoL!
I also hold on to my plectrum with three fingers and I also use a 1 mm thick tortex by Jim Dunlop purple or black for control stability and really fast no fail playing, almost there are those times where transitioning from a finger picking into picking or vise versa that the sweaty hand just can’t seem to get a good hold and it goes flying, so I have to rapidly grab another one off the double sided tape on the bottom edge of my guitar and hopefully not miss more than a couple of milliseconds doing so….it’s a real challenge to play metal and diversify slow clean acoustic sounding parts in a song say as fast as master of puppets, i at 53 years old just learned that whole entire song, both parts and it is now my warm up song and also my gauge to see if my applying band prospects have that king of determination and skill necessary to be able to not just play it, but play it perfectly with no bad or missing notes and all downstrokes, I applaud you James and all of Metallica for that matter …. Doing that for thirty fivish plus years and stilll continuing to not only play it but holy smokes I think you guys play it faster and better than ever now….and all your other quick songs that take just a bit more skill than all but a Minuit few in this world can even close to play it right….one of my new favs that you do of mine personally is moth into flame, where do you get that inspiration from….I get mine from the one day hope of being on stage with Kady Gaga , that just makes me work my ass off to play better and better, thanks for the awesome inspiration of a die hard metal guitarist Kevin D.Brunswick
All these years I felt a little conscious that I play with 3 fingers...I never knew James played with 3 fingers...now I feel much better
Don't feel bad. 3 fingers are great for control. I literally cannot play with 2 fingers. Do you man.
@@alexmethvin8876 😂😉
Same here
Same
I’ve been playing guitar for 40 years and I have never seen anyone hold a pick like that. It obviously works for him. But, it would be uncomfortable for me.
I never thought about using three fingers I might try that
if you start with it rotated around, it won't rotate around.
I thought everyone used 3 fingers.I did from the start.Turns out no.
@@yeeyee1690 the “correct” way to hold a pick is by placing the pick on the side of your index finger and then clamping it with your thumb so it doesn’t rotate as James says. But people hold picks with the tips of their fingers (like James) which isn’t “correct”. I only know this because I took a few lessons a few years back and that has stuck with me. Whenever I try to go back to my old picking habit I just hear the teacher saying that’s wrong 😞
Your boyfriend will love it
@@laurieleiann904 ayo chill
I use 2.5. LIke, two fingers are doing almost all the work but third one is there for support. Doing it with 2 only seems hard and actually holding the pick with all 3 slows me down.
EVH said he holds it with his thumb and middle, and puts his index on the edge for stability when playing fast = 2.5!!!
Yeah I use 3 finger too and yeah its a same problem with me cant play with 2 fingers pick technique 😅
James jr.
@@zZLemonGrabZz it’s very common I personally use Van Halen style Hetfield and regular open hand/mouth grip. I actually mainly use a cross between Hetfield and regular and my middle finger just supports my index
Same man two fingers feels weak when you switch
@@rhyswalsh4483 yeah i can't downpick with two fingers 3 finger is best for me it gives me more grip to hold the pick
@Zahid Ali same here man I think I started on acoustic and always had that grip when I switched over to electric
Exactly the problem I was having with two fingers, why I started using three from the first week of playing
James is one of my favorite guitarist 🎸 metal is so therapeutic on different levels always a awsome show keep getting better ❤️👍👍👍👍👍
Actually though, as someone who learned both the "normal" and triple finger pick - it's more to do with attack angle and palm muting. I find getting a near 90* attack on the strings with palm muting is significantly easier with a guitar that's slung lower. It's not just possible to get the same attack and palm mute with traditional style picking
I was laughing at this clip when I first saw it, then I come to realize that I’ve always used 3 fingers, even on solos
I'm actually happy to stumble on this! I use 3 also. Lol now I feel better about it!!
I’ve always used 3 - assumed that was what everyone did!
@@PeteBaldwin virtually no one uses 3 fingers
@@Gcssdvnkloiutesc and virtually no one down picks like Hetfield.
@@theearthrexden right it comes from Johnny Ramone who James idolized
3, yep. Index, thumb and the middle just rests on it. I’ve been doing that since a kid in 80s.
If this guy isn’t in your top 3 rhythm guitar players of all time, you’re just wrong.
