Picks or no picks

Don Manson · From: Washington, USA

What are the disadvantages of not using finger picks.

John Sniatecki · From: Gainesville, GA USA

I'm also curious...going from fingerstyle guitar to pedal steel...i really, really want to just use my fingers, or the thumbpick at most....

didn't mean to hijack the thread, but I'malso curious.

Don Manson · From: Washington, USA

Hi John,
The thumbpick I find very useful and easy to use. The other two picks seem cumbersome and get in the way of one another. Maybe I just need to give it more time.

James Maxwell · From: Ohio, USA

I think it is much easier to get a crisp, clear tone with finger picks. The attack is clearer and precise than using the flesh on your fingertips. That said, I think there are some good applications of going pick-less, (more of a mellow soft sound) but picks are the best way to go. They feel weird and get in the way at first, but after awhile they will feel natural.

Don Hinkle · From: Springfield Illinois, USA

I have played finger style pickin on 6 string guitar for decades. I started playing pedal steel about 18 months ago and had the hardest time adapting to finger pics. But if you want the TONE - you must do the pics in my opinion.
Like the fellow said before me, its difficult at first but WELL worth it...
I fought it for 4 months.. finally committed to using the picks and havnt looked back.
Do it, dont look back.
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CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

as mentioned, finger picks offer clarity, precision, & speed
(w: time & practice you'll get used to having them on)
not using them will offer a warmer sound
i'd suggest playing with & without, that way you'll have more options
thumbpick imo is mandatory
moral :
better to know how to pick w: picks than w: bare fingers
rather than know how to pick w: bare fingers & not w: picks

Don Manson · From: Washington, USA

Many thanks to all who responded to the pick question. You have convinced me, I will perservere with the picks.

Jerry Hayes · From: Virginia Beach, Va.

I've found that different styles will work better with picks and some without picks. I agree with the clarity of playing with picks but not the speed. I have a rhythm track of "Rocky Top" that is pretty rapid. I can't quite get it up to speed with picks but I do pretty fair without fingerpicks and there's more separation in the notes which I think comes from being able to block the notes better with the bare fingertips in a "Pick Blocking" style.

I've mostly always been a fingerpicker on guitar and trying out some Travis/Atkins style things on steel, I find that they come out better with the bare fingers.

As far as ballads, I'd always use picks as the sound is better IMHO. Also for some swing things I like the picks better for the "evenness" of sound with the thumbpick.

On six string I do both also as when I want to emulate a flat picker I'll use the finger picks so I can pick each note. Without the picks I tend to do a lot more hammer on's and pull off's.......JH in Va.
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Brett Day · From: Pickens, SC

On steel, I always use fingerpicks. It's a lot easier for me because that way I can play songs and solos easier.

Brett

Dean Parks · From: Sherman Oaks, California, USA

Both.

Learn how to bend the picks to follow the fingertip around. Buy some pre-bent Jeffran picks to get the idea, or visit a local steel player and ask to look at his finger picks. Also remove any parts of the thumb pick curl that might be hanging up on the string.

Bob Hickish · From: Port Ludlow, Washington, USA, R.I.P.

Don
I don’t think it matters = picks or no picks - this guy only uses a thumb pick
-- dont know who he is but he’s good !! http://www.youtube.com/bobbeseymour Rolling Eyes

Bob Sykes · From: North Carolina

I'm a newbie who went through this dilemma a little over a year ago. Decades of 6-string playing, much fingerpicking and some classical playing. Usually have a full set of working fingernails. Through the years, the few times I tried to wear fingerpicks and play 6 string guitar lasted less that 5 minutes. I was convinced I could never do that, so when I took up PSG there was a strong desire to not wear them. I took some lessons from a great local steel player who basically said he wasn't going to teach me if I didn't wear them. I briefly considered NOT taking the lessons, but ultimately started to use them. Some of the wisdom gleaned from previous threads on this subject here also helped me to decide to give them a serious try.

Clumsy and clicky at first, but now I'm quite used to them. It seems to take about 10 minutes of wearing them before I'm comfortable, after that I don't think about it.

