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Topic: third finger pick? |
Nate LaPointe
From:
Los Angeles, California, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 10:04 am |
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| I was practicing last night, working on a musical phrase that I needed to go to my 1st string(F#) and I found it most efficeint to use my 3rd (ring) finger to grab that string. I am primarily a 6-stringer, so is this a guitar player thing or is it common for steelers to put a pick on and use the 3rd finger? |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 11:25 am
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| Not for me; I block with my third finger. |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 11:27 am
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Nate, there are a lot of us who use a 3rd finger pick. Awkward at first, but you grow into it and then it's hard not to use the ring finger. I've seen some guys that use all 4 fingers, but I've never seen someone with a pick on the little finger.
fred
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The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real
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Ron Randall
From:
Dallas, Texas, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 11:50 am
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What Fred said.
Lots of ways to cook 'taters, and skin a cat.
A good way to learn to use the 3rd pick is, to put it on, and then NOT use it. One day it will just feel right, and you will start to use it. IT is very handy for big chords.
Try it you will like it. Just let it go along for the ride for awhile.
Ron |
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David Wright
From:
Pilot Point ,Tx USA.
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Graham Griffith
From:
Tempe, N.S.W., Australia
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 12:59 pm
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Get Joe Wright's pick blocking method & his Technique Bundle ... you won't look back.
Graham |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 1:17 pm
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| I have worn 3 finger picks for several years and definitely considered myself firmly in that camp. Two months ago I had a real scary industrial accident at work, getting my ring finger and pinky smashed in a press. I was very very lucky to get off without grievous damage but it took these fingers out of action. I didn't miss any gigs and I kept picking with only the 2 picks. And something happened. I instantly had better mobility, deftness, control----it is strange and I can't explain it at all but I was and am a better picker. I still want to grab 4 strings at times and wish I had the pick on (now that I can actually fit one on that finger---it was hard to distinguish it from a bratworst for a while) but it sure seems that I accidentally found what is best for me and my playing. As is obvious from the large numbers of major pickers in each camp, you've got to find what suits you best because everybody's mileage varies.. |
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Steven Welborn
From:
Ojai,CA USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 1:42 pm
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| I started with 3 picks and never found any reason to go with two. Although I recall playing a little with only two a while back and did notice slightly freeded up and mobile about it. But Ttat 3rd pick really seems to lend itself to certain wide grips. Sometimes a prefer to pick a 4 string chord in a clean balanced way with 3,like on C6, and other times the 2 pick /thumb rake deal. I dunno, I've wondered if I need get with the more graduated bunch and loose it. A steel buddy of mine once remarked,"you still playin with 3 picks huh?". As far as I know my favorite players all use two. Anyone know who in the big boy arena plays with 3? I know Maurice does. [This message was edited by Steven Welborn on 07 December 2003 at 01:46 PM.] |
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Buck Dilly
From:
Branchville, NJ, USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 1:52 pm
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| I used 3 right out of the gate. I couldn't possibly do without now. |
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Darvin Willhoite
From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 1:55 pm
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I have always used 3 finger picks, I thought that was the way it was supposed to be. I mainly use the third one for the first and second strings, but also use it for bigger chords on C6th.
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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording
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Bill Hankey
From:
Pittsfield, MA, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 3:08 pm
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Fred Shannon,
Randy Rollman, who has a music store in Glens Falls, N.Y., is a master steel guitarist, who uses finger picks on all 4 fingers. And I kid you not, he can pick!
Bill H.
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Len Amaral
From:
Rehoboth,MA 02769
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 4:30 pm
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| You can add the third finger pick and get use to it by playing chords. This will give you a bigger voicing and allow you to use wider grips. Joe Wright definitely has the concept on this technique. |
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Rick Schmidt
From:
Prescott AZ, USA
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 5:12 pm
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| I think we need to ask ourselves..."what would a banjo player do?" |
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Fred Shannon
From:
Rocking "S" Ranch, Comancheria, Texas, R.I.P.
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 8:12 pm
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Bill H. Glad the guy can do it. I've never tried it. I sometimes have trouble keeping my picks from falling between the strings.
I think I said though, "--but I've never seen someone with a pick on the little finger." And guess what, I still haven't, though I'm sure there is some out there that can. 
fred
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The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 7 Dec 2003 10:28 pm
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I use a 3rd finger pick because I started that way finger picking folk and blues guitar. But on steel I only use the ring finger occassionally for a four note chord. The ring finger is the least dexterous of all the fingers. Piano players have whole sets of exercises for it. If you put your hand on a table palm side down, and turn one finger under, the fingers to either side can be lifted off the table independently, except for the ring finger. For fast picking you're better off without it, except maybe for a simple roll that requires it. It's nice to have it for a four note chord, but then you can't curl it under for blocking, and you have to do harmonics with your pinky, which is much harder. It's a mixed bag - take your pick.  |
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David Mason
From:
Cambridge, MD, USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2003 1:46 am
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| Jeff Newman has made the point that the less choices you have to make about which finger to use to pick a string, the less confusion you'll have. I started with three, but have gone to two for this reason. I also like having the tip of the ring finger available for blocking. Sometimes I still pick a string with the bare finger, too. |
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Frank Parish
From:
Nashville,Tn. USA
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Posted 8 Dec 2003 4:58 am
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| Johnny Cox was starting to use a third pick last time I saw him play here. |
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Nicholas Dedring
From:
Beacon, New York, USA
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Posted 9 Dec 2003 9:39 am
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| I started with three finger picks, and I still generally do that, but I have been giving some hard thought to it since I saw some folks (Sarah Jory and Lloyd Green among others) using their ring finger arched over their thumbpick to play harmonics. Has a beautiful, clean sound, and is so easy to spot the fret lines... that I sometimes shuck the third pick off. |
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