Do you use a pick?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by AJ Ouellette on May 21, 2012 at 4:58pm

Yeah that's what I do sometimes; I use my fingers like I'm holding a pick. And I'll definitely check out those Neil Young videos. Jeff Beck doesn't use a pick either, and although some of his recordings can be kinda boring (some are wicked awesome though!), he is amazing to see live. I saw him in Boston once, and his drummer is amazing. Bassist Rhonda Smith has really funky solos.

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Permalink Reply by Johnny Walker on May 25, 2012 at 12:35pm

I'm using a pick 99% of the time these days. I did study classical guitar at a program run by Parkening back in the 80s and was very serious about fingerstyle then. But I've been playing electric guitar with rock and country bands for so long that the pick is by FAR more comfortable for me, so with my current "flamenco-jazz" project I just decided to give-up the nails and use my pick. Can't do proper rasgueado and some other things with a pick, but the trade-offs in my abilities with a pick for fast scales and what-not are worth it. I use Dunlop Jazz IIIs and Jazz III XLs for flat-picking on my nylon and steel string acoustics.

 

-J. Walker

http://jwflamenco.net

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Permalink Reply by Cliff on June 4, 2012 at 10:05am

I use thumb picks which I modify by "opening" them up a bit with hot water, then I use a bit of tape to hold them securely without cutting off circulation.  I play mostly finger style blues and finger style solo (Juber, Pettaway, etc.).  The thumb pick gives the muffled bass the drive needed to sound like tho old timers. 

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Permalink Reply by Jud Hair on June 4, 2012 at 1:06pm

To strum, I always use a flat pick ("Cool" brand Thin) ...

For Travis picking fingerstyle, I use bare flesh on thumb and minimal nails on index and middle fingers.  I've tried thumb pick and various types of finger picks, but they make me feel like Edward Scissorhands ...

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Permalink Reply by Bill Wray on June 6, 2012 at 4:43pm

I find that I only feel the need to use a pick when I want some amount of speed, or volume.  Because I don't have classical training, I never developed any kind of 'proper' technique.  I know some guys are very fast with just their fingers, I'm not.  Plus, I prefer to play with the tips of my fingers, not using the nails.  Playing with other people, particularly with louder instruments like violin or banjo in a bluegrass setting, one almost has to use a pick, be it a flatpick or a thumbpick/fingerpicks to get the volume - unless you're plugged in.  My main interests are jazz (standards and bossanova), bluegrass, and some folky stuff.  I prefer to play with my fingers, especially when grabbing chords or playing arpeggios - I'm not very accurate with cross-picking.  So, as I mentioned in the beginning of the post, I usually only turn to a pick or thumbpick/fingerpicks when I need volume or speed - it's not my first choice, or what feels most natural.  I wrote a blog entry about this on my website Pick vs Fingerstyle vs Fingerpicking Guitar.

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Permalink Reply by Bob Niemiec on August 6, 2012 at 7:01am

Depends on the song. Some songs just lend themselves to a flat pick while other to finger-picking. I never use a thumb pick except when playing the banjo.

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Permalink Reply by Dane Whitley on August 13, 2012 at 7:19am

Anyone else have to use a flatpick when singing? I think I need to develop some coordination. Otherwise, fingerpicking for almost everything. 

Only recently have I started experimenting with hybrid stuff. It's amazing what can be done with it. 15 years playing and I'm just now "picking it up"

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