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Topic: Having a hard time using fingerpicks |
Terje Larson
From:
Rinkeby, Spånga, Sweden
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Posted 12 May 2005 10:29 am |
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First of all, I don't play pedal steel. I play slide on an elelctric balalajka, very different thing. But anyway, the fingerpick problems are true for all slide playing I do. I like fingerpicks when I fingerpick fretted notes but not for slide.
I use my bare fingers for slide and most of my damping is done with my fingertips. I understand that you can do the same thing with fingerpicks, that it's called pick blocking, but it feels very unnatural to me at this point.
I'm still working on it from time to time though, thinking that since so many are doing it there must be some advantage.
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If you can't hear the others you're too loud, if you can't hear yourself you've gone deaf |
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Darrell Schmidt
From:
Charles City, Iowa, USA
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Posted 12 May 2005 12:04 pm
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| what I have got from the forum, mostly is how ever you feel comfortable playing,go for it. |
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Winston Street
From:
Laurel, Mississippi, USA
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Posted 12 May 2005 6:43 pm
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| Terje: I played for years without finger picks. Jeff Newman persuaded me to start using finger picks but to tell you the truth I can't tell the difference in my tone. Maybe I'm tone deaf, but I can't. I still pick without picks a lot. One trick I use is to put super glue on my finger nails to harden them when I'm playing without picks.. CAUTION...Don't lick your fingers for a couple of minutes after applying the glue or else you'll literally be licking your "licks" if you play at all. |
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Les Pierce
From:
Shreveport, LA
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Posted 12 May 2005 6:47 pm
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Are fingerpicks the norm on the instrument you usually play? If so, it might well be worth the time to get the hang of them.
There are always exceptions to every rule, but usually, on a well established instrument of any kind, the way to a professional sound, and precise playing has already been well documented. A proper way to position the hands and body, breathing, equipment, etc. You can do it your own way, but you'll always wonder how good you might have been if you had learned the "right" way.
One thing about it, you can always do it your own way at any time down the line.
Personally, I thought I would never, (and I do mean NEVER), be able to use fingerpicks, but I did, and now I can play with them, or without, and I'm so glad I didn't give up trying. It really didn't take that long, either.
Les
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Strat,Tele
Dekley S-10
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Terje Larson
From:
Rinkeby, Spånga, Sweden
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Posted 12 May 2005 8:37 pm
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For solidbody elelctric slide balalajka there is no norm, yet. For regular balalajka, no they do not use picks. But they don't play with a slide either. They strum fast as hell with their right hand index finger.
Anyway, I guess the smart thing to do is to slowly work on using the picks and learing to block as intuitively with the picks as I do without and then it'll just be a choice of which sound I prefer.
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If you can't hear the others you're too loud, if you can't hear yourself you've gone deaf |
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Jonathan Gregg
From:
New York City
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Posted 13 May 2005 12:19 pm
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| The first six to eight months I was adjusting the picks constantly and often found them quite uncomfortable. Then suddenly I got used to it and they never bothered me again. Haven't adjusted them in years. |
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Dr. Hugh Jeffreys
From:
Southaven, MS, USA
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 13 May 2005 4:44 pm
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| Quote: |
| I play slide on an elelctric balalajka |
Why?
(I figure there must be a reason.) |
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Terje Larson
From:
Rinkeby, Spånga, Sweden
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Posted 13 May 2005 11:24 pm
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Why? Because my mom had brought one from Russia (she was a teacher in Russian at the university) and I tried it and liked it. Got used to the feel. Started playing guitar but kept playing balalajka. Started playing slide on it. Liked how it felt. Still do. Like the sound too.
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If you can't hear the others you're too loud, if you can't hear yourself you've gone deaf |
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Tommy Roten
From:
Trondheim, Norway
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Posted 14 May 2005 1:19 am
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Can we see a picture of this Balalajka and how you play it? How many strings, tuning etc?
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Franklin D-10, MSA D-10, Goodrich, ProfexII, Mosvalve, Eminence 12", Nashville 400,
www.tommy-steel.com
pertrot@frisurf.no
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Mike Perlowin
From:
Los Angeles CA
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Posted 14 May 2005 6:44 am
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| Quote: |
| I don't play pedal steel. |
Don't blame me, I've been trying to get my friend Terje to take up the steel for 2 or 3 years.
Maybe we'll compromise and he'll add pedals to his balaijka. |
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Terje Larson
From:
Rinkeby, Spånga, Sweden
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Posted 14 May 2005 12:02 pm
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There is a pic of the balalajka on my band's homepage, might even be two.
Pedals on the balalajka, Mike that's not one of your best ideas 
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If you can't hear the others you're too loud, if you can't hear yourself you've gone deaf |
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