Moving up to four picks

Mike Neer · From: NJ

Since I received my D-10 (although it's non-pedal), I've found myself clamoring for a 4th pick. The bare finger just isn't cutting it, so enter pick. I'm using it primarily for chord voicings, at least at this time.

Any tips of exercises for getting the 4th finger strong?
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Christopher Woitach · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

Mike

Practicing various grips and finger combinations, both as chords and as backward/forward rolls, as well as various arpeggio patterns (PMIA, etc), a la Joe Wright, should help a lot.

Although there are several nay-sayers here, I couldn't imagine playing without 4 picks. 4 note non adjacent chords are impossible, for one.

(Side note here: thanks again for all the lesson materials for my semi disabled student. He just played your arrangement of "Straight No Chaser" for his end of term jury - played it pretty well! We both thank you)
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Darvin Willhoite · From: Roxton, Tx. USA

Practice, practice, practice. I've used four picks since I started playing steel in 1972. (Actually the first two or three years I played I didn't use finger picks at all, just played with my fingers. I didn't get a very consistent sound, so I decided to try picks. They took some getting used to, but I did.) I'm totally self taught and I used my ring finger on guitar, so it seemed natural to use it on the steel. On E9th, its much easier to catch the chromatic strings with my ring finger than with my middle finger, and it also enhances the chord possibilities as mentioned above.
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Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro.

Ray Montee · From: Portland, Oregon (deceased)

I've always played four string chords without difficulty using the long standard Thumb & Two picks.

By using the thumb, one rolls the lower strings while plucking the higher strings. This works for all Speedy West, Remington, Issacs and countless others.

Just my two cents worth. I hate to see things become more complicated than they really need to be.

Darvin Willhoite · From: Roxton, Tx. USA

I think the fourth pick makes things simpler, not more complicated. There's going to be a delay on one of the notes in a four note chord if you're using three picks. Using four picks, you can pick all four notes at the same time. I never saw Maurice Anderson use less than four picks, and we know he was the chord king.
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Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro.

Mike Neer · From: NJ

It's worked for me, too, Ray. Up 'til now. 10 strings, a lot of nice chord voicings with low roots--I'm going to give 4 picks a go for a while. It is very tough, but there is always the option to not use the 4th finger. Can't hurt to have it hanging around.

The way I see it, I'll be shedding about 3-4 hours/day for the next few months--that ought to give me some time to get used to it a little.
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Christopher Woitach · From: Portland, Oregon, USA

I am pretty sure that you can't play a four note chord with non adjacent strings with three fingers, unless there's some damping technique I haven't heard of, which is quite possible.

I love the freedom four picks gives me. I don't use the ring finger much in single note lines unless I'm comping chords embedded within the line - then it's a godsend
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Jon Guirl · From: Millington TN, USA

Here in Tennessee, we are still trying to deal with the extra thumb LOL

Just kidding there, but look at what guys like Emmons and Green can do with 3 picks, 3 pedals, and a knee lever or two.
Not sure if introducing new fingers and notes into the equasion is going to do much for you, really. Listen to what guys like the above do with what they have. Pretty awesome, IMO.
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Jeff Metz Jr. · From: York, Pennsylvania, USA

I too have noticed that some of my 4 finger licks from the pre-finger pick days try to come out some times and It just feels awful trying to grab that fourth string bare fingered while using picks on the others. Its almost impossible to reach.
Are you having much luck with the fourth pick? Thanks.
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David Mason · From: Cambridge, MD, USA

"But look at what so-and-so did with just three picks! What the heck is the matter with you..."

Astronauts can land on the moon! Roger Federer can win Wimbledon! But, you're not trying to land on the moon or play tennis. Hmmmm. In both the physical connections of tendons and the "mapping" of the hand inside the brain, the index and middle fingers share some paired functions, and the little finger and ring finger are also paired. In theory, this means three finger guys would be better off playing thumb-index-ring or thumb-middle-ring to take advantage of the independence inherent in the neurology and musculature of the hand. What the heck is the matter with these people.... Mr. Green

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

to solve this dilemma use 5 picks. you've got 5 fingers...duh..use them. then there are no more excuses for anything.

Earnest Bovine · From: Los Angeles CA USA

Barry Blackwood · Posted 15 Dec 2013 9:30 am

Kurt Kowalski · From: Kendall, NY USA

Mike,
When had the wonderful opportunity to study under Reece at his home.
I asked him that question.
Reece said, "to put the pick on, don't use it at first. Just leave it on and after a period of time it will automatically come into play on its own" like magic.... It works

I am wishing you the best and lots of perseverance.

