I don't spend nearly as much time on this forum as I would like, but when I have a problem there is always someone here to help.

Well, today, I'd like to give back. Here is a HOW TO article I wrote up to make a special pick holder for people like me who have trouble holding on to a pick. And so, it's named...

Pick Holder for People
Who Have Trouble Holding On To Picks

Guitarists with hand injuries or arthritis often find it next to impossible to hold on to a guitar pick. Commercial options can cost from $10 to $25 for a contraption which is either poorly made or cumbersome. This invention of mine will cost very little, but offer a level of performance that the commercial ones can only hope for. Here is a HOW TO tutorial to make your own!

STEP 1: Everything you need: some picks of your choice, a few hook and loop cable ties (Amazon, Home Depot, etc), scissors and a hot glue gun.

[img:center]https://imgur.com/KQs2mtC[/img]

STEP 2: Cut the opening ends off so that you have
just a small rectangular pad left.

[img:center]https://imgur.com/LOX80vn[/img]

STEP 3: The angle that the pick is glued on depends upon how you hold your index finger when you play. To find the right angle, you may need to hold the pick and cable tie together and see what angle is best for you. For my use, I tried several angles before finding that if I made them straight like an arrow, they were perfect for me.

[img:center]https://imgur.com/S3pqRrP[/img]

STEP 4: Put a good sized gob of glue on the HOOK side of the cable tie (you want the softer LOOP side against your skin). Place your pick down firmly on to the hot glue until it's well bonded. Remember to tilt the pick angle according to your needs.

[img:center]https://imgur.com/9Y1JgsW[/img]

STEP 5: What the glued side of the pick holder should look like. This is the side that goes against your index finger. Very soft. No scratchies! And the added bit of glue gives more to hold on to.

[img:center]https://imgur.com/2Druk2R[/img]

STEP 6: What the pick holders look like from the top side, where your thumb goes.

[img:center]https://imgur.com/C8UYa1S[/img]

STEP 7: The pick holder in use. You can move it up or down on your index finger to get the right amount of "bite" on the pick. I couldn't take the pictures very well with my left hand, but the cable tie goes over the top of your finger between the knuckles, then around and down through the opening toward you, and then the "tail" of the cable tie gets pulled through and wrapped around the top. I've found that a loose noose is better! lol

[img:center]https://imgur.com/eoaSlsA[/img]

STEP 8: You can let go any time and the pick will still be there waiting for you! Very secure and easy to use. And it cost less for me to buy 120 cable ties and the picks than it would cost for one of those commercially made products which easily break. If these break, it will only be the glue letting go, or possibly a broken pick. So... just get out the glue gun and make another one!

[img:center]https://imgur.com/47fBb9G[/img]

Hope those of you that need this (like I do) can use it. Any questions, just ask! g33zrj1m

(The Pictures didn't come out on the post... I can email a .pdf of the whole article to anyone that's interested.)

Last edited by James Francisco; 01/23/18 07:04 PM.
BIAB 2020 with Reaper 6, on an AMD 8 core CPU, 16GB RAM, 240 GB SSD and 1 TB HD. Retired and trying to make some serious music, before Arthur Ritis spoils the fun.