Good question :)
I recently changed all my right hand tecnique, the pick, the way to keep the pick, the way in wich i pick. Everything started when i discovered that i could not play a single line and then a chord easily.
Before i was using a strange way to keep the pick ( with 3 fingers, thumb, first and second, in a similar way to Pat Metheny but with a thick pick ) and anchoring my palm on the bridge. I could play quiet fast but the sound ( too much bright ) and the difficulties to change from a single line to a chord made me think about that something was not working.
So i said to myself: " i need to change something in my tecnique cause is not working properly ". I started to keep my pinky anchored on the restfinger of my guitar and at first i found really difficult to play smooth as before...it took to me some mounths, almost 6, to feel a little better..but the problem was not yet solved...still my right arm and hand was not working properly and i have investigated what was wrong again..
I found that to keep the pick with 3 fingers and to anchor my pinky was good but not enought...and .....
So i said to myself, again: " i need to change something in my tecnique cause is not working properly " : )... then i changed the way to keep the pick, this time in a more conventional way,using just my thumb and my first finger but always anchoring my pinky...and i think i recently found a good balance...i will never pick fast as Jimmy Bruno but i can make what i need, single lines and chords...
Sometime i say to myself that the perfect way must be to pick really freely, as George Van Eps suggested, not anchoring the right hand...but it took to me so many times to feel comfortable with my new picking tecnique that when i tried to make some test with the hand free, i found myself in big big trouble...too much big problem....for now i think that, also if not correct, i will keep my picking tecnique...who knows what i will think tomorrow? maybe i will change everyhting again : ).
For me the most important thing playing is the sound ( sure... the rythm and the choice of note too ), the way in which i produce the sound...if the sound is nice ( at least for me ) and if i can make what i want and what i hear in my head, then my tecnique is ok...if not...i change....but be prepared, cause every change brings stress and disappointment...you need to deeply think if that is necessary...if you think it is necessary then make the change...otherwise keep your picking style...don't care about other player on youtube..find your own way to play...your own voice...your own sound...
Right hand is really important, cause it produces the sound, but left hand controls the sound and need a lot of attention too...
Hope it helps, at least a little
BTW: i still suck : )
All the Best
Animitta
