How do I keep those dang Dunlop metal finger picks on!?!?

Mike Wenger · From: North Carolina, USA

The MOST frustrating thing about starting out has been that the metal picks I am using for the index/middle fingers keep flipping off (sorry for the pun). In some desperation, I tried one-inch blue painter's tape around the fingers first. Seems to work like a charm, but then it takes several minutes to get the tape off. Wink

Does somebody have a better idea? Flesh-colored masking tape might look a bit better, I guess. Having a ball with this guitar, though.

Nathan French · From: California, USA

Maybe you already tried this, but you can bend them to fit your fingers. Then you have to figure out which goes with which finger when you put them on.

I struggled to adapt to finger picks when I picked up bottleneck slide and I haven't gotten any closer to being comfortable with them sadly.

Pat Moore · From: Virginia USA

Hey Mike,
Stick your fingertip just in your mouth and get it wet. Push the pick on your finger. It'll stay there all night. Honest! Works for me and many others. Quick and easy! Works for the plastic thumb pick too.
Give it a try!
For those with an issue about sanitation, I always wash my hands before I play, whether guitar or steel, just to keep the necks and strings clean. Makes this method work just fine with no issues, compared to those who don't wash up and have poor hygiene!
Just trying to let you know what does work! As with most everything with guitars, nothing is written in stone, and whatever works for you is best for you.

Pat Very Happy

Edward Rhea · From: Medford Oklahoma, USA

My good friend Jack Ritter carries a travel size aerosol can of hairspray, in his pac-a-seat. Gets tacky and makes'em stick...lick & stick works well too, although some have questioned its sanitary? Just tell them "I don't like buggers on my pics!"
_________________
â€œTONESNOBâ€

Ray Minich · From: Bradford, Pa. Frozen Tundra

If you wear them enough you get permanent dents in your finger tip each side of the finger nail. Then they stay on more easily, Takes about 10 years....
_________________
Lawyers are done: Emmons SD-10, 3 Dekleys including a D10, NV400, and lots of effects units to cover my clams...

Tom Quinn · Posted 16 Mar 2017 5:15 pm

Jeff Newman hated Dunlops. I'd recommend "'41s" from Bill at:

972/ 475-0633 â€¢ Fax 972/ 412-5862
Showcase â€¢ P.O. Box 1660 â€¢ Rowlett, TX 75030
bill@BillStokesShowcase.com

He's a great guy and makes terrific finger picks among other things...
_________________
I need an Emmons!

Charlie Hansen · From: Halifax, NS Canada and Various Southern Towns.

What Pat said. I do that and they never come off. As a matter of fact when you want to take them off they're on really tight.

Pat Moore · From: Virginia USA

ðŸ‘Exactly right Charlie! You do have to pull them off. Works with any style/brand of picks once you get them adjusted to your fingers!
Natural glue!
Thx, PatðŸ¤”

John Roche · From: England

Perfect Touch picks solved the problem for me, never had a pick come off.

Mike Perlowin · From: Los Angeles CA

Another thing that works well is shrink wrap, which you cab find at your local hardware store.
_________________
Please visit my web site and Soundcloud page and listen to the music posted there.
http://www.mikeperlowin.com http://soundcloud.com/mike-perlowin

Billy Murdoch · From: Glasgow, Scotland, U.K.

Perfect touch for Me too.The most comfortable picks I have used.

Larry Baker · From: Columbia, Mo. U.S.A.

Pro Pics is the best I have found.
_________________
Mullen G2 SD10 3 & 5 The Eagle
NV112 amp===Earnie Ball V.P.

Randle Cole · From: California, USA

try fiddle rosin. easy to carry and works well.

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

I am a finger lick kind of guy. I've tried several of the sticky spays/ointments and even fiddle rosin. With them I would also touch somewhere on my guitar, and the sticky stuff would get on the guitar, and even the amp and effects. Ihave a new set of Nationals that I did the shrink wrap on, but they feel bulky and clunky. I keep them as emergency pick. I use Jeff Newman picks, but I assume they are no longer available.