💯
He’s the reason why I switched from lead to rhythm
bob weir, hetfield are the top 2 in my book
Been playing for 25 years now. Started at 14. Always wanted to be a lead guitarist but when I started to learn songs from Metallica and watching James play I said fuck it. Rhythm guitar it is for me. I don't even hold the pick the right way but I can definitely pick with 3 fingers as James does specially on fast songs.
My two favorite are James and Izzy stradlin
I love this tidbit of info James. Very cool. I'll be watching closely to watch your technique. Love ya!
We've been doing it wrong. The God of Metal has spoken.
Awesome vid, thank you for posting
Everybody has their own unique way of doing things
20 years of a pick falling into my guitar and I'm just seeing this... where was the internet when I was 19
I play with two and the pick is always rotating around and I've been looking for a solution. So I'll be trying this out now.
I also do 3. The first time I discussed this topic with someone I learned most people choke it really hard under their thumb with a two finger grip. I hold it on the tips of the 3 fingers, it gives more control and you can really adjust the flex. I think I developed that style because I play with very small, rigid picks
If there's ANYONE to teach picking technique- it's this man. There may be faster legato players, even cleaner pickers... But NO ONE is as accurate EVERY single night/note
Teachers will argue that he is failing with technique miserably... but i guess its not all in technique after all...
Accuracy is definitely not a word you'd associate with Metallica. Very messy band.
That's a bold statement. One that is only backed up by your opinion. James is great but there are a million 15 year olds that can downpick as fast and clean as he does.
What a dodgy statement
@@mrpierreedel He's talking about James, not Metallica overall. Unlike many other bands, James is the one that keeps the right tempo in the band.
三本指でピック弾きすると、二本指に比べて尺骨と橈骨の肘からの回転を使いやすくなるので速いダウンピッキングが可能になり、また腕や肘の筋肉を弛緩しながら長時間での演奏が容易になりますので完全に理に叶っています🙆♂️✨
He's such a special man, that's why Jamie always used three that's the magic number.........🤣😂🎅🎄⛄
I started the same way as James. Switching to 2 with a curled index finger improved my picking precision for lead playing and speed. I will say I prefer 3 with acoustic-style picking, though. He's right about the point of the pick rotating.
You can hear his elderly man voice beginning to creep in. It's hard seeing the fire of your heroes begin to burn out.
it's sad but true. I bet he could still kick our ass. Nothing else matters as long as he's still with us.
@@tortilla.co605 I agree. I hope we have many more years and a couple more Metallica albums ahead of us.
@@tortilla.co605you didn’t have to type all of with two of their songs…
Lol. 59 isn’t elderly, his voice still sounds the same as it always has.
@@the_minimalistic_adventure his elderly voice is BEGINNING to creep in. You missed that important word in my original statement, King Daft. Listen to him interviewing in 2015 and now. His elderly man voice is starting to take shape.
Hetfield: "I've always used 3 fingers."
Me: 😎👍
He grew up with smooth picks.
Yep that’s why I use tortex
I've always found that 3 fingers has helped me aswell especially when I started but now I switch between 2 and 3 depending on what I'm doing. Really just comes down to what's most comfortable for the player
I agree with Hetfield, Three fingers just gives so much more control on picking
Hand: give me pick
James : ok
Hand: riff
I finally found a guitarist that uses 3 fingers like I do!
I thought I was odd. I'm just like Papa Het! Now all I have to do is master the insane down picking and become awesome...
🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
NOTHING CAN STOP YOU!
So did Van Halen, the guitar world is wide open for you!
I had the same problem growing up. Switching from saxophone, my pick just kept sliding out of my fingers. It might’ve been that I saw a video or two of James playing, but for as long as I can remember I’ve been playing with three as well.
Makes for killer downstrokes and complete control. I’ve never been able to play any other way in my 10yrs+ of playing guitar.
Now we know: rythm guitar is played with 3 fingers
I use three fingers and it used to still spin playing 30 years ago. While playing really heavy music in the death metal scene. I started using jim dunlop stubbles (concaved version ) and haven't had any problems with my pick spinning at all ever since. I'll go back to sharp plectrum now and then but always go back to JD STUBBIES CONCAVED
I once tried playing the Master Of Puppets riff as close to the original speed as I could with all downstrokes.
