How do you shape your fingerpicks?

Richard Rice · From: Illinois, USA

I've messed with many different brands over the years, but never have been completely satisfied with the results. I'm really starting to wonder if I've missed the boat on this detail..

Aside from getting them to stay put, do you keep the striking portion centered on your fingertip (straight along the centerline of the finger) or do you bend the whole striking portion to favor one side of your finger so it hits the string more squarely? (Giving it some "English", for lack of a better term)..

It seems that when my hand is in a "proper" position, I have lots of trouble controlling my picks- where I play nice and clean without them. I will admit I have played many different stringed instruments for almost 50 years, but always fingerstyle, without picks. This is driving me nuts.. I keep trying to use the picks, but all my touch, muting, and accuracy goes directly to hell when I put them on. Frustrating.. I must be doing something wrong, although I have watched the Jeffran tapes, Mickey Adams stuff, and have tried many configurations. I haven't tried bending the picks to the outside edges of my fingertips, as I don't want to destroy my nice picks. It almost seems like they need to be offset to the outside edges of my fingertips in order to hit the strings squarely- I'm so confused by this.. Any opinions are welcome. I know it's different for everybody, but obviously I could use some guidance.

Thanks!
_________________
'84 Marlen Custom D-10, 8X4
Oahu Tonemaster 6 string lap steel
Rice Custom 6 string lap steel
Republic Squareneck Tricone
Homebrew 6 string reso
10 string Melobar- Rice modified
Rice Custom 8 string reso (under construction)
Hohner 6 string lap guitar (acoustic)
Kustom K-500 tuck & roll
Peavey Century
Peavey Vegas 400
Peavey CS-800
Bag End custom 1X12 & 1X15 cabs w.EV drivers
Steelin' thru a '72 Vibrosonic Reverb and a '69 Dual Showman Reverb (Stereo)

Dick Sexton · From: Greenville, Ohio

I'm sure these would not work for everyone. But they do for me. I use the splits and cut off the right front ear for my middle finger, because of a deformed finger. Everyone has there problems, just have to find what works for you. I do wish they made them even heavier. http://www.guptillmusic.com/propik/reso.html
This the model I use: 11-103-1412 Might be worth a try.

Brett Lanier · From: Hermitage, TN

The first thing I do is straighten where the band joins the blade (just a little). Then I bend, or curl the blade a little using the tip of a tonebar against a table or back deck of the steel. I also turn them a little bit so that more of the blade hits the string, not much though.

The good kysers are my favorites, though I only have one pair. After that I like national np2's. Whatever kyser is making now seems like junk to me.

Richard Rice · From: Illinois, USA

Thanks for the reply, Dick! I see they feature an angle, which is what I've been thinking might help. I'll def give 'em a shot. Wink

Looking for a way to describe my aggravation, it occurred to me that as soon as the picks go on, it's like trying to pick up a needle while wearing welding gloves..
_________________
'84 Marlen Custom D-10, 8X4
Oahu Tonemaster 6 string lap steel
Rice Custom 6 string lap steel
Republic Squareneck Tricone
Homebrew 6 string reso
10 string Melobar- Rice modified
Rice Custom 8 string reso (under construction)
Hohner 6 string lap guitar (acoustic)
Kustom K-500 tuck & roll
Peavey Century
Peavey Vegas 400
Peavey CS-800
Bag End custom 1X12 & 1X15 cabs w.EV drivers
Steelin' thru a '72 Vibrosonic Reverb and a '69 Dual Showman Reverb (Stereo)

Richard Rice · From: Illinois, USA

Brett, do you keep them straight in line, or angle them down a little toward your little finger?

Thanks!
_________________
'84 Marlen Custom D-10, 8X4
Oahu Tonemaster 6 string lap steel
Rice Custom 6 string lap steel
Republic Squareneck Tricone
Homebrew 6 string reso
10 string Melobar- Rice modified
Rice Custom 8 string reso (under construction)
Hohner 6 string lap guitar (acoustic)
Kustom K-500 tuck & roll
Peavey Century
Peavey Vegas 400
Peavey CS-800
Bag End custom 1X12 & 1X15 cabs w.EV drivers
Steelin' thru a '72 Vibrosonic Reverb and a '69 Dual Showman Reverb (Stereo)

Brett Lanier · From: Hermitage, TN

Brett Lanier · From: Hermitage, TN

Straight in-line I suppose, but I spin them just a bit on my finger.