It was mentioned earlier about bending your picks and having to figure out what pick goes on what finger. A Sharpie pen solves that problem. Use it to "paint" the part of the band that goes over the outside of the finger. Been doing this for years.
_________________
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 54 years and still counting.

Jimmy Gibson · From: Cornwall, England

Any chance of a picture of a Perfect Touch pick please.the picks I use are pressed from a single piece of steel,there are no holes in them like most of the picks I have used,and I really like them but don,t seem to be able to find any of them anywhere on the net,any help in finding some would be great and appreciated.

Cheers.

Bill Miller · From: Gaspe, Quebec, Canada

I've been fighting with my fingerpicks for as long as I have been playing and still haven't found a perfect solution to keeping them in place. My latest variation is a combo approach. I'm using one latex ( or whatever ) coated pick on my index finger...you know...the red or black coated ones. And an ordinary Dunlop on my middle finger, applied with a bit of slobber. Seems to be working out for now. I don't like two coated picks because the thickness of the coating makes them bulky enough to drag against each other. One coated and one bare is better. I have more trouble keeping a pick on my index finger so that's where the coated one works best.

Jack Ritter · From: Enid, Oklahoma, USA

FWIW-- I always get up and away from my steel so no spray never gets on it, or any of my gear. I spray just the last joints on my pickin fingers, let them flash off and just before they dry I put on my picks where I use them. Wipe the picks and finger tips in a downward push 2 or 2 times on my right pant leg and they are ready to go. No problem with any hair spray on my strings or equipment. I use the JF picks.
_________________
Zum D10 8x5,rev pre-amp, TC M300, Split 12, n-112, IZZY, Hilton vp, Geo L, BJS Hughey, Live Steel

Ian Rae · From: Redditch, England

To solve a problem it helps to analyse the cause. If like many successful pickers you bend the tips of the picks round level with your fingernail, and play with your fingers bent back on themselves, then the act of striking the string will tend to push the pick onto the finger. If you use them straight out of the box and/or have a more upright hand position, then you will be fighting the tendency for them to flip off.

The other thing that helps is a good fit. Round nose pliers and patience will do it. Play an exercise - tweak - play - tweak - it helps if you have an obsessive personality. It took me a good week to get my last set bedded in. A snug fit coupled with the tendency of your perspiration to etch the metal slightly does it for me.

I have used Dunlops, Newmans and Nationals and have found no difference in this regard.
_________________
Make sleeping dogs tell the truth!
Homebuilt keyless U12 7x5, Excel keyless U12 8x8, Williams keyless U12 7x8, Telonics rack and 15" cabs

Dustin Rigsby · From: Parts Unknown, Ohio

I prefer the JF picks from Jeffran. Superior to dunlops in every way. Still available from www.jeffran.com
_________________
D.S. Rigsby

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

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

Randle's mention of fiddle resin is a good idea. I used to keep a block in my seat but got out of the habit recently. It is helpful and not messy.

Also, I usually rough up the inner surface of the picks with sandpaper or a scribe to add friction between the skin and metal.

Tom Gorr · From: Three Hills, Alberta

National NP2s for fingers... propick long blade with shrink wrap for thumb

Tony Glassman · From: The Great Northwest

Randle's mention of fiddle resin is a good idea. I used to keep a block in my seat but got out of the habit recently. It is helpful and not messy.

Also, I usually rough up the inner surface of the picks with sandpaper or a scribe to add friction between the skin and metal.

Lane Gray · From: Topeka, KS

I use clear nail polish for two reasons
1) it helps keep them on by making them slightly tacky, and;
2) it protects my fingers from the (admittedly minor) ravagettes (minor ravages) of the picks.
Most fingerpicks are an alloy containing copper and zinc (I think there's a third metal but I can't recall it).
Copper turns your fingers green, and the zinc dries the skin, making the fingers more prone to dry and split.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects

John Roche · From: England

http://www.perfecttouchpicks.com
There you go Jimmy

Forum Index > Pedal Steel	Goto page 1, 2 Next	Next oldest topic :: Next newest topic