Do you have to play with finger picks on pedal steel??

Edward Toro · Post by **Edward Toro** » 20 Feb 2018 2:40 pm

I am a Blue's National Resonator player.
I am learning Steel guitar playing. I can't help but using my fingers to pick instead of using the Steel guitar picks.
(which is used in resonator style as well).

It is way more comfortable for me and the sound is not much different other than a bit louder with picks. I have way more finesse and speed of picking with my fingers on a pedal steel guitar.

Any pros finger pick on a pedal steel.

Comments advice welcome.

Thanks.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 20 Feb 2018 2:53 pm

About 99% of people responding will tell you that you do, but it's really up to you....nothing is absolute.

There have been a bunch of discussions about this here that you can dig up in a search.

Here's a pretty recent one you can click on for some thoughts and opinions:

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtop ... nger+picks

Edward Toro · Post by **Edward Toro** » 20 Feb 2018 2:54 pm

Thanks!

Bill Moore · Post by **Bill Moore** » 20 Feb 2018 3:01 pm

Here is a link to a forum search of "do I have to use fingerpicks?" It's a topic that comes up often. My opinion is; if you want to sound good, use fingerpicks.

https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=partner-p ... gsc.page=1

Kevin Fix · Post by **Kevin Fix** » 20 Feb 2018 5:16 pm

Use them................

Tony Prior · Post by **Tony Prior** » 21 Feb 2018 1:21 am

the short answer is NO

the longer answer is

YOU SHOULD ! Your right hand string attack and picking style comes from your thumb, two fingers and picks.

But thats not a written law !

I play Steel and Dobro with picks,but dang, pick up my acoustics or the Telecasters and I have not used picks in 30 years !

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 21 Feb 2018 8:29 am

I was taking lessons in 1979 and asked the same question because I didn't think I'd get used to picks. My teacher said it was up to me but he highly suggested I use picks which I did and have never looked back.

I occasionally sit down to the guitar and try to play without them and I find it extremely hard to play with any dexterity.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 21 Feb 2018 9:26 am

The bottom line is that, if you're achieving the sound you want to hear without picks, then fine, don't use them.

You will be able to achieve a snappier attack and with more colorful overtones if you use them, but if that's not what you're shooting for, then don't bother.

Brooks Montgomery · Post by **Brooks Montgomery** » 21 Feb 2018 9:32 am

It's curious to me how playing without picks works so well with electric bottleneck slide (Derek Trucks among many) , but it just doesn't work well with steel. Steel without picks is kind of like hitting a whiffle ball: it just doesn't fly well.

Len Ryder · Post by **Len Ryder** » 21 Feb 2018 11:45 am

All we have to do is look at the "Greats" and there's a long list. If it was the best way to go I'm darn sure they'd "a-bin" doing it

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 21 Feb 2018 12:27 pm

No, you don't really have to use them. You can fumble along, obliviously, in your own little world, and most players will notice...but be too kind to say anything.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 21 Feb 2018 4:14 pm

The one word answer is yes. Embrace it ASAP. $:\$

Curt Trisko · Post by **Curt Trisko** » 21 Feb 2018 4:26 pm

I've always also been confused about this topic. Whether or not to use picks should depend on what sound you want to get, right? Unless I'm not using the right technique or the right equipment, you can't get a similar sound such that the techniques would be interchangeable.

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 21 Feb 2018 11:55 pm

I think of soup. If you really want to use just your fingers, go ahead.

Brooks Montgomery · Post by **Brooks Montgomery** » 22 Feb 2018 7:10 am

Ian Rae wrote:I think of soup. If you really want to use just your fingers, go ahead.

Obviously you'd lift the bowl up to your mouth, and your feet would kick about as if pedaling a bicycle.

Jim Cohen · Post by **Jim Cohen** » 22 Feb 2018 7:38 am

Seriously. If you like the tone you're getting, fine. But if you strive to sound like what you hear in classic country music steel guitar, you'll probably need the picks to achieve it.

But, hey, not everybody wants to sound like that; that's cool. Do your thing.

Mark van Allen · Post by **Mark van Allen** » 22 Feb 2018 8:29 am

Going pickless can be an asset if youâ€™re aiming for an ambient, atmospheric sound or mellow attack. Check out Daniel Lanois. But yes, almost all of the â€œclassicâ€ steel guitar sound is pick-driven.

Curt Trisko · Post by **Curt Trisko** » 22 Feb 2018 8:37 am

Edward Toro wrote:..and the sound is not much different other than a bit louder with picks.

I'd guess that as your ear becomes more trained to pedal steel and recognizes more of the finesse involved that your opinion will change. Things like that are the difference between being adequate on pedal steel and really learning how to play it. I can tell you from personal experience in my learning process that as my ear develops, new doors are continually being opened and I keep feeling like I go back to being a beginner.

Les Cargill · Post by **Les Cargill** » 22 Feb 2018 9:52 am

Another take on picks is as "personal protective equipment" - it's ... heck playing with fingers on a busted nail. I've never broken a nail on steel, but I sure have on six-string.

Ian Rae · Post by **Ian Rae** » 22 Feb 2018 10:10 am

Mark van Allen wrote:Going pickless can be an asset if youâ€™re aiming for an ambient, atmospheric sound or mellow attack. Check out Daniel Lanois. But yes, almost all of the â€œclassicâ€ steel guitar sound is pick-driven.

I've heard some very nice bareback solo playing but nothing that would cut through a band or deliver what a singer might expect.

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 22 Feb 2018 11:06 am

Respectfully to those that insist you MUST use picks -

Ignore 'em if your style doesn't require them.

If you are going to play traditional E9 country pedal steel and include faster material then it *might* be advisable to use picks. But if you play "roots" music, blues, rock, slower country, a different copedent and so on you might be much happier without.

There have been "pickless" pros - Kim DesChamps comes to mind, who played with Blue Rodeo for years, plus ton of sessions - that do just fine without picks.

Picks are not "part" of the instrument, any more than a round-nose, bullet bar, E9 tuning nor a specific pedal/knee lever arrangement.

Use whatever works for you. Contrary to what some may lead you to believe, there are NO pedal steel police and you are in no danger of incarceration.

Those badges are fake!

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 22 Feb 2018 3:42 pm

I don't think most here (including myself) are saying that finger picks are "mandatory". What we're saying is that learning to use them, first, and then making a conscious and informed decision as to when to use them, or not to use them, is far better. While it's true that very tiny minority chooses not to use them, I think that you'd agree that most ANY player would probably be better off being able to play both ways!

When 99% of the world's best players are doing something, it's a pretty good indication that there must be a significant reason behind that decision.

Larry Baker · Post by **Larry Baker** » 22 Feb 2018 7:24 pm

When I first started on steel, I didn't use thumb or finger picks. I added the thumb pick shortly after, but not finger picks. they seemed so awkward. My wife told me one day that if I was gonna play the steel that I should use finger picks. I was guilted into it, and I'm glad she did. It took a while to get used to them, but glad I did.

Randy Schneider · Post by **Randy Schneider** » 23 Feb 2018 6:50 am

Snappy attack benefits aside, I found that it sure helps to have the finger picks around right after I've busted up one of my fingernails. The feel on the strings is always the same with the picks - not so with the nails.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 23 Feb 2018 9:21 am

No matter what one chooses to do in life, sooner or later they're gonna need some tools for the job no matter how awkward they feel at first, don'tcha think?

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