Richard Rice · From: Illinois, USA

Awesome. Thanks for the great info. I think I'll try angling my second-favorite set a little, and see if that helps. The angles just don't make sense to me- I'm always missing strings, hitting glancing blows. Maybe an angle will help rein them in.. I really like playing without the picks better, but feel a need to get this under control- sometimes the tone is necessary and I hate to bypass an opportunity to have that at my disposal..
_________________
'84 Marlen Custom D-10, 8X4
Oahu Tonemaster 6 string lap steel
Rice Custom 6 string lap steel
Republic Squareneck Tricone
Homebrew 6 string reso
10 string Melobar- Rice modified
Rice Custom 8 string reso (under construction)
Hohner 6 string lap guitar (acoustic)
Kustom K-500 tuck & roll
Peavey Century
Peavey Vegas 400
Peavey CS-800
Bag End custom 1X12 & 1X15 cabs w.EV drivers
Steelin' thru a '72 Vibrosonic Reverb and a '69 Dual Showman Reverb (Stereo)

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

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Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting.

Richard Rice · From: Illinois, USA

WOW. Richard, that is so different from anything I've tried.. Looks like your fingers ride a mile over the strings- is that the case?

BTW, the angles made it worse. Not a good idea. Now to try Mr. Sinkler's shape
_________________
'84 Marlen Custom D-10, 8X4
Oahu Tonemaster 6 string lap steel
Rice Custom 6 string lap steel
Republic Squareneck Tricone
Homebrew 6 string reso
10 string Melobar- Rice modified
Rice Custom 8 string reso (under construction)
Hohner 6 string lap guitar (acoustic)
Kustom K-500 tuck & roll
Peavey Century
Peavey Vegas 400
Peavey CS-800
Bag End custom 1X12 & 1X15 cabs w.EV drivers
Steelin' thru a '72 Vibrosonic Reverb and a '69 Dual Showman Reverb (Stereo)

Bill Moore · From: Manchester, Michigan

Richard, if you have watched the Jeff Newman stuff, specifically the "right Hand Aloha" course, you will see that Richard is using the the JF picks. You don't need to bend them, they are bent correctly already. I'd suggest using those picks, and following the directions in Jeff's material. You have to accept that this technique is completely different than fingerpicking on a standard guitar. There are good reasons to do it this way. Better tone is the main one. Jeff used and taught this technique because it works. If you put some effort into it, I think you will see the difference.

Richard Rice · From: Illinois, USA

I don't have that one, I have No Speed Limit and C6 workout. I've seen Jeff's picks and thought they looked unusual, I just ordered a set. We'll see- I've been fighting this battle for years. Tired of trying to figure it out on my own.

The advice is very much appreciated. Those picks still look weird to me, but I'm willing to give 'em a go. Wink

_________________
'84 Marlen Custom D-10, 8X4
Oahu Tonemaster 6 string lap steel
Rice Custom 6 string lap steel
Republic Squareneck Tricone
Homebrew 6 string reso
10 string Melobar- Rice modified
Rice Custom 8 string reso (under construction)
Hohner 6 string lap guitar (acoustic)
Kustom K-500 tuck & roll
Peavey Century
Peavey Vegas 400
Peavey CS-800
Bag End custom 1X12 & 1X15 cabs w.EV drivers
Steelin' thru a '72 Vibrosonic Reverb and a '69 Dual Showman Reverb (Stereo)

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Actually, my fingers are real close to the strings. Here is a pick that I hope shows it.

_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting.

Richard Rice · From: Illinois, USA

When you wear those picks, it almost looks like you are "skimming" the strings with the face of your nail, as opposed to traditional guitar, using the "meaty" part of the fingertip.. Is that close, or am I missing something else here?

In other words, your fingers look more curled under in order to brush the strings with the tips of the picks..

I keep trying to hold my first knuckle high, and curve my hand as if holding a golf ball, but then the picks (my current ones) don't afford me any depth into the strings, where it looks like you are more on top of them rather than on the sides of the strings.. Is that a fair assessment?
_________________
'84 Marlen Custom D-10, 8X4
Oahu Tonemaster 6 string lap steel
Rice Custom 6 string lap steel
Republic Squareneck Tricone
Homebrew 6 string reso
10 string Melobar- Rice modified
Rice Custom 8 string reso (under construction)
Hohner 6 string lap guitar (acoustic)
Kustom K-500 tuck & roll
Peavey Century
Peavey Vegas 400
Peavey CS-800
Bag End custom 1X12 & 1X15 cabs w.EV drivers
Steelin' thru a '72 Vibrosonic Reverb and a '69 Dual Showman Reverb (Stereo)

