I'm new to Strats and can't seem to make up my mind on where to pick the guitar when playing? I just bought it (American Deluxe Stratocaster) and what I mean is that I'm use to playing a Les Paul, basically palm muting a lot and pick the strings right in between the rythym and bridge pickups. On the Start I have the problem of trying to decide to pick between the neck and middle pickup or middle and bridge pickup. I heard this was an issue for Ritchie Blackmore and he ended up lowering the middle pickup flat with the pickguard so it wouldn't get in the way while he's playing. I can't seem to easily palm mute either since its not comfortable in either position. Anyone else have this issue and some advice?

I pick at different areas. Usually is is just above the middle pickup, that is where my hand is when I palm mute. Also, this is a sweet spot for pinch harmonics on my guitar. I also play just to the front of the bridge pickup when wanting a different tone.

Play around with it, you will find your groove.

I know it is a little different playing a Stratocaster, but so much worth it once you find your niche.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Usually I pick between the neck and mid pup but if I'm doing leads and rythym in a song I'm all over the place.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

I totally feel for you and know where you are coming from. I played a Tele for 13 years before buying my first Strat and it took a while to feel comfortable. As with your Les Paul the Tele has no pup in the middle(unless you had a 3 pup model) and the knobs are away from the bridge. So I know it feels like you are banging into everything.

I had the same problem and also since I fan my hand out when picking as my hand is on the bridge about 90% of the time when I play lead I had to learn to keep my pinkie between the knobs. I read as you mentioned that Blackmore and Yngwie also had the problem of hitting the middle pup and sunk it which is what I do to all my Strats and is no problem as I just play on the neck or bridge anyway= problem solved.

I just went one better 3 weeks ago after seeing a video of Danny Gatton playing a Strat and he had the volume knob and pot removed and the guitar rewired. Well I thought what the hell and did the same thing and it has been nothing but pure bliss as I am as comfortable as can human be possible. So try these mods or one of them and you will find what works for you. Also you are not doing anything that cant be reversed so you are not hurting the value of your ax.

You can pick anywhere you want. I played a Les Paul almost exclusively for a year before picking up my strat again, and it did feel weird for about a week or so before I got used to it. Now I typically pick somewhere around the neck pickup, in front of the middle pickup. Some people pick way farther back near the bridge, like Robert Cray or Jimi Hendrix and that works too.

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For the Majority of times at rehearsals or a gig i conciously pick and strum over the PUP that I have selected.

But when i am just freestyle jammin, I am all over the place.

Usually between the neck and middle pickups.
Dude just play, your hand will find it's "comfortable spot" all by itself.

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It depends on how I'm holding it. Sitting or standing. Open chords or barre. Usually near the neck pup.

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Many years ago after playing Les Pauls,when I went to a Strat my pick was either hitting the middle or neck pickup,then over time like someone said,my hand found the place which is between the neck and middle.You move it around though to obtain different tones.
Pick near the end of the neck in front of the neck pup and you'll hear that nice woody tone.

I wanted to comment on this because it reminded me of my very early guitar lessons. Back when I was very young (about 5 years old) and started taking guitar lessons the first time, I had a 3/4 scale classical acoustic. Even back then I wanted an electric and after a little while I started to mess around a little bit and discovered that when I started picking the strings near the bridge I found this made the guitar sound more like an electric. Well the first time I did this in front of my guitar teacher, I literally got my wrists poked with a pencil and was told "that's NOT how you play a guitar! You -HAVE- to play over the sound hole!". Very frustrating and annoying to say the least but being a young child, I "did as I was told". Looking back in that all mighty 20/20 hind sight, if guys like Eddie Van Halen had of been around back then and I had of started "tapping" up and down the neck, I think that teacher probably would have had an aneurysm! LOL!!!

Years later when I came back to guitar...and of course bought my first electric...I quickly discovered that there is no right or wrong way to do this!!!!! In the here and now, it simply depends on the material I'm playing and what kind of sound I'm trying to achieve. If I'm doing something like early Beatles (think "Daytripper") I'll tend to play right by the bridge. If I'm doing something softer or more jazz like, I'll play pretty close to the neck. If I'm doing something like ZZ Top then I'd really "dig in" somewhere over the pickups to try and get that "squawk". Never ever be afraid to experiment a little to find what works best for you!

Seriously dude...when it comes to picking, don't sweat the whole "Am I doing this right?" issue. If you want to play with your teeth, I say break out the A-1 sauce and go for it! LOL! (Disclaimer - If you electrocute yourself, I didn't say that!). Zen Guitar 101 - Do whatever feels right to -you-. Just mess with it and see what sounds best and feels best to -your- hands and ears....or teeth, tongue, nose, toes...whatever. In this case the only time you're really doing it "wrong" is if you're not playing at all.

Peace,
Jim

I pick pretty close to the bridge, but just because it's easier to rest my hand. When I'm strumming, I tend to strum between the neck and middle when standing , and between the 20th fret and the neck when sitting.

I shoot for the strings.

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lomitus,your post brought back memories....."place your thumb in the center of the back of the neck....sit up straight......hold the pick like this"...
I had one guy early on grab my hand and said "use your little finger to get that note,don't back up 2 frets!"
needless to say I quit lessons and started learning from records.

I pick typically close to the bridge, where I can palm mute as easily (or very close to it) as I do on my Gibson SG. For certain things I do naturally play right over the middle pickup (for example, playing the opening riff to Dio's "Stand Up And Shout"). I always use to hit the middle pickup, and moving a little before it or after it was not a natural position. I ended up lowering the middle pickup (like Blackmore did, evidently). Interestly, my Strat with hot Alnico V Tex Mex pups sounded better ... so I ended up lowering all the pickups. The guitar sounds better, and it is more playable. Win, win.

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Never really thought about it, but now that I look at it, I pick right between the neck and middle pickups.