When I started playing guitar, I was self-taught. I held the pick between my thumb-tip and the tips of my index and middle fingers. It worked OK as I was just strumming along with my singing. I lost the pick once in a while, but I just thought of it as something that happens. After a few years, I got into bluegrass and fancied myself a budding bluegrass picker. Well, I hit a wall and just couldn't get any better, no matter how hard I practiced.

So, I decided to take some lessons. At my first lesson, my teacher taught me the "proper" way to hold the pick (index finger curled, the thumb across it at the end knuckle, the pick between them poking out between the fingertip and the thumb-tip). It drove me crazy!!!!!! I couldn't get the hang of it for quite a while and after a short time of trying, I couldn't do it the old way either. Several times I had to put the guitar down and walk away from it to keep myself from smashing it in frustration.

Finally, I got the hang of it, and it really improved my playing. A side benefit is that I only drop my pick once or twice a year now, usually when I am too impaired to really be playing. Once you get used to it, you can control your volume by how tightly you grip the pick. You'd be surprised how loosely you can hold it and still hang on to it once you have the knack. You can even control the angle of rotation of the pick by changing the angle at which you strike the strings.

After 26 years, it's become second nature, but I remember the trauma of learning it. I nearly gave up the instrument. I'm so glad I stuck with it, though; it's brought me so many good times.

jeffp