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Topic: Pics of finger picks. newbie question |
Jason Schofield
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Posted 13 Dec 2005 5:41 pm |
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Hey gang, I've been playing less than a year and haven't found a teacher in the area. I was just wondering if ya'll had any comments or suggestions on my finger picks as. I don't know if I'm wearing them correctly or if I could improve the fit ect..I'm using John Pearse Hi Riders. thanks so much. 
Btw. I've been burning my eyes out at night reading hundreds of Q&As' on this site. I'm so thankful you guys are here. Jason Schofield
[This message was edited by Jason Schofield on 13 December 2005 at 05:42 PM.] [This message was edited by Jason Schofield on 13 December 2005 at 09:50 PM.] |
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Bill Moore
From:
Manchester, Michigan
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Posted 13 Dec 2005 6:05 pm
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I use Jeff Newman picks and a Herco thumbpick:
Hard to see in this photo, but I'd say the metal is thicker than yours, and they have more of a curve. I like them the best.[This message was edited by Bill Moore on 13 December 2005 at 06:06 PM.] |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 13 Dec 2005 6:26 pm
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| Very similar to the (Stevens) picks I use, except I wear them higher on the finger. My only suggestion would be to form the wrap a little better, as it looks like the top of the wrap isn't hugging your finger. But if they feel comfortable, and don't hinder you're pickin', more power to 'ya! |
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J Hill
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 13 Dec 2005 9:31 pm
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I tried the Pearse picks and thought they deadened the tone and sustain. There was a significant difference between those and the Dunlop's I use now. The Dunlops look like the silver picks in Bill's picture above. I wear them high (they're short so that's not real high) but wrap them real close around the end of my fingers so there's not too much pick sticking out beyond the fingers. I put a very small round piece of Velcro on the inside top where the metal comes together and they fit nice and snug. That's just my personal experience, I'm sure others may like the Pearse picks.
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James Stewart Jr
From:
Vero Beach Florida
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Posted 13 Dec 2005 11:58 pm
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I find after dabbling with all kinds of picks that I like the Jeff Newman Picks the best.
Also -------my location ---might interest you...neighbor.
James
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1975 Sho~Bud Pro III Custom (8-7)
1981 Peavey Session 500
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Michael Garnett
From:
Seattle, WA
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 12:20 am
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Jason-
I'll put in another vote for the JF picks from Jeff Newman. You can order them on their website for something like $3-4 for two of them.
www.jeffran.com
-MG |
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Ernest Cawby
From:
Lake City, Florida, USA, R.I.P.
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 3:59 am
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Another vote for Newman finger picks, but his thumb picks break to soon, you never know when they will break. Don Sulesky turned me on to some thumb picks, they are great, I have been using them for a year now, and still using the first one I put on, no sign of breaking yet.
I think finger picks are a matter of personal choice, many seem to use Dunlop. I put on Chet Gibsons and could not make a good sound on his fulawka, but he sounds great.
ernie |
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Jim Eller
From:
Kodak, TN (Michigan transplant)
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 5:07 am
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Jason,
Another vote for the JF picks. I just ordered some more from Fran last week. They are the only picks I've found that I can put on for the first time and they feel comfortable without a bunch of modifications. I still have 3 pounds of the other brands in my seat case.
Ex-Michigander(Alpena),
Jim
PS: Haven't seen any snow yet here. |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 5:20 am
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| Jason, them picks made my fingers hurt just lookin' at 'em... |
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Hook Moore
From:
South Charleston,West Virginia
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 5:21 am
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I could never keep a pick on that stuck out THAT far from the tip of my finger, particulary at playing fast tempo.
Hook
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www.HookMoore.com
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Jason Schofield
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 6:09 am
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I guess I was more interested to see if I was wearing them correctly than what brand. I have some dunlops here that look very similar to the Newman's but they seem too short. I've tried them and my nail on my middle finger seems to keep catching the next string.  |
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Tom Quinn
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 7:08 am
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| As a beginner, getting used to the finger picks has been one of the major challenges and i too was wondering exactly how they should sit on the finger (at first I had em on upside down!). Having watched the video that came with my guitar, a lap steel video by Cindy Cashdollar, and the dvd by Bruce Bouton, it seems that the length the picks extendsfrom your fingertips is a matter of personal preference...but all the players in those instructional videos had the picks closer to their fingertips than yours. So, coming from someonone with very little actual knowledge of the instrument, I'd say your picks are sticking out a bit too far...hehe...take that for what its worth coming from a total newb like myself. [This message was edited by Ben Jones on 14 December 2005 at 07:10 AM.] |
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Ray Minich
From:
Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 7:31 am
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The length of projection past the fingertip, and the arc or curl shape, are kinda a matter of personal preference and comfort level.
