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Topic: beginning questions |
Kurt Hagardorn
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 16 Mar 2006 1:12 pm |
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So I'm a long time guitarist who just took up the steel. Eric West here in Portland, who is a forum member, helped get me started the other day. Right now, learning how to use my right hand is the thing slowing me down most, particullarly using the finger picks. I don't plan on doing it, but at this early stage I can play it better without picks. That made me curious. Do people ever play the steel without picks?
thanks,
Kurt
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Kevin Hatton
From:
Buffalo, N.Y.
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Posted 16 Mar 2006 1:24 pm
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| Its a natural reaction when you first start steel. Don't worry, it reverses. In a couple of years of hard work it will feel unatural NOT having the finger picks on. It one of the the hurdles that you must get over. |
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Kurt Hagardorn
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 16 Mar 2006 1:40 pm
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thanks kevin
words of encouragement are always welcome!
kurt |
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Marlin Smoot
From:
Kansas
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Posted 16 Mar 2006 2:19 pm
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I have the Eagles DVD and Don Felder is playing a Sho-Bud without finger picks but he also dosen't play steel guitar full time.
I agree, at first it seems easier but trust me, stay with the finger picks, it won't take long...it will seem weird not to have them on when you play. I also play guitar using a thumb pick and fingers but with pedal steel its just different.
It can be done but your life will be much easier with the picks on. I vote picks on. |
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Joseph Carlson
From:
Grass Valley, California, USA
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Posted 16 Mar 2006 2:28 pm
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Hi and welcome to the forum.
I was in your exact situation about 6 months ago. I'm glad I stuck with the picks, although I tried playing without them for a while. To my ears a lot of the tone comes from the picks.
It has also helped my guitar playing a lot.
Here is a track I recorded after about 4 months of playing: www.myspace.com/starsgarters
Regards,
Joe |
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Kurt Hagardorn
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 16 Mar 2006 2:29 pm
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thanks Marlin,
I figured it was better to use the picks, otherwise so many players wouldn't use them.
Allready though the second day of practice is easier than the first, so I'll keep at it.
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Kurt Hagardorn
From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
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Posted 16 Mar 2006 2:37 pm
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I listened to This Fool, which is really good.
I'm impressed w/ the steel for sure, and also the elec. guitar. Heard a bit of Don Rich in there, which is always good!
Kurt |
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James Sission
From:
Sugar Land,Texas USA
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Posted 16 Mar 2006 3:57 pm
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| Kurt, about 7 months ago I moved from Tele to steel. I almost gave up on the steel at first because of the finger picks. I got so frustrated; I went so far as to pitch my bar in the trash along with the picks. I later had to dig them out when I calmed down. I went and asked Bobby Bowman at one of his gigs about the pick thing. I told him I thought I was going to try glue on fingernails. He assured me if I would wear the picks as much as possible, even when I was not playing, I would grow used to them and never want to pick without them. After about 2 weeks of this, I was fine with the picks, to the point where I don't even give them a second thought anymore. It can be quite frustrating, but you will overcome that little obstacle pretty quickly in time.....James |
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Michael Haselman
From:
St. Paul
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Posted 16 Mar 2006 5:19 pm
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The kind of fingerpicks you use can make a big difference. If you aren't using Nationals, I suggest you get ahold of some. The Dunlops have too wide a wrap and will get in the way of picking, in my experience. There are others made for steels, but hopefully the picks themselves are not the problem.
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Marrs D-10, Webb 6-14E
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A. J. Schobert
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio,
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Posted 16 Mar 2006 5:54 pm
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| Kurt in response to your question I can only add that yes you need to get used to wearing finger picks, and if you are this early in steel playing I would suggest you to seek out a "proffesional" psg teacher they can teach you alot about finger picks such as how to bend them back and maybe you might learn you play better by filling the thumb pick down, you may be able to curb some bad habits that are so easy to get, and learn alot faster to, I thought that jeff newman used to have prebent finger picks, good luck and don't give up!!! |
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Rick Jolley
From:
Colorado Springs
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Posted 16 Mar 2006 7:20 pm
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I have just gone thru all of the agonies of learning to use fingerpicks; a couple of things passed on to me helped:
1) I told George Duncan that they hurt. "Keep bending them until they don't hurt." This is good advice. I used a small needlenose pliers to bend them away from my finger right where they hurt. That helps.
