Pickin' on the Pedal Steel

[Nathan James]

I recently began teaching myself how to play steel and after much trial and error have decided to use my middle finger and ring finger rather than my pointer and middle.

I have carpal tuneel and it numbs my hand to use my pointer. It is MUCH easier using my middle and ring finger.

Anyone else do this?

[Dave Mudgett]

On 6-string guitar, I use a flatpick and put fingerpicks on my middle and ring fingers. But with steel, I use a thumbpick and fingerpicks on index, middle, and ring.

For most people, including me, I think index and middle are naturally quite a lot stronger and more agile than middle and ring, but if you really have a carpal tunnel problem, YMMV. If you go this way, you could consider using a flatpick instead of a thumbpick, plus your fingerpicks. That way, you could alternate pick (up/down) with the flatpick, which adds some options. I believe Jr. Brown uses this approach. I considered this, since flatpicking is very natural for me after playing guitar for 40+ years, and this would let me make very rapid shifts between guitar and steel. But I ultimately decided to go for the classic approach plus the added ring finger.

[Jerry Hayes]

I don't remember his name but the steel player with Eddie Rabbitt for a long time used a thumbpick and fingerpicks on his middle and ring fingers and played great. If it feels right, do it! Also, having that bare index finger can really help you get some of those Atkins type harmonics with the thumb and index finger.

Another "infamous" steel player (Jerry Garcia) used his index and ring fingers as his middle finger had been amputated at an early age.

As far as a flatpick on a steel guitar, a couple of people have done it with success but if it really worked well a lot more would use that approach!

Not a steeler but session ace Brent Mason plays his fantastic lead guitar work with a thumbpick and acrylic nails on his middle and ring fingers and plays as fast and clean as any flatpicker I've ever heard!.....JH in Va.

[Robert Harper]

Dave, You must have started out a One year old. Maybe life an the camera have been good to ya

[Nathan James]

I don't even actually use a pick when I play guitar, so using a flatpick while playing steel wouldn't help. I just could never get use to the feel of a pick when playing rythm guitar.

I ocassionally try to use my pointer finger but I still prefer my middle and ring.

I'll keep tinkering.

[Jerry Overstreet]

I don't see that it matters. It's just whatever is most comfortable for you and what you get used to. FWIW, I know a couple guys who use digits 3 & 4 along with the thumbpick and they're plenty dexterous. They play fast stuff way better than I do with i and m. One of the guys has a problem with the index finger, so started with middle and ring.
I also know other people that don't use the more conventional thumb and fingerpicks at all.

With repeated practice and playing, the ring finger will gain as much strength as the others. Go with what works for you and Best of Luck on your steel guitar journey

[Nathan James]

When I play with my bare fingers, I DO use my index and middle. It's just the angle I get when I use a finger pick on my index. The angle I have to use when using the pick on my index to get the string to ring out as true is unnatural.

I would prefer not to use any picks @ all. This is how I played guitar.

[Dean Parks]

Nathan- Pedal players bend the picks to almost follow the curve of the fingertip, making it more like using bare fingers.

When I started, I ordered some Jeff Newman picks "pre-bent", so I would have a good idea about the bend that was commonly used.

[Marke Burgstahler]

don't want to get TOO far off topic, but as of late I've really been struggling with my right hand technique. I've been playing slide guitar for a long time and I've developed a very effective blocking technique using my thumb, index, and middle finger. I RARELY use a pick when I play slide guitar. If I take my picks off when I play steel my damping technique gets REAL GOOD real fast, but I just don't get the defintion of the fingerpicks.

Anyway - I agree...go with what feels right. Sorry to hijack the thread for a sec....

[Nathan James]

I'm using SHowtime 41's which I really like. I have some Dunlop's too, but, I don't like the feel or shape nearly as much.