About Strum-N-Comfort Picking Systems
At Strum-N-Comfort Picking Systems our focus is creating comfortable and highly functional guitar accessories. Such as, Crossover thumb picks, custom flat picks and unique heart stone flat picks.
A "Crossover Pick" is gear designed to facilitate the blending of right hand playing skills for stringed instruments. Available in four models, the SharkTooth "Traditional", "Super Hybrid", Un-Thumb-Pick and "Kodiak" Crossover Picks. The Crossover picks are designed by and for players to facilitate the maximum amount of technical flexibility. The "SharkTooth" models use Neoprene and the plectrum material is made of classic pearl celluloid for professional tone and player feel. The Kodiak Crossover Pick uses a nylon strap and a durable polymer flat pick material.
You can easily use your favorite flat pick with any of the SharkTooth models.
Our goal is continue to find innovative ways to serve musicians world wide and expand the Universal Picking Technique method. We are located in Anaheim, Orange County, California, USA. Get in touch with us today. Phone: 714-663-0071gatkin@strum-n-comfort.com Contact - Greg M Atkin
A "Crossover Pick" is gear designed to facilitate the blending of right hand playing skills for stringed instruments. Available in four models, the SharkTooth "Traditional", "Super Hybrid", Un-Thumb-Pick and "Kodiak" Crossover Picks. The Crossover picks are designed by and for players to facilitate the maximum amount of technical flexibility. The "SharkTooth" models use Neoprene and the plectrum material is made of classic pearl celluloid for professional tone and player feel. The Kodiak Crossover Pick uses a nylon strap and a durable polymer flat pick material.
You can easily use your favorite flat pick with any of the SharkTooth models.
Our goal is continue to find innovative ways to serve musicians world wide and expand the Universal Picking Technique method. We are located in Anaheim, Orange County, California, USA. Get in touch with us today. Phone: 714-663-0071gatkin@strum-n-comfort.com Contact - Greg M Atkin
Finding the Groove: How Strum-N-Comfort is Revolutionizing the Guitar Pick
The guitar is an instrument of endless possibilities, a conduit for raw emotion, complex rhythms, and intricate melodies. Yet, for all its expressive power, the physical act of playing, specifically the mechanics of picking, has remained surprisingly rigid for decades. Guitarists have long debated the merits of flat picks versus traditional thumb picks, often struggling to find a compromise that offers both the stability for robust strumming and the dexterity for delicate fingerpicking.
Enter Greg, the inventor and driving force behind Strum-N-Comfort Picking Systems and the Crossover thumb pick. His journey is not just one of mechanical invention, but a testament to the pursuit of musical freedom and the desire to remove the physical barriers that stand between a player and their instrument.
The Spark of Innovation
Like many great inventions, the Crossover thumb pick was born out of personal frustration. Greg's own journey with the guitar began in 1969. Starting with basic chords, he quickly found himself captivated by the fingerpicking style of the Beatles’ "Blackbird." Throughout the early 70s, influenced by the warm, acoustic sounds of James Taylor, Cat Stevens, and Neil Young, he delved into blues, folk, and bluegrass.
"As I slowly improved as a guitar player, I found it to be very satisfying to experiment with writing songs and inventing rhythms," Greg recalls.
However, as he pushed his musical boundaries, a mechanical limitation emerged. By the early 1990s, he found himself struggling to control the flat pick as he increased his playing tempo. The challenge was compounded by his preference for a thicker flat pick to achieve a warmer tone; thicker picks were notoriously harder to control.
"I needed a way to lock in the flat pick on my thumb to keep it stable," he explains. "At the same time, the comfortable Crossover thumb pick must not overly restrict the natural movement of the selected flat pick."
The solution came from an unlikely source: a pair of thin camping gloves. Resourceful and determined, Greg cut off the little finger of a nylon glove to fashion a rudimentary thumb sleeve. By sewing a small piece of Velcro to the sleeve and attaching a heavy flat pick, the first functional prototype was born. This ingenious moment marked the beginning of a ten-year process of creative development, all while Greg balanced his passion with a demanding day job as a computer service executive.
Evolution Through Collaboration
The journey from a nylon glove prototype to a refined line of professional guitar accessories was paved with collaboration and critical feedback. In 2001, a pivotal moment occurred when Greg joined the Association of Finger Style Guitarists in Southern California. Surrounded by talented amateur and professional players, many of whom were teachers, he presented his initial design, then called the "Un-Thumb-Pick."
"I asked for criticism," Greg says simply. "From there, I listened to everyone and made many design changes."
This dedication to listening extended to Nashville later that year, where he attended the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention. Setting up a table for the four-day event, he actively sought out the harsh, constructive feedback necessary to refine his invention.