Watching Jeff Newman's fingers on his videos, he had his projecting much farther from the finger tip, and with much more curl that I've been able to get used to.
Are there any "industry standards"? |
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Darryl Hattenhauer
From:
Phoenix, Arizona, USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 7:39 am
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Jason,
That's just how I wear mine. So stop doin' it, cuz I stink.
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"Drinking up the future, and living down the past"--unknown singer in Phoenix |
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John Lockney
From:
New Market, Maryland, USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 7:52 am
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Winnie Winston's "Manual of Style" has interviews with 4 great players and pictures of their right-hands to show how they wear their picks.
http://www.julianwinston.com/music/the_manual_of_style.php
As I recall, about half the guys have an extreme bend (nearly perpendicular), half the guys like them straight, and the other half seemed in-between.
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Mark Herrick
From:
Bakersfield, CA
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 8:23 am
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| Quote: |
| Showcase 41s are by far my favorite picks. |
I'll second that...
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| I could never keep a pick on that stuck out THAT far from the tip of my finger, particulary at playing fast tempo. |
I remember seeing Buddy Cage at a club in NY a few years ago and his picks seemed pretty long and straight like that. He didn't have any problems... 
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David Wren
From:
Placerville, California, USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 12:10 pm
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I use 3 Dunlop finger picks and a National thumb pick... but mine are all plastic, so don't listen to me! You can develop your own bad habits (:>)>=[
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Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Session500; Hilton Pedal
www.ameechapman.com
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Michael Holland
From:
Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 2:24 pm
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I like my Kysers out on the ends of my fingers. I use the eyeglass nosepad cushions so they're very comfortable and don't slip at all. Also, I play 'Pinky under' and this bend fits perfectly.
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 3:02 pm
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is it common for folks to wear three finger picks and a thumbpick? anyone ever go for four fingerpicks and a thumb?
I like the eyeglass pad idea, right now mine are extremely uncomfy (esp. when I reach for my beer...hehe) |
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Jim Sliff
From:
Lawndale California, USA
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Posted 14 Dec 2005 3:10 pm
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I use Dunlops and have gone to very light ones (15's) and found them much more responsive and easier to control. I went that direction on Dobro a few years ago before playing steel, and tried heavier ones on steel - they feel and sound clunky.
I use thumb/2. On regular guitar I always used my ring finger (hybrid picking), but I can't get it to cooperate with a fingerpick on it. |
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Travis Bernhardt
From:
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Posted 15 Dec 2005 12:16 am
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You might try pushing them a little further onto your fingers, or pulling them out even further, or adding a bit of a twist, or straightening out the middle finger pick a bit and leaving the index pick as is, or any number of things, really.
You might try putting your hand "karate chop" style onto the strings, letting it relax and fall inward so that your outer pinky and ring knuckles touch the strings, then see how your picks would have to fit to maintain this "natural" hand position as much as possible.
You might try playing and really really focusing on your hand until you get a feel for how it moves when it picks the strings, then seeing what adjustments you can make to the picks to best accomodate that.
You might just let 'em be and adapt to the picks over time, only changing anything if you feel like you've encountered a problem that changing the picks around might help.
The goal, I think, should be to not have to work against your equipment. With that guiding principle in mind, you can do your own experimentation to find what works best for you.
Don't get too worked up over it though unless you find you're really fighting your picks—and if that happens you'll probably be able to determine what needs to change.
-Travis |
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Hook Moore
From:
South Charleston,West Virginia
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Posted 15 Dec 2005 12:26 pm
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Mark, I really don`t know about Buddy Cage. I was just giving Jason a comment from my own experiences, trials and errors.
Hook |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 15 Dec 2005 3:39 pm
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| Hey! Bill Moore! Those picks look suspiciously like my antique set of Oahu Professional picks. Do you think Jeff copied those? |
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Jason Schofield
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Posted 16 Dec 2005 10:23 pm
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Thanks for all the feedback. I was looking thru my step-dads stuff and found a pair of JFs' They seem to fit nice and looks like the middle finger pick is twisted a little. I think I'll give em' a test drive. 
I also found a Goodrich volume pedal at my mom's house. It's in excellent condition. Are these better than the Ernie Ball? My step-dad was using the Ernie Ball before he passed. thanks again!  |
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