Hi, my name is Mike Eifert and like many kids of my (any) generation, I dreamed at an early age of playing guitar. I got my first guitar when I was 14, a powder-blue Fender Mustang.
Around that same time, I was introduced to what would become my lifelong vocation: computers. For the next 40 years, I worked in one form or another as a software engineer.
I always kept a guitar with me. Every so often, I would pull it out and practice chords, maybe a verse or two of a song I remembered. But between raising a family and pursuing a busy career that I enjoyed, I never learned to play.
After retiring, I decided it was finally time to pursue my lifelong interest in music and learn the guitar. Like many beginners, I quickly discovered that controlling a guitar pick was more difficult than I had expected.
I didn’t so much drop picks as struggle with their slipping, rotating, and shifting while I played. These constant interruptions slowed my progress and made it difficult to develop a consistent technique.
I tried the usual solutions, experimenting with textured picks, rubberized grips, adhesive materials, and various ergonomic designs. Although some offered modest improvements, none provided the natural feel and control I was looking for.
I’m an engineer at heart, so I began studying the mechanics of how a guitar pick is actually held and controlled. Through research, observation, experimentation, prototyping, and refinement, I found that by providing a tactile reference point just above my grips natural position I was able to control my pick without issue. This led to the development of the Anchor concept.
Unlike traditional grip-enhancement methods that alter the pick’s surface or force the player to adjust their technique, the Anchor works with the hand’s natural position. Its ergonomic design provides tactile feedback and added stability while allowing the player to maintain a familiar grip and playing style.
Placing the Anchor against the side of the index finger allows the thumb greater mobility and control, from the lightest strumming to a firm, secure grip at faster tempos. While positioning the Anchor against the side of the thumb naturally shortens the exposed portion of the pick, providing the precision and control needed to practice lead licks, intros, walk ups/downs…
I hope you give the Anchor Pick™ a try.
The Journey
The Anchor Pick™ is the result of countless hours of problem-solving, player feedback, and a passion for helping guitarists enjoy the journey from their very first strum.
Join us on a musical journey. Don’t drop the beat!
Mike Eifert