This collaborative spirit planted the seeds for the three standard Strum-N-Comfort models available today: the SharkTooth “Traditional,” the SharkTooth “Super Hybrid,” and the “Kodiak.” Furthermore, this ongoing dialogue with musicians has led to the development of ten distinct artist signature models, tailored to the specific needs of exceptional players.
Beyond Tone: The Unexpected Ergonomic Benefit
While the initial goal was purely musical, gaining control and tone without sacrificing dexterity, a remarkable secondary benefit quickly became apparent. The unique design of the Strum-N-Comfort picks proved to be a game-changer for players struggling with hand fatigue and physical limitations.
"The ergonomic value was not an initial or expected benefit," Greg admits. Yet, over the past 25 years, this aspect has become a cornerstone of the Strum-N-Comfort mission.
The stable grip of the thumb sleeve reduces the pinching force required to hold a traditional flat pick, alleviating stress on the hand and wrist. This has allowed players to practice longer and perform with less discomfort. More profoundly, Greg has dedicated significant time to designing custom Crossover picks for players, both young and old, dealing with injuries or disabilities, enabling them to reconnect with their instrument.
A Legacy of Empowering Artists
The true impact of Strum-N-Comfort is perhaps best measured by the musicians who rely on it. Over the years, Greg has worked with an impressive roster of talent across diverse genres.
The list includes seasoned professionals like the late Steve Priest of Sweet, Las Vegas orchestra veteran Dick Eliot, and the late jazz great Ron Eschete. The Crossover pick is utilized by Philip Bynoe, bassist for Steve Vai, and Rodrigo de La Mora, the Cirque de Soleil guitarist for the acclaimed Luzia Show.
Greg’s collaboration extends beyond performance into education and custom design. He worked closely with John Tinger, a composer who suffered hand injuries, to develop a variation that allowed him to continue creating music. He manufactures an exclusive signature pick for Nashville virtuoso Justin Johnson. And, in a testament to the educational value of his design, Greg collaborated with Steve Trovato, a USC professor in the Jazz Studio for Guitar program, to develop the Universal Picking Technique book, solidifying a dedicated teaching method around the "Crossover thumb pick" nomenclature he coined.
The Future of Strum-N-Comfort
Today, Strum-N-Comfort is poised for an exciting new chapter. Greg is preparing to release the first Strum-N-Comfort Picking Systems artist solo guitar compilation album. The fourteen-track record will not only showcase the versatility of his products but also highlight five of his own personal solo guitar compositions. Furthermore, the Universal Picking Technique project is transitioning to a digital download format, making this valuable educational resource more accessible to players worldwide.
Yet, despite the expanding product lines and growing roster of artists, the core of Strum-N-Comfort remains deeply personal. It is the story of a guitarist who refused to accept the physical limitations of traditional playing methods and, in solving his own problem, inadvertently solved a problem for thousands of others.
"I believe that music itself is an infinite reservoir, and all we need to do is to continue to experiment and innovate," Greg reflects. "The magic of music will show itself the more you persist."
For Greg, the greatest reward isn't just the success of the business; it's the joy of facilitating musical expression. "I am so very happy to be a guitar player... To now be in a position to help others with their own guitar skills is very exciting. I never get tired of hearing from my customers."
Ultimately, Strum-N-Comfort is more than just a company that makes guitar picks. It is a testament to the power of persistent innovation, the value of listening to the musical community, and the profound joy of helping others unlock their full potential on the fretboard.
Enter Greg, the inventor and driving force behind Strum-N-Comfort Picking Systems and the Crossover thumb pick. His journey is not just one of mechanical invention, but a testament to the pursuit of musical freedom and the desire to remove the physical barriers that stand between a player and their instrument.
The Spark of Innovation
Like many great inventions, the Crossover thumb pick was born out of personal frustration. Greg's own journey with the guitar began in 1969. Starting with basic chords, he quickly found himself captivated by the fingerpicking style of the Beatles’ "Blackbird." Throughout the early 70s, influenced by the warm, acoustic sounds of James Taylor, Cat Stevens, and Neil Young, he delved into blues, folk, and bluegrass.
"As I slowly improved as a guitar player, I found it to be very satisfying to experiment with writing songs and inventing rhythms," Greg recalls.
However, as he pushed his musical boundaries, a mechanical limitation emerged. By the early 1990s, he found himself struggling to control the flat pick as he increased his playing tempo. The challenge was compounded by his preference for a thicker flat pick to achieve a warmer tone; thicker picks were notoriously harder to control.
