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Topic: To Pick or not to use Pick |
Brian Tong
From:
California, USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2008 8:16 am |
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OK...are there ANY of you who don't use finger picks?
I have recorded with and without and many can't tell the difference.
Do you ever go pickless? |
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Donny Hinson
From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
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Posted 8 Mar 2008 10:29 am
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I don't, but some do. What matters isn't what you use, but how good the music is.
(Most players use picks.) |
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Tracy Sheehan
From:
Fort Worth, Texas, USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2008 11:22 am Re:
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 I quit using picks about two months after going back to playing fiddle instead of steel. |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2008 3:42 pm
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Bobbe does not use finger picks,and it don't get much better than him,But of course he could string some haywire on a two by four and sound good.DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Brian Tong
From:
California, USA
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Posted 8 Mar 2008 5:15 pm
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| Good point, Charles. I just am more comfortable 'feeling' the strings (probably from years of fingerstyle guitar and lap steel without picks)...I can block better and never feel lost on the strings. I'll keep trying to learn but at 50 and just starting pedal steel...at least for now, I am progressing faster without picks. Thanks, guys. |
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Bill Moore
From:
Manchester, Michigan
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Posted 8 Mar 2008 6:01 pm
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Brain, it's true that there are some good players that don't use picks, but most players use them and you should probably learn to play with them. There have been lots of new players posting the same question over the years. Often they are experienced guitar players, and I think they feel just easier to go without picks. It takes some time and practice to get used to the picks but it's worth it, in my opinion.
_________________
Bill Moore...
my steel guitar web page
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 9 Mar 2008 12:10 am
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It seems to me there is no chisled in stone CORRECT way to do anything on steel guitar,What picks to wear,or not to wear,how many to wear,metal or plastic,what type of bar to use,how to hold the bar,The height of your stool,the angle of your guitar,I think what works for each individual is correct,Playing without picks works for Bobbe,playing with picks works for most,Some like soft picks[018] some perfer stiff ones[025]Look how Bobby Knoffner[spelling?] held his bar,looked liked he was pinching the head off a rooster,but he COULD play,Some play Dobro or lap with a flat pick,The great jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery played with his bare thumb[wonder if anyone ever told him he was wrong for not using a flat pick?]Watch some of the best steel players hands close up,some will have their picks up close to their finger tips,some will be extended way pass their finger tips,but they all play great.Find out what works best for YOU,and make the best of it,DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 9 Mar 2008 1:12 am
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I played for years without picks.
Then I went 'off the road' for a short time, and learned to use picks.
What a difference 
A 100% improvement in tone, just like that.
No more 'pickless' for me |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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CrowBear Schmitt
From:
Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France
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Posted 9 Mar 2008 2:14 am
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i play with & without picks
the proper way of pickin' is to have finger picks
that way, one controls better his pickin', blockin' & sound
wearing picks takes gettin' used too & can be overcome
better to know how to play w: picks & still play without them when you feel like it
rather than to play without picks & not knowing how to play with them |
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richard burton
From:
Britain
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Posted 9 Mar 2008 3:11 am
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Basil,
According to Google, I'm 51.5 miles from you
and about 20 light years behind you in the talent stakes |
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Ernie Pollock
From:
Mt Savage, Md USA
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Posted 9 Mar 2008 4:14 am How about this?
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those of you listed here who say you don't use picks, does that mean you don't even use a thumb pick?? I don't think I could do it without at least a thumb pick. funny, I remember visting one of Bobbes stores way back in the 80's & he played a little thumb style steel for me & I did not notice him not wearing picks. Bobbe, did you ever wear them??
Ernie Pollock  |
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Charles Davidson
From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
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Posted 9 Mar 2008 1:26 pm
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Ernie,Bobbe uses a thumb pick,no finger picks.DYKBC.
_________________
Hard headed, opinionated old geezer. BAMA CHARLIE. GOD BLESS AMERICA. ANIMAL RIGHTS ACTIVIST. SUPPORT LIVE MUSIC ! |
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Ronnie Crecelius
From:
Texas
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Posted 9 Mar 2008 1:51 pm
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Im glad this question came up because I'm in the same boat...been playing guitar a long time using pick and fingers and those metal finger picks just feel unnatural to me.
I think for my own satisfaction I'm gonna continue without the finger picks for now and try them again in a few months.
_________________
RC's myspace
Steve Helms Band |
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Mitch Adelman
From:
Pennsylvania, USA
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Posted 9 Mar 2008 2:09 pm
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Ronnie,
I turned away from fingerpicks too and just used at thumbpick since I doubled on guitar till I tried Rusty Thornhill's Perfect Touch fingerpicks ) (perfecttouchpicks.com.) Hate to stir up this can of worms again, but they really do feel like your own fingernails (tips), incredibly comfortable and natural but are pricey (30 bucks). Definitely worth a try Ronnie since you will get much better tone than just fingers.I'm back to fingerpicks for good since they work and sound great on the Tele and Carter. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 9 Mar 2008 4:48 pm
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| richard burton wrote: |
Basil,
According to Google, I'm 51.5 miles from you
and about 20 light years behind you in the talent stakes |
...and I'm over 40 miles away from both of you, unfortunately. 
(5,500 miles approx.)
Hey, shouldn't this be in that other topic ?   |
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basilh
From:
United Kingdom
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Posted 9 Mar 2008 6:04 pm
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I think the question could/should be modified to "How many PROS don't use fingerpicks by choice." It seems to me that MANY of the less dedicated players take the "Easy Route" and THEN justify it by saying they prefer the tone etc. without picks.
The exceptions in the pro field Like Bobster only go to reinforce the general rule, without a doubt there are bound to be exceptions, but we all knaow that in general the better/normal standard tone is achieved with a plastic thumbpick and metal fingerpicks.
Of course as always this is only MY opinion and that of a 'Brit' and whilst obviously not cast in stone, neither are those of others.. |
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Brian Tong
From:
California, USA
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Posted 9 Mar 2008 6:05 pm
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Thanks, guys...just felt so alone in the thinking of playing without since my teacher says picks are the best way. I will learn to play with picks eventually but for now, I am progressing faster at 'understanding' this instrument without having to struggle with something I know I can do. Heck, the whole pedal/lever thing is just so foreign, so not having to 'search' for where my fingertips are, I can just play clean.
Peace and Happy Playing.
P.S. I belong to a ton of guitar boards...this place is by far the best! |
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Jim Bob Sedgwick
From:
Clinton, Missouri USA
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Posted 10 Mar 2008 6:06 pm
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| Charles Davidson wrote: |
| It seems to me there is no chisled in stone CORRECT way to do anything on steel guitar,What picks to wear,or not to wear,how many to wear,metal or plastic,what type of bar to use,how to hold the bar,The height of your stool,the angle of your guitar,I think what works for each individual is correct,Playing without picks works for Bobbe,playing with picks works for most,Some like soft picks[018] some perfer stiff ones[025]Look how Bobby Knoffner[spelling?] held his bar,looked liked he was pinching the head off a rooster,but he COULD play,Some play Dobro or lap with a flat pick,The great jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery played with his bare thumb[wonder if anyone ever told him he was wrong for not using a flat pick?]Watch some of the best steel players hands close up,some will have their picks up close to their finger tips,some will be extended way pass their finger tips,but they all play great.Find out what works best for YOU,and make the best of it,DYKBC. |
What DYK Charlie said. Thumbs up!!  |
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