I still fingerpick the PSG sometimes when playing at home, and I feel like it's easier blocking. I also like to feel the strings, but in an ensemble situation it just doesn't work for me. Can't cut through without them. Especially when the band gets loud. Occasionally I'll try to wear three fingerpicks, but still can't get used to that even though I use three fingers (and thumb) without the picks...
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Bobby D. Jones · From: West Virginia, USA

The biggest problem with picks is getting a good fit on them. I suggest you get a new set of picks. Don't try to take a set given to you and try to do with them. The holes in the ring of most picks will make them get sharp bends in the holes and they will catch on each other. When you bend a new set find a piece of smooth rod slightly smaller than your finger. Clamp it in a good vice with about 1/2 inch sticking out. put the pick on it and with a small hammer peck moving the pick slow till you get a smooth curve on the pick. It will take time and lots of tapping to get a good fit. Once fitted curve the tongue of the pick till it is confortable. Get a small piece of the sandpaper edging that goes to steps at a hardware store. The kind with the glue and cover tape on bottom. (RUB WITH SOME PRESSURE ON A FLAT PIECE OF METAL, TO REMOVE THE REAL SHARP POINTS) Then cut a small piece and place it on the inside flat of your thumb pick. I hope this will help in fitting picks till they feel like part of your finger. Good Luck and Happy Steelin.

Bill Duve · From: Limestone .New York, USA

I hate to say this but im one of those guys that was warned and didnt listen...I started steel with picks after years of finger picking 6 string without just because the bigs use picks. Because of crooked arthritic fingers I quit using them and after about 5 years and getting halfway proficient find the sound is not like the other guys and want to use picks anyways but now it is a whole lot harder to do than in the beginning.
If I had suffered thru those years with finger picks regardless of the discomfort I wouldnt have to go thru this now.......
Look around you, the pro's use picks. Period!

Don Manson · From: Washington, USA

As you could tell from my question about the use of picks, I am a new player. Well not a player yet but trying. The psg is a wonderful instrument although very challenging. I am very grateful for the responses that have been posted. Your willingness to share your experience is a testament to the kind of "brotherhood" that exists among psg players, both amateures and professionals. Many thanks to all who responded.

Norm Fletcher · From: Ashland, OR

45 years with classical background and it was hard to get used to finger picks. Never could quite match my right hand technique across instruments until last week! The new picks for me are the Alaska picks. Started using them with my acoustic a few months back and started using them on the steel last week. For those of you who are used to using your fingernails, these give almost the same touch as your fingers with the added sound needed for steel--the Alaska picks in Brass sound as good as any steel picks do.
Now, if you've been trained on the steel and have only used regular fingerpicks, these probably won't help your playing. Those of us who play finger style with fingernails on a regular 6-string are used to a certain closeness to the strings that standard fingerpicks don't give. The Alaska picks are the closest to playing with fingernails that I've tried.
I saw a note from a steel player who tried them but hated them. FYI you must have some fingernail left, because part of the use of these picks requires that your fingernail actually goes through part of the pick to keep it from coming off. Weird-you gotta try them to see what I mean.
For harmonics, it's even possible to use the bare part of the index finger to touch the harmonic point and pluck with the ring finger like with regular classical guitar technique! So the accuracy for harmonics is improved a great deal--also,for me, my hot licks are much more accurate.
Finger style 6 string players who use their fingernails---try em! I hope it helps you as much as it did me.
Norm Fletcher
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Randall Meeker · From: Whitehouse, Ohio, USA

Whatever you do, do it for the sound that you get. I like the attack, and clarity of the the overtones produced from using the lightest fingerpicks I could find commericially. for me Ernie Ball finger picks with a very thin tip covering the pad of the fingers. Regular finger picks are too wide and heavy even with the various guages of metal used - they still get "clumsy" Thumb picks...once you find a brand you like and conforms to your hand...stick with them. Since I wear my picks for about 10 hours a week they must be secure, reliable, moldable and light. Make sure that you find the right thickness for you.
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Don Manson · From: Washington, USA

Hi Randall,
Thanks for the tip. I will get some Ernie Ball picks and try them. Thanks again.

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