Developing Your Single Note Picking

Mastering the plectrum, that small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument.

Published: 21 Mar 2011 Updated: 08 Dec 2022Visits: 11Code: GL04

Category: ChordsInstrument: Ukulele Subjects: Beginner • Picking

Share Developing Your Single Note Picking on: Bluesky facebook twitter (X)

NO Additional Assets/Resources Available at this time.

All 4 sample page(s) are viewable on-line.

If you're a registered site member, have verified your email address, and have the correct permissions you can view ALL the pages of this PDF or Samples pages at a larger size using the LearningUkulele.com Online PDF Viewer .

This Download is NOT part of your LearningUkulele.com membership level.

Sign-up for Premium Site Access or Upgrade Your Plan your current access level to download this PDF or your can purchase a copy for download.

After purchasing a PDF , a download link will be sent to you within 24hrs.

Contact LearningUkulele.com if there are any issues.

Each PDF file is a formatted, high resolution file that prints out great. You'll need a PDF Reader or application capable of viewing PDF files to view the PDF.

NOTE: Download the current PDF file for the latest, complete, and most up-to-date version. As well as additional information not presented on-line.

Members and Active Students need to sign-in to download this lesson's PDF for the complete lesson.

Developing Your Single Note Picking


Developing you single note picking starts with holding the pick properly, choosing the proper size and material and actually working on picking on your guitar.

Additional Content
Available for Premium Site Access Plans Only

Sorry, can't give it ALL away!

This content requires a Premium / Gold Access Plan or enrolled in the Study with Curt - On-line or Private Lesson Program.

To view additional content for this page you'll need to either Sign In or Register or Upgrade to a Premium Site Access Plan.

Picks come in all shapes, sizes and materials. I suggest you use a medium to heavy pick.

Picks are categorized by their thickness with a Thin being the lightest and a Heavy being the heaviest. A medium to heavy pick offers the most versatility in a wide range of musical situations.

The Pick Hold

Reach out like you’re going to shake someone’s hand. Bend your index finger at the first and second knuckle. Place the pick on your finger and your thumb over the pick, covering any logo if there is any. Leave a small amount of the pick exposed. ( see photo below ) This allows you to use a minimum amount of effort to hold the pick, without it falling out of your hand.

his will feel a little strange and unnatural at first. You can practice holding the pick anytime. You don’t even need to have your instrument with you — only a pick.

Master Picking by Chuck Anderson

Sign-IN — it's FREE — to view, un-blur any additional content for this lesson.

Developing Your Single Note Picking…

Pick Direction

Pick direction is either down or up. Seems simple at first. All you need is to pick one or more strings down or up. In reality, picking is one of the more difficult and neglected parts of playing the guitar. It is commonly taken for granted with all the focus on the other hand.

A down pick stoke is indicated as:

.

An up pick stoke is indicated as:

.

As the ukulele and guitar do not have a pick stroke indication of their own the pick stroke indicators are borrowed from the violin.

See the PDF for the complete and most up-to-date version of the lesson.

Download the PDF file for the latest, complete, and most up-to-date version. As well as additional information not presented on-line.

End of Lesson - Thanks, Hope You Enjoyed It!

Related Lessons, Videos, Lesson Series, Songs, Books & Reference Charts, Resources & Assets, Workshops are below.

Site Access Plans for LearningUkulele.com

Forever Access - With Forever Premium Access, you get ALL the benefits of a Premium Access Subscription such as Unlimited 24/7 access to ALL lessons, downloads, songs, play-along jam tracks, videos, email access to Curt, resources, related assets, and ALL books by Curt as FREE downloads. Pretty much everything on the site, and NEVER worry about a subscription or surprise payment again. And jump the queue for responding to any questions.

If you're anything like me (Curt) and getting Subscription overloaded with everything and everybody on-line wanting money from you once a month — I'm with you. For like-minded individuals, this forever plan is a pay once, and you're done.

The price for Unlimited Forever access is right around the cost of a few months of private lessons. I can guarantee there is more than enough material on-line to keep you busy for a long, long time. And, you get all of my books for FREE . That alone is more than the cost of this plan.

Premium Access — This premium gives you Unlimited 24/7 access to ALL lessons, downloads, songs, play-along jam tracks, videos, email access to Curt, resources and related assets. As well as ALL books by Curt Sheller as FREE downloads.

Basic Access — A limited selection of basic lessons — ( currently over 140 ) and 100+ songs for ukulele as well as basic general music reference material — FREE

Simply Register/Signup. HOWEVER – I've been doing ukulele and LearningUkulele.com since 2003 and probably have given too much away already - as reflected in my income from the site in relationship to the time spent on the site. So help support this site and its continued development by signing up for one of the below Premium Access Plans or buy a few of my books. - Thanks, Curt

NOTE: Each higher access level includes ALL the benefits of the lower levels. Private Lessons include all the benefits of a Premium Access Plans as long as you remain a student on the schedule.

Love LearningUkulele.com? • Show your support!
Support development via a monthly membership or a one-time forever membership!