The Steel Guitar Forum

I'm new to this forum and new to the pedal steel. So new in fact, I don't even own one..yet.

I'm curious, are there any players that do not even use finger picks, but, use their bare fingers? I'm not sure if the distance between strings even allow this. I currently play my guitar this way and perfer it over using finger picks.

Hi Nathan,

I have only been playing steel for about 6 months or so. But like you I do not use finger picks. I play lead guitar in my band and very seldom use a guitar pick. When I first started on the steel I tried to use finger picks but I just can't get the hang of it.
I saw Henry Nagle on you tube playing without picks and doubling on guitar. I was also told the guy that plays steel with the Eagles does not use finger picks. I am sure you will get a lot of different opinions. But in the end you will have to do what works for you!!

Correct me if I'm wrong here, but I believe Bobbe Seymour uses a thumb pick but no finger picks.

just a guess but i would think the range of player's that do not use picks would be in the 5% range or close to it

there are a lot of different picks to choose from, just keep trying till you find the ones you like. it took me about 10-15 pairs
till i found the ones i liked

Just my two cents, I just started playing a few months ago and being a 6 string player for most of my life, the finger picks felt all wrong. I had pretty much made up my mind to just use fingers and then I tried some national picks and it didn't feel like somebody else's hand, so it gave them a little time and it's working out. So, experiment. Picks typically sound sooo much better.

I've been playing pedal steel since 1972 and haven't used picks since maybe 1973. I love the tone, and the great variety of tones, that you get with fingernails/fingertips. And you can feel which string you are picking and exactly how you are getting it to vibrate. Also, muting and blocking are more difficult when you are wearing picks. I can mute with my fingertips and the side of my thumb, but picks clutter that all up. The only disadvantages to not wearing picks are A) you don't get that super-bright metal-on-metal tone, and B) it hurts to play when your fingertips split or when your nails get too short.

Fingerpicks take a little bit to get used to, you should experiment on how they fit on your fingers. I wear mine almost against my fingertips.

Gordon


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Finger picks become like an extension of your hand when you get used to them, I've had one set for 10 years that I've almost worn the blade completely down. They are the "JF" Jeff Newman picks that I believe are old-style National copies. I bought a case (set of 12) of the Kyser National copies a few years back and can't stand those things. I thought I had lost one of my JF picks one day and had to take a nerve pill.

It is very tempting to not use finger picks starting out playing steel, especially if you've played classical guitar. But, alot of the "standard" steel tone does come from it. Several players do prefer no picks, but you don't want to be stuck playing that way because you've unnecessarily limited yourself... so, learn BOTH ways, then decide your preference. The same goes for the bar, it's tempting to use a dobro (Stevens) bar... but, of course, tone will be lost.
The good news, it really only takes a couple weeks at most to adjust yourself to the feel. You'll thank yourself later.

Jeff

I've been at it over 16 years and about 5 or 6 years ago I gave up the finger picks and just use a thumb pick (like Bobbe Seymour)

This move has greatly reduced the number of 3d strings broken to almost none. I like the feel and I like the tone I get from no picks.

Play 6 string also for over 45 years and use a 44mm teardrop dunlap for that one.