Holding the pick with two fingers set my wrist on fire in seconds. However, when I held it with three, I was not only able to stave off the wrist pain for longer, but I could pick much faster.
The only thing about holding the pick with three fingers is palm muting is a little more awkward...
the kid who uses all their fingers to hold a pencil.
My wife agreed to the 3 fingers , she is down 100 percent good advice 😉👍
This video is OSHA approved
Hearing him talk about the pick moving around while holding it with two fingers is pretty amazing, would’ve thought someone as experienced as him wouldn’t have that problem. Something I still have trouble with at times, might need to try this.
That’s a really interesting insight, because just now trying it out, it feels like I’ve got more stability on the down picking than just using two fingers. I also feel like I’m using more wrist action than arm movements.
Same here. Been playing for over 28 years and always use a combination of thumb, index and middle finger to hold my picks.
Woah, same for me, gotta use that third finger on the pick or it "wanders" all over the place (driving me nuts in the process) no matter how loose or tight I hold the pick. But, using 3 fingers (most of the time) with a hard-grade pick combined with the grippy rubber pads on each side....presto!...it works amazingly well...super accurate and comfortable control. I'm just blown away that James Hetfield has the same issue...lol...
Fuckin love you Pops Het.....absolute guy who is tuned in to what the fuck is goin on.....36yrs of absolute eye opening composition for me....inspiration at the very best!!! X
Ive used 3 fingers picking for 19 years of playing. Its 100% a bad habit and limits my playing, but now seeing Hetfield does the same, I dont feel as bad. I agree with him, i get a lot more control w/ 3 vs 2, but it makes sweeping and appregios in general much harder.
I’ve been playing since 2008 and had never thought about the fact that I, too, use three fingers when picking. Sharing this with Papa Het makes me feel powerful 🤘🏻
You’re Awesome!♥️
One of a kind, James♥️You!! You keep doing you & you’re awesome!! Legendary♥️🤘♥️Love you always! You’re style guitarist & lyrics is your Own!! Rock On!⚡️
I round my picks at the bottom, the part that touches the strings, so that there is no pointy part to catch onto the strings when I'm tremolo picking. Works wonders and helps me pick faster. You can do this easily just by rubbing the bottom of the pick on the pavement.
It’s not just about the grip of the pick, it’s the sturdiness of the fingers. There’s no play when using more than two fingers when picking fast. I would only recommend using the pointing finger to hold the pick when you need to alternate pick arpeggios
When I play rhythm parts I use three fingers as wel. Makes me able to hit those downstrokes with way more aggression and precision. Learnt it from the best rhythm player in metal when I started listening to Metallica when I was 10 years old (y)
I only switch to 2 fingers when I'm playing fast solos that require pick slanting but I'm more of a rhythm player anyway, just like James (y)
I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who holds a pick with three fingers, I thought I had just learned it wrong and I’d have to relearn but every time i tried 2 fingers I was super uncomfortable. It’s nice to see that holding a pick with 3 fingers isn’t gonna hold me back
Never used a pick.
I saw a picture somewhere from Kill/Ride Era and James is holding his pick exactly like he described in this interview. If you're a guitarist used to holding with 2 index+thumb, it takes some getting used to, but it allows for more control and power in your picking hand. If only it increased my down pick speed as well 😮💨
I've always used three fingers more control. Also when I first started I couldn't alternate pick for you beginners and I could only up stroke. I was really concerned that I eventually had to alternate my picking and was generally worried that I couldn't down stroke. It felt uncontrolled because up stroke gave me a feeling of grip on the strings. But like anything you fear once you practice it slowly it will come to you and now I look back and laugh at how worried I really was about mastering alternating picking!!!
Hope this helps any beginners out there. Small steps lead to big things just keep at it and it will come to you.
Misha Mansoor of Periphery has a similar technique where he also holds the pick with 3 fingers (at least, I remember hearing him say that on some interview years ago).
The secret to his down picking so well
In all honesty I can't tell you bc i based my playing on James Hetfield so most of my experience is down picking so its not as hard for me
Legendary♥️🤘♥️
One of a kind, love you James!!
♥️🤘♥️
I play with the round edge. I also curl my finger to hold the pointed end on the inside of my finger so it doesn't rotate and use my thumb to grip it.
Guitar players pick up little quirks that just seem to work and it's different for all guitarists.
