Finger picks

A. J. Martinez · From: Ca.

i am new to psg. i have been playing a finger picking chet atkins style guitar for about 44 years now. when i play the pedal steel i noticed that with the picks i get a more defined and brighter tone but i'm really struggling with them. my question is: is there a pick out there that is close to the feeling of the natural nails? please help thank you

Dennis Wallis · From: Arkansas

Dunlop .013

Tom Campbell · From: Houston, Texas, USA

Hello AJ

I've been around-the-block many times concerning this issue. I tried all the picks on the market and finally settled on the Dunlop brand. Get the lightest Dunlop gauge you can...I use the .013 gauge. Wrap (bend) the pick as close to the contour of your finger tip as you can, but leave a little bit of the pick extend beyond your finger tip (you determine how much is right). Work with this setup for awhile and it will become as close to a natural feel as your gonna get without going pickless. I spent a lot of money looking for the "Holy Grail" of picks and this is as good as it gets.
You can go to Elderly instruments and check out their finger picks...I tried them all! Every last one of them!!

Mike Wheeler · From: Delaware, Ohio, USA

I too play Chet style, and know exactly what you're saying. I've tried all kinds of "standard" metal finger picks, and they work well, but you have to get used to them.

Then, on a whim, I bought a set of Propick "Fingertone" picks, and I like them very much. (YMMV) I can feel the string well, and yet have the metal surface needed to get a consistent tone.

You wear it just like a standard finger pick, but the pad of your fingertip protrudes through the cutout...making for a nice feel...for a finger pick, that is. Sure beats broken finger nails, or chipped edges...and I always hated the fake fingernails anyway! Laughing

Here's the link
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Best regards,
Mike

Tom Campbell · From: Houston, Texas, USA

Another pick is the Alaska pick. Fits under your fingernail like the Pro-pick. Doesn't give enough support for steel playing. The biggest difference between the Alaska pick and the pro-pick is that the entire tip of your finger is bare and they only are available in brass and plastic.

All of these picks can be seen on the Elderly instrument website. I think they offer just about every style of pick made...not only just steel guitar/finger style picks.

A. J. Martinez · From: Ca.

thank you all so much for the great replies,truly appreciated! A.J.

A. J. Schobert · From: Cincinnati, Ohio,

Hey AJ, I stay away from dunlops since they have a larger ring, it is hard for me to have my right hand elevated.

Call billy coopers and get Jeff Newman picks they are pre bent.

You may find yourself having to get alot of picks to experience.

Garry Simpson · From: Oklahoma

I know nothing so take it for what it's worth. My steel doesn't get here until next Wednesday so that tells you how much knowledge and experience I have. None.

I watched Jeff Newmans video today, "The right hand alpha". He didn't like the Dunlop picks because of the over extension of the band. In his video he believed that the band caught the next string. He was high on Nationals (or JF) bent properly. His video is down on light gauge picks. (Just a comment, I have no idea.)

Like I say, I know nothing and like you, I'm very interested about feedback from folks that have experience. I played a six string with a thumb pick for years. Those metal thingies are strange to me.

Tom Campbell · From: Houston, Texas, USA

Put together a pick fund. Start out with $50 and buy two or three of everything. You'll know what to buy because everyone on this Forum will inform you of their favorite (what works best for them). You'll find the "guru's have their favorite...this doesn't mean theirs is the best for you...this includes the guys that write instructional material. You may end up mixing brands and gauges..thats alright...the most important thing is that you find what works FOR YOU.

David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

I love to sit around and play bare-fingered (with a thumbpick) and there are a lot of great people who play that way on occasion, but if you're going to be playing (loud) gigs with a band you have to learn the picks. I too tried them all, and settled on National NP2 reissues and the slightly lighter-feeling Kysers - I like to change around a bit.

The single most important thing I know is to always have at least two sets working - you want one set to practice with, and another set to bend on with needlenose pliers while you're watching TV or something. If you spend all your practice time sitting behind your steel bending your finger picks to make them "fit", it's going to take an extraordinarily long time to actually get to practicing....

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

I like the hi-rider pick,One of the BEST pickers on the planet just uses a thumb pick and bare fingers,Mr.Seymore.
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Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

Hey A.J.. I also do a lot of Atkins/Travis stuff and use my fingerpicks instead of bare fingers or nails. I do all my guitar playing that way as it's much easier to go from fingerstyle to single note things especially on up tempo tunes. Once you get used to it you'll be surprised by the clarity you get on your "fingered" notes.....JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Through years of banjo, dobro, some lap steel and then pedal steel I tried just about every fingerpick on the planet, and every bend, twist, etc. What works for me in all cases is Dunlop .013 or .015's (nothing heavier), the tip protruding just 1/8" or so beyond my fingertip with a slight curve (none of that wrapped-around-the-fingertip stuff; it forces you to "poke" at the strings and to me is an unnatural angle) - and for comfort, I completely remove (flatten) the "comfort curve" so there are NO pressure point and no higher edges to get caught on things.