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I wear mine a lot like Sinkler.
It's been 30 years since I thought about the technique involved, but I believe the picking motion is mostly vertical, as if the pick "bows" the string rather than striking it on quiet notes, and the harder I pick, the more horizontal the attack becomes.
It's how I was taught, and it results in less pick noise.
As to your angle question, I don't angle them, but from the wear pattern on my picks, it appears that my picks are like seats at the monster truck shows: They sell me the whole pick, but I'm only gonna need the edge
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

Tony Williamson · From: North Carolina, USA

if you angle too much youll hear a scrape. find the comfort spot for your hand. i dont curve my fingers too much because i lose fluidity and speed. lastly, i turn the picks to where they hiy the string square.no scrape. it looks funny, but its right. so..hand comfortable, fingers fluid, picks hitting square, bent so they look extrapolated from the natural curve of your fingers.not too much,not too little. thats the way i do it.

Tony Williamson · From: North Carolina, USA

and lane is right. you dont want to hear any pick noise.my nationals are flat. some picks are rounded on the striking surface. i cant use these. but now, i am talking from banjo picking viewpoint, and you have to pick hard sometimes. there is a 'drive' factor . but this works for me.

Len Amaral · From: Rehoboth,MA 02769

I use Nationals .026 and I don't bend the the area of the pick that makes contact with the string only the part that wraps around your finger to fit comfortable around the finger. I also have skinny fingers so I have to grind the ends that wrap around so I can close the pick to stay on my finger. It may sound odd but at least the picks are consistant and I also number them as each pick is fit for an individual finger and I use 3 picks.

I also use a Zookie 20 degree thumb pick and I grind the tang on that to a length using a micrometer. I am picky about my picks Smile

Billy McCombs · From: Bakersfield California, USA

Richard I can see that your using Newman picks, are you bending them up any? I have been using them since your post about them and I like the way there bent right out of the plastic bag they came in. Thanks for the heads up about these great picks. Hay, If there good enough for Paul Franklin out of the bag I want them.
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78 Emmons PP,Great tone.82 Emmons SKH #56

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

If you're asking me Billy, I really don't remember. I have had those picks for so long and don't have any "new" one's to compare them to. I am pretty sure I have bent them slightly back around the tips of the fingers, and may have slightly bent the tongues to hit the strings more straight on.
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting.

Richard Rice · From: Illinois, USA

Judging from the pics and comments, it seems like your pick attack would be more like an upstroke than a sideways pluck.. Does that sound correct?

I can't wait to get mine and give 'em a go.. Wink

_________________
'84 Marlen Custom D-10, 8X4
Oahu Tonemaster 6 string lap steel
Rice Custom 6 string lap steel
Republic Squareneck Tricone
Homebrew 6 string reso
10 string Melobar- Rice modified
Rice Custom 8 string reso (under construction)
Hohner 6 string lap guitar (acoustic)
Kustom K-500 tuck & roll
Peavey Century
Peavey Vegas 400
Peavey CS-800
Bag End custom 1X12 & 1X15 cabs w.EV drivers
Steelin' thru a '72 Vibrosonic Reverb and a '69 Dual Showman Reverb (Stereo)

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Richard Rice · From: Illinois, USA

Awesome.. Thank you.
_________________
'84 Marlen Custom D-10, 8X4
Oahu Tonemaster 6 string lap steel
Rice Custom 6 string lap steel
Republic Squareneck Tricone
Homebrew 6 string reso
10 string Melobar- Rice modified
Rice Custom 8 string reso (under construction)
Hohner 6 string lap guitar (acoustic)
Kustom K-500 tuck & roll
Peavey Century
Peavey Vegas 400
Peavey CS-800
Bag End custom 1X12 & 1X15 cabs w.EV drivers
Steelin' thru a '72 Vibrosonic Reverb and a '69 Dual Showman Reverb (Stereo)

Richard Sinkler · From: aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana

Another pic

_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting.

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

Rich, I firmly believe heaver gauge picks sound the best. I use Nationals.

...but, if I was you, I'd buy a set of easily bent picks (like Dunlop .018's) for experimentation.

I think there is no single correct bend. People vary greatly....some using almost un-bent picks to those who wrap them around the fingertip. So you'll just have to try different styles. Personally, my picks are worn way out on the end of my fingertips. Conversely, I like a very short thumbpick blade. I know killer players whose picks are just the opposite.

One thing is for certain; getting used to fingerpicks is a frustrating and arduous task. Just keep experimenting & practicing with them. Eventually they'll become comfortable.

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