Looking forward to "lock horns" over a Guiness someday.

Carry on soldier!

-kk-

chris ivey · From: california (deceased)

when i first started i used thumb and 3 fingers.
i finally cut back to two fingers and it cleaned up my act alot. sharpened my focus on just what strings to pick, and gave me one less pick to drop and step on.

CrowBear Schmitt · From: Ariege, - PairO'knees, - France

Sez Adamson uses 4 picks
he offered me some good advice on grips on C6 such as strings
9 76 5
8 65 4
7 54 3

HowardR · From: N.Y.C.-Fire Island-Asheville

What Kurt said.......just put the 4th pick on and don't give it another thought at first......it won't take long until it feels natural and second nature to your playing.....

Dave Mudgett · From: Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee

I've been doing this for a while. I play guitar hybrid - flatpick + middle/ring fingerpicks or sometimes bare fingers. When I started doing that a long time ago, I just used Reece's approach of "Just put it on and work it in", and it did gradually come together. I started banjo and steel with the usual thumbpick + index/middle fingerpicks, but quickly put the ring fingerpick on for steel.

For steel, I think it was better to spend a bunch of time seriously shedding a full set of banjo-style roll permutations and various arpeggios. The ring pick can tend to interfere with palm blocking (I now block fully with pinky-out) and (at least my) ring finger truly isn't as strong. But at this point, I strongly prefer thumbpick + 3, especially for wide voicings and arpeggios. I feel that I can make stuff flow better with 4 fingers. But getting that ring finger truly fluent is something I have to keep hacking away at.

Of course, some great players do this, others don't. I also expect that there are advantages and disadvantages to each approach. To me, I think it's worth the trouble to deal with the extra fingerpick. I have to thank Bobbe Seymour for pointing out the inconsistency in playing guitar with flatpick + middle/ring fingers and not using ring for steel - I was just sitting around playing guitar one day I was hanging out there, and he noticed that. To me, his argument was compelling, and I still agree (again, for me and what I am trying to play).

Jack Hanson · From: San Luis Valley, USA

Junior Brown uses a fingerpick on his ring finger.

Rick Schmidt · From: Prescott AZ, USA

I like 4 note, large spread chords on a guitar or piano, so why not on steel? How else can you play, for example, stings 9,7,5,&3 at the same exact time by raking? (and please don't say "nobody really needs to do that...." Oh Well

Richard Damron · From: Gallatin, Tennessee, USA (deceased)

Mike -

Studied the classic guitar way back in the 60's so using a fourth pick is a no-brainer. With your conception and modern ear you should be able to entrance a whole bunch of us with marvelous sounds.

Just do it! - and then let us hear what should be a wonderful result.

Richard

Niels Andrews · From: Salinas, California, USA

When I started I read an article Reece Anderson said to try four picks for those four note chords. I would be interested what excursuses Mike ends up with, as I feel I don't maybe use it as much as I could. I seem to play it for 7th and 9th and an occasional pick up note.
The one thing I have not resolved to my liking is harmonics, but I am sure that will come.
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Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

I'm a D10 beginner determined not to neglect either neck at the expense of the other. I've tried the strum-two-pick-two approach on the C9 but it conflicts with the Joe Wright way of doing things which I am beginning to get the hang of, so I've opted for four picks. I have the advantage of already playing the clarinet and trumpet where the ring finger has to be as strong as the others, so top-note voicing isn't a problem.
On the E9 I just wear the fourth pick anyway. I haven't used it yet except to experiment with what C6 type sounds you can get, but I haven't used the top string much so that might be where it comes in.
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Ulrich Sinn · From: California, USA

I find raking the thumb more difficult than playing chords with 4 picks.

Using the ring finger for single notes is difficult as well other than using the ring finger on the first string, or p-i-m-a.

The combination i-a, which I like a lot on nylon string is practically impossible for me on steel.

In reality I'm still working on getting the the transfer from p to i sounding the same...

Mike Neer · From: NJ

The one thing that is proving a little difficult for me is the way the ring finger makes contact with the string. I'm not sure if it's the shape of the pick or the angle, or maybe the weakness of the finger. The pick seems to brush the string rather than make the same kind of contact as the other 2 picks. The fact that it's closer to the bridge, where the tension is a bit tighter, may also be a factor.

I'm going to experiment with using a different kind of pick on the ring finger, perhaps a mizrab. I'll let you know how it turns out. I'm willing to try whatever it takes to to make music--I respect rules, but I don't mind bending them, either.
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