Pluck or Touch?

Rick Myrland · Post by **Rick Myrland** » 23 Jan 2010 5:14 pm

Yesterday I purchased my first Zookie thumb pick, the L-20, and immediately found it improved my ability to move up and down the strings a little faster and it seemed my accuracy for hitting the right string at the right time improved dramatically, all the first time I used the new pick.

But even more importantly I noticed something else that may have been affecting my speed and accuracy, the manner in which I attack the string. It seems I have always plucked the strings, sometimes probably harder than necessary. With the Zookie thumb pick I find I'm touching it. Which brings me to my question: Do you "pluck" the string by getting under it or is more of a softer touch of the string on the back side of it? When I touch it seems cleaner, more accurate and my tone seems to improve but I do have to add a little to the volume pedal.

Any thoughts or guidance on this? I know it may be difficult to explain in words but any thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks.

Jay Jessup · Post by **Jay Jessup** » 23 Jan 2010 5:23 pm

I certainly wouldn't ever get under it and pluck up, I would either pick straight out towards the front of the guitar for most stuff and maybe slightly downward on slow things.

Paul Crawford · Post by **Paul Crawford** » 23 Jan 2010 5:50 pm

In his student course, Jerry Byrd suggests the picking motion should be more or less like twisting the cap off of a bottle.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 23 Jan 2010 6:12 pm

If by "pluck" you mean striking the strings somewhat forcefully, as opposed to "touch" meaning using less force when striking the strings, then I endorse "plucking." Especially on slow ballads I find myself using a lot of force when striking the strings.

A good firm picking stroke seems to get the string vibrating more completely. I turn down the volume with the pedal, so the pick noise and bar noise is actually less than if I was just "touching" the strings, which would require that I run the volume higher on the VP to get the necessary volume. In other words, "touching" causes more extraneous noise to make it to the amp.

If I am not mistaken, Jeff Newman used to advocate striking the strings firmly. It makes sense to me.

Ron Randall · Post by **Ron Randall** » 23 Jan 2010 7:21 pm

I warm up with the riff to "Green Onions" (by Booker T and the MG's)

Picking 2 strings at a time. Use only the finger picks. When you get in the groove, you will feel that the attack is like a snap. Pick blocking comes kinda natural.
This does not have to be forceful.

Eric West · Post by **Eric West** » 24 Jan 2010 4:30 pm

Not a stone rule, but I was always shown to pluck slightly up and have the pick wear more at the thumb base direction.

Basically in a manner that lets you pick it as hard as is possible.

A good rule is not to let your thumbpick come to rest on the next string after you've plucked one (or I guess two).

Picking up lets blocking become more of a rocking motion.

It's hard to explain succicntly.

Watching Buddy Charleton while taking a lot of lessons from him helped me.

EJL

Bent Romnes · Post by **Bent Romnes** » 24 Jan 2010 4:48 pm

Paul Sutherland wrote: If I am not mistaken, Jeff Newman used to advocate striking the strings firmly. It makes sense to me.

Yes, Paul, Jeff always told us to put some force into the picking. He said: It's ok for people to hear those picks.

Paul E. Brennan · Post by **Paul E. Brennan** » 29 Jan 2010 7:24 am

Why not practise both striking the strings firmly and gently? You need to build up control of your right hand. Why limit yourself?

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 29 Jan 2010 1:50 pm

I pick hard also. Buddy C. showed me how to get a good sound.