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Topic: A Few Questions about Picks. |
John Prather
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 3 Aug 2015 2:40 am |
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I use Dunlop SS finger picks and Golden Gate Pearlies with the anti rollover for thumb picks. I also like steel thumb picks for a brighter tone on the thumb but they seem to put nicks in the strings and accelerate strings wear.
I have two questions.
1. How many use 4 picks with a pick on the ring finger. I can manage 4 picks but I sometimes forget I have the 4th pick, falling back to the old 3 finger claw. Four picks works for picking up the 2nd string for playing Maj 7th chords. 8,6,5,2 or 6,5,4,2 and other tetra chords. Typically I still use 3 but I'm starting to opt more and more for 4.
2. Some steelers bend the tips of the finger picks over against the tips of their fingers. I can't play with these bent picks. I find them clumsey since I learned with straight picks and always played with them unmodified. Is there a reason for these bent picks that I'm missing. They seem so difficult to control. |
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Tom Quinn
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Posted 3 Aug 2015 4:11 am
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Whatever floats your boat, but most pro pickers play with two fingerpicks and a thumb pick. If you are holding your right hand for proper damping you almost have to wear your picks curved to parallel your fingertips.
_________________
I need an Emmons! |
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John Prather
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 3 Aug 2015 4:44 am Must be my youth again
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| Thanks. I didn't think of the alignment. I get my tips straight with full blocking on the right hand but I see your point. I think the fact that I played with straight picks at such a young age makes me compensate. Too many years. Don't think I'll change. Simply can't use the bent picks. |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 3 Aug 2015 6:05 am
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I too played 6 string with straight finger-picks in my younger days, and had no problems with muting.
When I started to play PSG for real back in the early -80s, every steel player I was in contact with told me how to bend my picks - so I did. Got up to speed too, but wasn't happy with them.
In the early -90s I said something that equals "to h**l with it" and straightened those picks completely - to the point that the tip actually points ever so slightly the "wrong" way, and changed the angle of the hand and fingers accordingly. Suited me much better both for picking accurately and fast, and worked better for muting too. Thus, I have played that way ever since.
Still get comments from other steel players about my "totally unusable picks", but that doesn't bother me.
I use a steel thumb-pick too - most of the time, and it is shortened and shaped to go with my picking-style. Pick-edges are filed and polished to perfection, so there's no excessive wear on the strings.
Good steel picks last forever ... especially if they are shaped for the individual player, which I think is very important. I have used the same set for over 20 years, and only polish them lightly around the tips now and then. Although I do not play much anymore, I do hit those strings hard when I do - regular picks last for maybe a couple of hours playing before being too scratched-up to be usable. |
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John Prather
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 3 Aug 2015 6:18 am Reshaped Picks
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Yes, I do scrub the edges slightly but nothing noticeable. Perhaps I've just learned to compensate. I may try twisting the tips to get a little better alignment.
A famous Opera Tenor during a certain Aria always walked to the rear window of the set. His blocking and choreography was noted and the motion to the window became a standard in almost EVERY presentation of that opera for years to come.
Years later, a young opera student got the chance to ask him what his genius was in making that timely move. The Elder Singer said, "Oh, it wasn't genius, I just always got phlegm in my throat at that point in the Aria and I went to the window in the set to SPIT". Conventions aren't always as important they seem. |
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Georg Sørtun
From:
Mandal, Agder, Norway
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Posted 3 Aug 2015 7:20 am Re: Reshaped Picks
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| John Prather wrote: |
| Conventions aren't always as important [as] they seem. |
Ain't that the truth 
I have always thought that picks, and instrument, should be adjusted to the individual player, and not the player to the picks and instrument.
We have all these discussions about what amp/speaker/cab, with what settings, that will (re)produce the tone the individual player want. I personally think much more "individuality" is gained by focusing on the point where the picks/fingers meet the strings.
A pity I didn't listen to myself when I took up PSG playing all those years ago, but I do now...
...and what suits me doesn't have to suit anybody else, in order to be right  |
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John Prather
From:
Indiana, USA
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Posted 3 Aug 2015 9:35 am Individuality
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Can't agree more. I think that is one of the most unique characters of the Pedal Steel. Players find their own niche, their own sound and their own character. I'm searching for sounds that are more generic and apply to a broader style of music.
After inspecting my finger pick path, I've decided to twist them slightly to keep the edge away from the strings. |
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