Switching from Guitar to steel and fumbling fingerpicks...

[Dom Franco]

I have recently been playing some gigs where I am called upon to play my Telecaster, and Lap Steel, sometimes within the same song.

And even between songs, switching from a standard pick (plectrum) to finger and thumbpicks is messy and nerve-wracking.
I have the lap steel on a stand so that problem is taken care of, it's just the pick problem now.

So far:
1.I tried to play the tele with the finger picks... not so good!
2.I tried to play the lap steel with the plectrum... not so good!
3.I laid the plectrum down and played the steel with no picks at all (but then I lose the clarity of pick attack)
4.I tried to lay down the plectrum, put on the finger picks quickly, (but miss playing several measures of the song)

HELP...
What do you guys do?

Thanks
Dom

[Lynn Oliver]

You could try holding your thumb pick as if it were a plectrum by removing just the pick on your first finger.

[Dom Franco]

I have tried that, but the thumb pick is just not as flexible as a regular pick, so strumming is harsh, and not as fluid...
Thanks for the idea
though...
Dom

[nick allen]

... or the opposite - remove the 1st finger pick, and use the plectrum like a thumbpick, plus fingerpicks on the 2nd (middle), and maybe even 3rd fingers. That's how Junior Brown does it, and so does James Burton (on dobro).
Nick

[Dom Franco]

oh boy the learning curve!...

[Charley Wilder]

You could try holding your thumb pick as if it were a plectrum by removing just the pick on your first finger.

I did it for years with out removing the pick on my first finger. It just takes some time to get used to it. If you don't think it's possible to adapt to using just a thumb pick on your Tele listen to Johnny Winter. You just have to adapt! I know that's an evil word these days but it CAN be done.

[Dave Harmonson]

I often play a Telecaster and a Fender 6 string steel on legs and if I'm playing both on the same song I use the thumb pick and finger nails. I prefer playing the steel with finger picks but with practice you can make it work without them. I tried for years to play the Tele with a thumbpick before it finally worked. Playing rhythm is the trickiest. I use the thumbpick as if it were a flatpick, but I also use the back of my finger nails for part of the strum. For songs where I really want a flat pick for the Tele, I play the steel with the flat pick and finger nails. I have used finger picks on the Tele at times, but for me since I use the back of my finger nails to strum the picks get in the way. I'm fortunate to have sturdy nails that seldom break, but lots of guys use bare fingers and get a good sound. The best advice is to just keep trying different methods and see what can work for you.

[Mike Neer]

I just take the extra few moments to change picks, not usually a big deal.

For what it's worth, playing Tele with fingerpicks is something one could easily get used to, at least I did, but for strumming it's not happening at all. I'll admit to trying and failing at the thumbpick as plectrum method. I'd rather just claw away at the strings.

[Keith Cordell]

I just play both with no picks. I use the back of my nails to strum.

[AJ Azure]

there are regular picks with a thumb pick style attachment (or thumb pick with a regular pick size). Would that help?

[Richard Sevigny]

I used to wear thumb and fingerpick to play steel, but as lead singer and sole axman, I'm required to switch rapidly between instruments. I find using a flatpick (and watching the pressure I apply) for single lines or double stops on adjacent strings works OK. Otherwise, I just play with bare fingers. I'm slowly learning to do harmonics in "bareback" mode

[Dom Franco]

Wow;
Thanks for all the ideas...
keep em coming.
I am the lead guitar/steel guy, so I don't usually have to carry the rythym, except when the other guitarist plays a solo.

So far the fingerpicks on for both instruments works best... I have to check out some johhny winter!

Dom

[Jon Nygren]

I'm weird...I just use a flatpick and put fingerpicks on my middle and ring fingers...sometimes I dont use the fingerpicks and can play steel fine without them, though the attack is a bit muted compared to using the fingerpicks.

I learned to play this way and it just stuck. Tried playing regular guitar with a thumbpick and I just cant do it, so I learned this way to switch back and forth instantly.

[Bob Simons]

Try Herco thumbpicks....they make one that is the same shape and thickness of a standard Fender guitar pick, available stiff-med-soft...As a guitar player I found that this was the closest I could get to a normal feeling pick when I am forced to use it on guitar.

[Ben Hoare]

Hi Dom I am was in exactly the same situation switching between steel and lead.When I first started getting called to do this professionally I stressed a great deal over not changing quick enough.I tried all the same things playing steel with a pick and guitar with picks but it didnt work because thats not the way I play and its not part of my sound,slipping the two finger picks off and leaving the thumb on works best for me

[Ben Hoare]

changing in the same song !playing twister is easier or make the fiddle player take a break when your changing over

[Bob Bowman]

Tried these?

http://www.strum-n-comfort.com

Cheers Bob

[Jerry Hayes]

Dom, I use a Herco thumbpick and old National finger picks on everything except mandolin. I think you can actually do a lot more that way than with a regular flatpick. There are a lot of tricks I've learned over the years such as using the ring finger for some "meat" things and rhythm parts.

There are a bunch of "folk" acoustic players who use a thumb and fingerpicks for all rhythm playing with no problems. On my Herco thumbpicks I file the tip to a point for a brighter sound and it works great on a Tele.

If you can get some Sawyer Brown recordings with Duncan Cameron on lead guitar, check him out. Duncan's an amazing player who I first saw in SoCal and he used a thumbpick and fingerpicks for all styles of rock and country. He also played with the Amazing Rhythm Aces for a spell. He plays steel, lead, mandolin, & banjo. I've actually seen him play the mandolin with the picks and does it quite well..............

Also in the Rock field, and old group called Quicksilver Messenger Service had a lead guitarist named John Cippolina who used thumb and fingerpicks.

All in all, if you're doubling, I wouldn't change at all, just use your picks for everything, you'll miss nothing in a short period..........JH in Va.

[Scott Shipley]

I play tele and pedal steel with a flatpick and my second and third fingers.
Jimmy Clark plays steel the same way.

[John Billings]

You need an index fingerpick like this. I play my Teles with fingerpicks, if I need to strum, I just hold that index fingerpick like a flatpick. Never could stand floppy,flappy flatpicks anyway!