How many picks do you use?

Dom Franco · From: Beaverton, OR, 97007

I use a thumb pick and three fingerpicks. (Index, middle and ring finger)
I have noticed that many (Most) players only use two fingerpicks and the thumbpick.

I like the sound of lush full 4 note chords, but I also play pedal steel so maybe that is the difference in thinking?

Sincerely;
Dom Franco

Don Kona Woods · From: Hawaiian Kama'aina

Dom,

I use a thumb pick and two finger picks and when I want a fuller sound, I strum.

I am not sure, but I think that 3 finger picks and a thumb pick would not be a match for me because I have such a big hand and fingers. Or is it just my imagination?

Aloha, Smile

Don

David Doggett · Posted 17 Sep 2007 7:16 am

I started out in the '60s using a metal thumb pick and three finger picks for playing folk and blues guitar. When I took up Dobro, lap steel and pedal steel, I was still playing some guitar, and just kept the 4th pick on. On pedal steel I don't use it much when playing with a group. Two and three string chords cut through the mix better. But when I work on some carefully thought out solo stuff just for myself at home, I do occasionally use all four picks, especially for a nice full ending chord. The only drawback is that the ring finger is not available for easy harmonics. But I find harmonics gimmicky and don't use them much (but maybe that's just a rationalization).

Keith Wells · From: South Carolina Sea Islands

I'm using a plastic Dunlop thumb pick and two metal fingerpicks.

I started out about six months ago with two plastic finger picks but I thought they were too long and decided to try the metal ones after reading about them on this forum.

I like the metal finger picks but I think the ones I got are too short, or I guess maybe it could be my (lack of) technique.

I like the idea of using three finger picks, but right now two are more than I can handle. For chords I try to pic the top two strings with my fingers and strum the bottom two or more with my thumb. I have trouble when I try to strum all the strings with my thumb, it seems to break up my rythm.

I find I use the thumb for most of the notes I play. I was worried about this for awhile -- thinking I should be using my fingers more -- but then I read somewhere that Jerry Byrd said to use the thumb as much as possible for better tone. Don't know if it's true or not, but my thumb is still doing most of the work.
_________________
-- Keith

Gary Boyett · From: Colorado/ Lives in Arizona

I think this guy might qualify as "other"

He is thinking about it...

Papa Joe Pollick · From: Swanton, Ohio

Flat pick and bare fingers.
Though I DO practice with thumb and finger picks.

Will Houston · From: Tempe, Az

I used to use 2 until I saw a picture here on the Forum, forget who it was, but they had 3, so I tried that and its just natural now. Nice for the 4 string chords.

Jeff Au Hoy · From: Honolulu, Hawai'i

Gary, you made me think of Handi-Off.

Announcer: You've tried sanding them off. You've tried slamming them off. And mitts only hide the problem. There's no way around it - you've got extra fingers. It's time for Handi-Off. Only Handi-Off contains Leprosin. [ Sheila applies Handi-Off to her extra fingers ] That tingle will tell you it's working. In just three days, unsightly fingers disappear - for good! [ Sheila's extra fingers fall off ]

Thumb and two fingers for me.

Gerard Ventura · From: Texas, USA

I've tried thumbpicks and various number of fingerpicks, but they sound clicky and thin and get in my way. I'm after a thick singing solo sound and I like 4 note chords. Plus this is amplified,
So no picks at all works for me (so far).

Hey, if 'fingers, no picks' is good enough for the flamenco guys, it's sure good enough for me!!

Bill Creller · From: Saginaw, Michigan, USA (deceased)

I think Leonard Zinn is the only player I've seen using three finger picks.

Eric Ebner · From: Texas Republic

I've actually tried 3 finger picks but it didn't seem natural to me. I do play bare fingers on occasion when the baby is sleeping.
_________________
Tribo-Tone™ Bars

Ron Randall · From: Dallas, Texas, USA

Just cause a guy wears three finger picks, don't mean he has to use them all the time. Same with a thumb pick. Not required to use it all the time.

Lots of ways to skin this cat. Might need that extra pick some day.

seriously, Think about how to play big chords with the thumb on 10,11, or12 and fingers on three high strings.

just my 2c. I don't think about it very much. Oh, and I like my coffee black.

Gerard Ventura · From: Texas, USA

I'm playing an 8 string, and as mentioned above, I can't conceive playing more than 8 strings without using picks due to spacing problems.

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