Like I said, it works for me - it might not be for you. But it's a cheap and easy thing to try.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

Jeff Newman picks, contorted hand position=good technique.

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

Stephen Gambrell · From: Over there

I still use fingerpicks when I play dobro, or banjo, but I've always kept my right-hand nails a little long, for some stuff on 6-string. So I play steel with a thumbpick, and my nails. It doesn't hurt my nails, helps with blocking, and enables me to feel the wide string grips better. Works for me!
By the way, any of you guys heard "Nameless Shuffle" on LAney Hicks' CD, with Buddy playing?

Jeff Hogsten · From: Flatwoods Ky USA

I think if you could take a poll of the better players they are all using a heavier gauge pick than what you have been advised to use on here. AS far as what kind I think it will depend on your hand. I love dunlops but have to agree with Jeff N on them hitting the next string some. Elderly is selling cobalt plated picks and I like them. I am currently using a pick called 1941 I can tell a little difference in the tone. I think they are a copy of the old national. Another one I think that is worthy of trying is the Kyser. If I were you I would order a dunlop .25, which is what the nationals were. A set of 1941s, and a set of kysers, all with cobalt plating and see what worked the best for me. Remember to put them on at a angle where they hit the string straight on. Good luck and enjoy your steel

mike nolan · From: Forest Hills, NY USA

Hi,

I usually use Dunlops, I don't have a problem with them catching the adjacent strings. That probably has to do with hand position as well as other factors... (I use a slightly modified Newman style)
I also like Kyser old style and Showcase 41 picks.... when I am in the mood for a National style pick. I always use .025, I don't like the tone that I get from a lighter pick and, as a bonus, the heavier pick is less prone to being mashed out of shape in the pick bag......

Jim Sliff · From: Lawndale California, USA

It's maybe odd, but I've found that with fingerpicks I have much better tone and dynamic control with lighter gages; with flatpicks it's exactly the opposite, and I was known to flatpick with 1/8" plexiglass on occasion.

Heavier fingerpicks to me provide a somewhat clunky sound, and take away the feel and touch - a loss of dynamics. I used them for decades (.025's exclusively) until about 5 years ago, and there was an amazing difference once I got used to the lighter ones.
_________________
No chops, but great tone
1930's/40's Rickenbacher/Rickenbacker 6&8 string lap steels
1921 Weissenborn Style 2; Hilo&Schireson hollownecks
Appalachian, Regal & Dobro squarenecks
1959 Fender 400 9+2 B6;1960's Fender 800 3+3+2; 1948 Fender Dual-8 Professional

Jeff Hogsten · From: Flatwoods Ky USA

I wonder what gages most of the top name players are using I was under the impression they were using heavy gauge but that could have changed

Jerry Overstreet · From: Louisville Ky

If I may address your original question ala Mike Wheeler and Tom Campbell....the ProPik Fingertone pick will definitely let you feel the string. And, it is designed for the fingerstyle guitarist.

I'm no guitar picker by any means, but I've had them for 15 years and I like the feel of them on 6 string for certain songs where I feel the need to pick on the upstroke without a flatpick. I also think they are a bit pricey, but don't regret buying them at all.

Never used them much on steel, but my first impression was that they might be a little light for my picking style on pedal steel although Guptill specs them @ .025 gauge.

Could be they just feel odd to me on steel because of the way you wear them with the point up close to the fingertip for fingerstyle.

YMMV, they may or may not suit you. Only way to know is to try them yourself.

Don't know anything at all about the Alaska Pik.

Link to the mfg. of the ProPiks. http://www.guptillmusic.com/propik/fingertone.html

Charles Davidson · From: Phenix City Alabama, USA

Jim Sliff,Stephen Gambrell,Got to admit you guys are brave,using that ugle B word,
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC !

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

I was lucky enough to find about a dozen very old National fingerpicks at a music store a few years ago so I bought them up. I've got about 3 sets left and wouldn't sell 'em for anything. I love the sound of them but have tried some lighter gauge picks but it seems that the part that wraps around your finger is also light so they don't hold the shape too well. Maybe if someone would make a lighter gauge pick on the part that actually touched the strings and then have a thicker band which went around the finger they might be better, who knows? I tried Dunlops at one point also and found that the rounded part did catch the string as I bend my picks around my finger tip. I just filed that part flat and they worked OK but I still prefer the old Nationals............JH in Va.
_________________
Don't matter who's in Austin (or anywhere else) Ralph Mooney is still the king!!!

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

You can play soft with a hard pick but you can't play hard with a soft pick.

Jerry Williford · From: Fayetteville, NC USA

Hey guys as an info update, I spoke with Bill Stroud at BJS bars last week and he will be adding the ProPic line to his inventory for chrome plated picks. He has them on order and will soon have them available for order. If you are a ProPic fan, please give Bill shout at BJS Bars.
Jerry

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