Pluck or Touch?

Rick Myrland · From: New Orleans

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.
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Mullen G2; Fender Tone Master Twin Reverb; Goodrich L-120

Jay Jessup · From: Charlottesville, VA, USA

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 · From: Orlando, Fl

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 · From: Placerville, California

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 · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

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 · From: Portland, Oregon, USA, R.I.P.

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.

Smile

EJL

Bent Romnes · From: London,Ontario, Canada

Paul E. Brennan · From: Dublin, Ireland

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 · From: Austin, Tx

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

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