Fingerpicks/Thumbpicks: Three or Four?

Dan Blaisdell · From: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

This question comes after seeing Joe Wright in Selma, NC playing a 12-string Universal this past weekend. Besides being a truly incredible player I noticed he uses a thumb and three metal fingerpicks. Is this unique to 12-string players, or do many 10-string players also use three metal fingerpicks? Any feedback is appreciated, cuz I'm thinking of trying it on a D-10 E9.
Thanks,
Dan

PS: Joe, if you read this, I hope to live to 200 years old. Maybe then I could play along with you - if I practice 24/7. Great, great show!
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Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Yes Dan some players use three finger picks. I do. YOU BETCHA,DYK?BC.
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Jim Robbins · From: Ontario, Canada

When I use fingerpicks at all I use three. I don't see why it would make a difference on a 10 or 12 string.

Now, I have to admit I've never tried using more than one thumbpick.

Dan Blaisdell · From: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

Thanks Jim. I'll have to try the double thumb pick action sometime - like a 20-string guitar.
Dan
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GFI Ultra SD10 3+4,[Sarno Black Box], Hilton VP, Zoom MS-50, Special 130, Walker cases, Cobra Coil strings/bar, Not enough time.

Dave Hopping · From: Aurora, Colorado

I use 3 fingerpicks too.Thumb +1 and 2 for single-string,and add 3 for big chords.I've used 3 fingerpicks ever since I saw local phenom Bob Case doing it.

Richard Fitzgerald · From: North Carolina, USA

Dan, I was at the show in Selma Sunday and loved it. I noticed the 3 finger picks as well. I have seen Leonard Zinn play and 8 string non-pedal on different DVD's so I suppose if you are able why not. Rick
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Rick Fitzgerald

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

I've used 3 finger picks and a thumb pick pretty much since the beginning. I'm a pick blocker for the most part. There are pros and cons for both schools of thought. Some of the cleanest harmonics I've heard have been players using the third finger w/out a pick. I pretty much have to use my palm, which is more of an inexact science. Lord knows, most of the steel guitar heroes only use 2 finger picks. In my case, my thumb is really double jointed and wants to bend back farther than usual. I have to position my hand in such a way that I actually use my third finger for speed picking. Of course if you want big chords it's right there. I never liked the idea of having to rake the low notes of a big chord, especially if there are notes in the low register that are not on adjacent strings.

At the steel show in AZ last week,I was surprised to see that Norm Hamlet also uses 3 picks and a thumb.

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

I have just started to use 3 finger picks,
Doing double duty on Telecaster and Pedal Steel, I started playing the Tele with a small thumb pick and two middle finger picks so I could go back and forth, not putting on and taking off picks, but moving the finger pick from finger one to finger three.
Now I just leave them on and it feels funny with out the 3rd one.
Playing 6 string guitar was awkward at first with my reg thumb pick, then I tried a small round thumb pick I got at the Dallas Convention.
I just started playing my guitar this way and it came to me pretty quick.
I also didn't have much luck strumming the extra strings in 6th mode.
Joe Wright is a very nice guy.
I have some info on my website about him.
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MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes

Alan Brookes · From: Brummy living in Southern California

Five. One thumbpick and four fingerpicks. Don't let your pinky get lazy. Very Happy

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Ken M,
As another double, or triple duty guy, I also got tired of pulling picks on and off. So I made this double-sided index finger pick. Press your thumb up against it like you're holding a regular flatpick, and, well,,, it becomes a regular flatpick. With it, you can do anything you can do with a flatpick. Used to use three fingerpicks. but didn't use that ring finger pick much, so I just went back to two.

Sherman Willden · From: Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA

I asked a question about three ring fingers and harmonics here. I learned from it.

http://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=164089&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Sherman
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Sherman L. Willden
It is easy to play the steel guitar. Playing so that the audience finds it pleasing is the difficult act.

Dan Blaisdell · From: Raleigh, North Carolina, USA

TTT
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GFI Ultra SD10 3+4,[Sarno Black Box], Hilton VP, Zoom MS-50, Special 130, Walker cases, Cobra Coil strings/bar, Not enough time.

Ken Metcalf · From: San Antonio Texas USA

Hey John thanks,
How did you make that pick?
Ken
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MSA 12 String E9th/B6th Universal.
Little Walter PF-89.
Bunch of stomp boxes

John Billings · From: Ohio, USA

Ken,
Just sent a reply to your email.

Barry Hyman · From: upstate New York, USA

I'm with Alan. I use thumb, index, and middle finger most of the time, but add the ring finger often and the pinky sometimes. Except I don't use any picks at all...
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I give music lessons on several different instruments in Cambridge, NY (between Bennington, VT and Albany, NY). But my true love is pedal steel. I've been obsessed with steel since 1972; don't know anything I'd rather talk about... www.barryhyman.com

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I've played guitar using a flatpick and middle/ring metal fingerpicks for a pretty long time. I started pedal steel using the usual thumbpick plus index/middle fingerpicks, but after a while, with a little prompting from Bobbe Seymour, I decided - "Why not add the ring fingerpick? - I'm used to using it anyway." Sure enough, it made sense for me. I agree on the harmonics - they're harder with the ring fingerpick on, but for me the advantages outweigh the disadvantages in most situations. But it's easy enough to pull it off if I want.

YMMV, but you won't know if you don't try it.

Rick Winfield · From: Pickin' beneath the Palmettos

I mostly use 3, but more and more 4. As the 4th gets more coordinated, I'll be using it on my D12 all the time.
Rick

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