Strat - Where do you pick?

[tochiro]

Hi,

I'm sorry for this basic question but I wondered if it was best to pick between the bridge and middle PUs or between the middle and neck PUs? I tend to touch the PUs with my pick when I play and I'm not sure how to avoid that. Also, is there a position which sounds better than the other for solos or rhythm parts? Thanks a lot for your help.

Cheers

 

[Drawde]

I pick right over the neck pickup, because that's what sounds and feels best to me. There is no right or wrong. Whatever is most comfortable. And sounds best to you.

 

[RJLII]

When I had a Strat, I tried to pick between the Neck and Middle pickups. I dig kind of deep and had issues with the pick hitting the pickups. It's all two pickup guitars for me now.

 

[Wildwind]

More or less over the middle pickup, which is adjusted just a touch low. You adjust after a while and quit hitting the pickup. OTOH, I do play with the pick quite buried - not much sticks out and there is always skin-to-string contact.

 

[cratz2]

I vary a lot to get different sounds but basically between the bridge and middle, just behind the middle pickup is my standard spot.

 

[TheoDog]

I vary picking location as much as volume and tone control positions

 

[Average Joe]

I guess my default is just behind the neck pickup, but I'm often all over the place depending on the sound I want. You can get a Lot of tonal variations like that.

OP, I hope this doesn't sound like a put down, but you may want to work at your picking technique. If you're hitting the pickups then either the pickups are raised too high or you're digging deeper between the strings with the pick than you have to.

 

[yacht_rocker]

I usually hang out right around the middle pickup, which I have lowered anyway.

 

[Go Cat Go!!]

I never really took it under consideration unless I was going for a specific sound. I normally pick over between neck ans middle, closer to the middle.

 

[Highway Chile]

Depends. On single notes, I like the sound of the neck or middle pickup when picking the string close to the bridge pickup. Strumming, I'm usually hitting the strings pretty close to the neck pickup. All of my pickups are usually set pretty low, so I would not be concerned with hitting the pickup regardless of where I was picking.

 

[faithman2k]

Depends on the sound I am after.

I pick at the neck pickup for or slightly higher for nice full sounds. I pick closer to the bridge for thinner sounds.

That's the beauty of guitar, you can change your sound without necessarily changing any settings or hardware.

 

[PatrickE_FenderADV]

Usually between the middle and bridge, but very close to the middle. Sometime I drift to the other side between the neck and middle, but still hovering close to the middle. I actually never think about it... It's more of a feel thing for me.

 

[Amplifiedsoul]

I usually pick between the neck and middle but will change it up depending on how bright I want to sound.

 

[orourke]

I just picked up my strat and played a while to analyze my picking. I seem hover around the middle pickup sometimes a little closer to the neck sometimes closer to the bridge. Depends on what I'm trying to say.

I think if you play enough you instinctively will move your hand around to articulate different tones.

 

[lowyaw]

over the midle pickup, sometimes moving a little closer to the neck p/up, sometimes a little towards the bridge. i kept hitting that middle pickup, so i don't play Strats anymore

 

[anominous]

I vary picking location as much as volume and tone control positions

Yep, back towards the bridge for more treble/twang - hell sometimes I pick up on the neck for extra fatness.

try a nice thick rounded V-pick or your index fingernail up around the 15th fret. chunky.

 

[rummy]

Over the neck pickup.
I mostly use the neck pickup.

 

[michael patrick]

Hmm, good question. I never really thought about it.

Let's see...

So it looks like I pick right around the area of the middle pickup.

 

[PGrant]

Usually over the middle, or between the neck/middle. Unless im going for a specific tone, then it can be anywhere along the strings.

 

[Daka3]

Picking VERY close to the bridge, almost on the saddles, on strats can procure a really badass sound. Guys like Philip Sayce do it all the time. Also +1 for playing up on the neck, around the 15th. Good strats will respond beautifully to shifts like these.