2) TufSkin/NewSkin on the sore spot helps.
3) You can adjust the picks a little looser and use hair spray to hold them on. (This advice from Lane Vifinkle. "An old hiwaiian trick" he said, "that I learned from an old hiwawiian.")
4) I got some Kyser "old style" picks from Mullen, and they work better than anything else I've tried. On the other hand, everything works better now that I've been fighting with them for a year or two!
I have tried putting them on while I watch TV. That sorta helps, but it scratches the remote.
Anyway, if you keep at it, it will get better.
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Rick Jolley
(Rick Zahniser/Rickey Zahn)
Dekley S10 3/3, Session400LTD
http://belizenorth.com
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Bob Hoffnar
From:
Austin, Tx
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Posted 16 Mar 2006 9:29 pm
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I have had some steel students that come from a classical guitar tradition that get some great stuff happening with there fingers that they would not be able to do with picks. I use picks and love the sound myself but to each his own.
Its still a very young instrument so who knows how it will develope over time.
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Bob
upcoming gigs
My Website
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Jason Schofield
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Posted 16 Mar 2006 10:49 pm
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Dear Kurt. I'm a newbie myself. I've been playing less than a year. At first I hated the dang finger picks. They would catch the other strings, fall off, not fit right ect.. I switched to the Jeff Newman picks and bought Joe Wrights DVD technique bundle and now I'm using 4 picks and pickblocking too. It's really a pain a first but if you stick with it and just practice a ton it will all come together. take care, Jason Schofield
I've lowered the prices on some cd box sets I have for sale.. check em' out http://steelguitarforum.com/Forum18/HTML/000720.html |
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Mark Lind-Hanson
From:
Menlo Park, California, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2006 9:04 am
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While it might feel natural to work without picks it is true that it becomes second nature after a while. I find there is a difference in my playing & basic autonomic approach with or without when playing either 6 string or psg-
I would staart out with them & later on if you still feel inclined then work without them when you like.
Also it was suggested by someone here & the name escapes me to get a few those eyeglass repair kits at Walgreens & remove the nosepads-& glue them to the inner side of the pick extensions- they stick quite naturally to the inside of the National picks and are a real comfort cushion & also create more surface tension between pick & finger, thus staying on a little better- certainly, more comfortable.
Try it & see if you like it- I was sold on it anyway but take a little care in putting them on & removing them so you don't tear the pads back off. |
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2006 9:55 am
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I was just goin to mention the eyeglass pad thing that someone had mentioned on here before, that was a huge help to me. Took the pain out of the equation at least. I didnt have any eyeglass thingys so I just used a small bandaid with the pad side toward the fingernail area, it pads and helps keep em on more securely because of the give of the padding.
frustrating ain it? the back of my thumbpick catching strings is what drives me crazy most..gettin better tho...hehe.... i hope. |
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Nic du Toit
From:
Milnerton, Cape, South Africa
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Dave White
From:
Fullerton, California USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2006 12:36 pm
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| Kurt--I'm also a newbie, been playing about 4 months now, and I also hated the picks at first. They feel unnatural until you get used to them, but after you practice and work with them awhile, they become more comfortable. The intonation you can get with picks is awesome, so you should stick with them. I had problems with picking the wrong strings, sore fingers, picks falling off, all of that (and I still do, occasionally)--it just takes practice. I got used to them by sitting at the guitar with the amp off, watching TV and doing picking excercises at the same time. It eases the boredom and helps it become second nature to you. Good luck--stay with it, it will get easier with time and practice and you will enjoy the results.--Dave |
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