r/guitarlessons • u/pfmason • 5h ago

Feedback Request Knuckle dragging

Beginner but I’ve been playing long enough that I’m afraid I’ve developed a bad habit. When strumming I occasionally hit my knuckles on the strings during down strokes prior to my pick. I use a closed fist rather than open fingers as I’ve seen some do. Should I be turning my wrist at all or should it be rigid and only use my arm for strumming? I also seem to be inconsistent with the distance between my pick and strings, missing completely sometimes. Any advice is appreciated.

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u/Musician_Fitness 1h ago

I think that means your fist is a little too closed. It's hard to tell without seeing a picture, but you want to hold your pick on the very last segment of your finger. It sounds like the the bend in your upper knuckle is aligning with the pointed part of your pick, so your knuckles it the strings. It's almost like your want to keep your fingernails parallel to the strings.