I can't do two fingers either. My middle is on flat side close to bridge end and my index is partially on the edge of the neck end of the pick. Thumb flat across the backside. It gives me great balance and control
A big part of my simple guitar life. Papa HET made me play guitar. Love you James!!!
I've always used 3 myself. It really sucks for sweeping but for chugging it's perfect.
Hi James, thank for sharing! 🤟
i have multiple grips my favorite is whole hand backing up the pick ill switch to a one a 2 or 3 sometimes i leave the index out and hold with middle and thumb for taps i try to use multiples always sometimes anchored sometimes not depends on song and guitar
I play blues and funk but always used 3 fingers for some reasons. The pick rotates using 2 fingers, unless if I put a lot of pressure making the plucking sound like shit. I tried holding it with 2 fingers (correctly, with the exact right angle), but it doesn’t work for me, guess it’s because my hands skin is insanely smooth and my hands sweat quite a bit sometimes. Never understood how to make 2 fingers work, but with 3 I feel i have much more control even to the intensity i pluck on the strings! Especially with funk grooves and ghost notes/muting.
Smooth hand skin is an issue, but we get around it!
James mentioned this in a guitar mag decades ago and I adopted the approach and its worked out well for me. Its subconscious now.
He's got some kind of Gallup style picking technique he uses, it sounds really good for the thrash sound, haven't heard too many other players do it that good.
And Just for All made me pick up a guitar. Father wasn't home, mom was busy and I got curious about "the dad's side" of everything. Found vinyls, old coins, tapes, Camel Joe money, LA Rams & Raiders Memorabilia, etc... Then Metallica Tapes!
Dyer's Eve - musically and lyrically - got me
As a lead guitarist myself, I actually use 3 fingers even for faster alternate picking lead soloing or any guitar stuff for that matter.
I hold the pick between thumb and middlefinger with indexfinger and ringfinger at each side for controlled rotation and relaxed grip.
Where can i see the rest of this interview?
I love that this is the only time I've ever seen someone who advocates holding a pick the way i do, and it's the guy who i spent all my beginner years replicating.
Where's the entire interview?
God damn, when I first started playing and had no idea what I was doing I held my pick with three fingers for like the first couple months, then I got guitar lessons and first thing my teacher did was break that habit and made me play with just two fingers. I could have been James Hetfield!
Yessir spoken like a true gentleman/ professional ❤
If you can't get a good grip on a pick, scratch it on the side walk, or some concrete, the scratches will let you get a tighter grip so it doesn't move around while your playing
I play very similar to James. Down to the way I hold my pick and power chord. I never realized this til recently.
I also hold a pick this way. What James doesn’t tell you is how terrible it is for lead guitar and alt picking that requires string skipping etc. Its great for tight and fast down strokes or gallop picking tho. Im currently trying to unlearn this picking method.
I do the exact same thing unless I’m alternate picking bc I wanna have as much control as possible. Good to know one of the best guitar players in the world does to
i hold it with two fingers. my thumb and the side of my pointer(like you would hold a coin or card but on the last knuckle). very stable(especially with a thicker pick with depressions on the sides). but maybe 3 fingers is the key to fast downpicking. im kind of fast. i can play creeping death and such.
I always thought I was holding the the pick wrong too but to hear it from one of my guitar hero say it too. You hold it the way it suits you
I actually have had the rotating pick problem for a few years now. I’m primarily a drummer so I haven’t really cared about it, but after seeing this I’m gonna try it and see if it helps.
I started out using three fingers. The problem is the guitar pic naturally points somewhat up when you do that. Since your guitar points up a bit too, you are always picking almost flat across the strings, which I guess is fine for some people. I found it's easier with 2 fingers since I can adjust the angle of attack more by changing the grip a bit..... But who am I to argue with James Hetfield.
I hold my pick in a similar way as James, with 3 fingers, except my ring finger is folded instead of being extended like James, I only leave my pinky out for muting the strings when palm muting. I'm a self-taught guitar player, I never really took any lessons, I learned trying to play songs I like, that's how I ended up holding my pick like that. (I realized I was holding my pick similar to James like 5 years after I started playing guitar)
I do both
Usually two for lead parts, and three for chords and rhythm
I did for years and years. I had to retrain myself. Gorilla Snot helped me keep a better hold it.