"I needed a way to lock in the flat pick on my thumb to keep it stable," he explains. "At the same time, the comfortable Crossover thumb pick must not overly restrict the natural movement of the selected flat pick."
The solution came from an unlikely source: a pair of thin camping gloves. Resourceful and determined, Greg cut off the little finger of a nylon glove to fashion a rudimentary thumb sleeve. By sewing a small piece of Velcro to the sleeve and attaching a heavy flat pick, the first functional prototype was born. This ingenious moment marked the beginning of a ten-year process of creative development, all while Greg balanced his passion with a demanding day job as a computer service executive.
Evolution Through Collaboration
The journey from a nylon glove prototype to a refined line of professional guitar accessories was paved with collaboration and critical feedback. In 2001, a pivotal moment occurred when Greg joined the Association of Finger Style Guitarists in Southern California. Surrounded by talented amateur and professional players, many of whom were teachers, he presented his initial design, then called the "Un-Thumb-Pick."
"I asked for criticism," Greg says simply. "From there, I listened to everyone and made many design changes."
This dedication to listening extended to Nashville later that year, where he attended the Chet Atkins Appreciation Society Convention. Setting up a table for the four-day event, he actively sought out the harsh, constructive feedback necessary to refine his invention.
This collaborative spirit planted the seeds for the three standard Strum-N-Comfort models available today: the SharkTooth “Traditional,” the SharkTooth “Super Hybrid,” and the “Kodiak.” Furthermore, this ongoing dialogue with musicians has led to the development of ten distinct artist signature models, tailored to the specific needs of exceptional players.
Beyond Tone: The Unexpected Ergonomic Benefit
While the initial goal was purely musical, gaining control and tone without sacrificing dexterity, a remarkable secondary benefit quickly became apparent. The unique design of the Strum-N-Comfort picks proved to be a game-changer for players struggling with hand fatigue and physical limitations.
"The ergonomic value was not an initial or expected benefit," Greg admits. Yet, over the past 25 years, this aspect has become a cornerstone of the Strum-N-Comfort mission.
The stable grip of the thumb sleeve reduces the pinching force required to hold a traditional flat pick, alleviating stress on the hand and wrist. This has allowed players to practice longer and perform with less discomfort. More profoundly, Greg has dedicated significant time to designing custom Crossover picks for players, both young and old, dealing with injuries or disabilities, enabling them to reconnect with their instrument.
A Legacy of Empowering Artists
The true impact of Strum-N-Comfort is perhaps best measured by the musicians who rely on it. Over the years, Greg has worked with an impressive roster of talent across diverse genres.
The list includes seasoned professionals like the late Steve Priest of Sweet, Las Vegas orchestra veteran Dick Eliot, and the late jazz great Ron Eschete. The Crossover pick is utilized by Philip Bynoe, bassist for Steve Vai, and Rodrigo de La Mora, the Cirque de Soleil guitarist for the acclaimed Luzia Show.
Greg’s collaboration extends beyond performance into education and custom design. He worked closely with John Tinger, a composer who suffered hand injuries, to develop a variation that allowed him to continue creating music. He manufactures an exclusive signature pick for Nashville virtuoso Justin Johnson. And, in a testament to the educational value of his design, Greg collaborated with Steve Trovato, a USC professor in the Jazz Studio for Guitar program, to develop the Universal Picking Technique book, solidifying a dedicated teaching method around the "Crossover thumb pick" nomenclature he coined.
The Future of Strum-N-Comfort
Today, Strum-N-Comfort is poised for an exciting new chapter. Greg is preparing to release the first Strum-N-Comfort Picking Systems artist solo guitar compilation album. The fourteen-track record will not only showcase the versatility of his products but also highlight five of his own personal solo guitar compositions. Furthermore, the Universal Picking Technique project is transitioning to a digital download format, making this valuable educational resource more accessible to players worldwide.
Yet, despite the expanding product lines and growing roster of artists, the core of Strum-N-Comfort remains deeply personal. It is the story of a guitarist who refused to accept the physical limitations of traditional playing methods and, in solving his own problem, inadvertently solved a problem for thousands of others.
"I believe that music itself is an infinite reservoir, and all we need to do is to continue to experiment and innovate," Greg reflects. "The magic of music will show itself the more you persist."
For Greg, the greatest reward isn't just the success of the business; it's the joy of facilitating musical expression. "I am so very happy to be a guitar player... To now be in a position to help others with their own guitar skills is very exciting. I never get tired of hearing from my customers."
Ultimately, Strum-N-Comfort is more than just a company that makes guitar picks. It is a testament to the power of persistent innovation, the value of listening to the musical community, and the profound joy of helping others unlock their full potential on the fretboard.