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Topic: Three finger picks vs two ?? |
Kevin Raymer
From:
Chalybeate, Kentucky, USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2014 6:37 am |
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Anybody out there using three finger picks instead of just two ??
I bought a DVD from Bruce Boughton or some such and he was a proponent of no picks so he could grab 4 strings at once.
Got me to thinking.
Anybody use 3 plus a thumb ??
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Earnest Bovine
From:
Los Angeles CA USA
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Posted 14 Mar 2014 7:04 am
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| No, but I'm using 3 finger picks instead of 4. |
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Ray Montee
From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
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Posted 14 Mar 2014 8:26 am It would be interesting...............
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to learn how many of Nashville's A-Team steel players are using that many picks.
You should be able to use as many as you choose however when is too many, too many? |
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 14 Mar 2014 9:24 am
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Kevin, FWIW I do.
I've only been learning about six months, but one of the first things I did when I signed up to the forum was read the debates on this issue. It seemed that none of the great players has ever used four picks on a regular basis, but I distilled the available wisdom into this: wear a fourth pick by all means - you may find a use for it or you may not.
On the E9 I use it sometimes to reach for the chromatic strings - on the C6 I use it always for four-note chords. I've tried the strum-two-pick-two approach but I don't see it ever working in my lifetime, although I'm only 62  . I'm fortunate that I've played other instruments like clarinet and trumpet where the third finger has to be as strong as the other two, so voicing of the top note is no problem.
When I'm not using it, it doesn't get in the way.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Brett Day
From:
Pickens, SC
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Posted 14 Mar 2014 11:08 am
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| I always use two fingerpicks and a thumbpick. |
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Dennis Saydak
From:
Manitoba, Canada
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Ian Rae
From:
Redditch, England
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Posted 14 Mar 2014 11:45 am
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So he does - if they're good enough for him......
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs |
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Dave Hopping
From:
Aurora, Colorado
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Posted 14 Mar 2014 11:50 am
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| Not that my using a thumbpick plus three fingerpicks is any recommendation,but it's nice,as Ian says,to have an extra pick available for big chords and occasional notes on the chromatic strings. |
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 14 Mar 2014 1:40 pm
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| I use a thumb and 3 finger picks. I had a VHS tape years ago from the late Tommy Roots called 4 X 10 that convinced me to use 4 picks. Also, Joe Write was instrumental in this style of playing for wide grips and even single string picking. |
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 14 Mar 2014 1:59 pm
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I tried using 3 finger picks, and found that the weight of the pick on my ring finger threw my hand off balance, and went back to using 2.
This is another of those things where there is no definitive right or wrong. It's a matter of what feels right for each person individually.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin |
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Christopher Woitach
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 15 Mar 2014 6:38 am
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If you're interested in 4 note chords on non adjacent strings, there is no alternative to 3 finger picks and a thumb pick, other than no picks at all
_________________
Christopher Woitach
cw@affmusic.com
www.affmusic.com |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 15 Mar 2014 7:57 am
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| Christopher Woitach wrote: |
| If you're interested in 4 note chords on non adjacent strings, there is no alternative to 3 finger picks and a thumb pick, other than no picks at all |
I beg to differ, and Curly Chalker probably would, too. He did more jaw-dropping chord work than just about anyone, and always with just two finger picks. A double flick with the thumb allows 4 (and maybe even 5) note expanded chords. There's always a way to do it.
The moral of the story is...just because you or I can't do something, doesn't mean that nobody else can!  |
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Les Cargill
From:
Oklahoma City, Ok, USA
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Posted 15 Mar 2014 9:24 am
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| I'd think that you could also use fingers that don't have picks on them. |
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Christopher Woitach
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 15 Mar 2014 12:04 pm
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You can flick all you want, but hitting four notes on non adjacent strings simultaneously requires 4 fingers, unless there's something I'm missing, which is always possible
Not sure what the moral of that story is
_________________
Christopher Woitach
cw@affmusic.com
www.affmusic.com |
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Christopher Woitach
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 15 Mar 2014 12:10 pm
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P.S. In no way am I saying 4 picks are necessary to play big lovely chords on the steel. There are many many players who do that with 3, for sure, Chalker being an excellent example
_________________
Christopher Woitach
cw@affmusic.com
www.affmusic.com |
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Jeff Porter
From:
Stumptown, OR, USA
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Posted 15 Mar 2014 1:15 pm
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I've seen Dave Grafe use 3 plus a thumb pick and he's a pretty damn fine player.
I'd probably be better off with fewer rather than more picks............ 
_________________
"I make dozens of dollars a year playing music." |
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