The Steel Guitar Forum

Well, I'm the first one to admit I think I have skinny fingers. How else to explain why the finger picks keep falling off??

Does anyone have advice on how to keep the darn things on? Or, if you'v figured out a solution, like Scotch tape or something please let me know.

Thanks.

Don

Wet your fingers with saliva! I also use coated finger picks for hard playing on the Dobro.

Here's a tip from the late Rick Alexander.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGscybFc ... re=related

gary

Jerry Byrd took the small padding provided from pax of nose/eye glass protectors (Dr. Scholz?) and trimmed the pads to fit inside the picks. He used it for comfort and stability and may help with your problem.

I have found the best way is to get the picks to fit your fingers perfectly using needle-nose pliers. Depending on the gauge of your picks (some of my .025 picks have held their shape for 6+ years) you may need to work them a little more with the pliers. Currently I'm using thin (.013) picks, so I can do it with my fingers, but you want to make sure you adjust every contour to your finger.

"the small padding provided from pax of nose/eye glass protectors (Dr. Scholz?)"

Ron,
Even better is another Dr Scholl's product called "Moleskin." It comes as about 4" by 6" sheets. It's for corns and other foot-related problems. It's similar to the eyeglass stuff, but they're pretty small. It has tons of uses. I use it under my reso tailpieces to stop buzzes. It's thin felt, with a very strong adhesive backing.

Good one, John. Thanx to you, and the Dr.

Go to an Electronics store...I think it is Radio Shack in USA....ask for 'Shrink Tube".....its a tube of insulation that you put over electrical joint and then shink with heat....get some just large enough to just slide over the wings of your pick...cut it off then apply heat from soldering iron...or even cigarette lighter if you must...will shrink to nice fit and be very comfortable and not slip off

Tony

Tony, I like that idea. I'll try it. I've got little bitty fingers, and I have to file the wings of the pick for my first finger so they don't overlap. The plastic should add a degree of comfort.

I went through all of the above procedures such as wetting finters with saliva (unsanitary, yuck), putting adhesives inside the picks (ugly looking, another yuck) and then I tried the Perfect Touch Picks which worked better than all of the above, but took some getting used to. Now that I am adjusted to them, I would not go back. The main thing about these picks is that they go further up on you fingers, and they do not come off. As with any picks you have to shape them to your fingers.

If you are interested you can go to Perfect Touch Picks

Aloha,
Don

Just as an additional note on this...Les Paul used to glue sandpaper onto his flat picks to keep from dropping them...I suppose that would also work for the bottom of a finger pick..

I like the idea of the "perfect touch" picks that Don posted...have to check them out...

Tony Davis wrote:Go to an Electronics store...I think it is Radio Shack in USA....ask for 'Shrink Tube".....its a tube of insulation that you put over electrical joint and then shink with heat....get some just large enough to just slide over the wings of your pick...cut it off then apply heat from soldering iron...or even cigarette lighter if you must...will shrink to nice fit and be very comfortable and not slip off

Tony

Hi, Tony. I don't quite follow your instructions. Do you apply the shrink wrap to your finger or to the pick? Do you re-use it after one time or do you have to keep fitting new shrink wrap every time you play? Got any photos of this??

Thanks.

Don

I also bought perfect touch finger picks and tried them. They did not fit!
6 months later, tired of loosing picks, I tried them again and can't be without them know! It takes time to get used but then they are perfect!
I bought also a thump pick from perfect touch which I really can't use, if somebody wants it, mail me.

Thumb pick: The blueChip is a metall pick which can shaped around the thumb - and it will stay there
Ruth

Hey Don

Its real easy....the Shrink tube is just a hollow tube of a sort of plastic stuff that shrinks when heat is applied......its only a Dollar or so for a couple of feet......just cut a bit off and slide it over each "wing' of your pick....then just hold a soldering iron or a match real close to it and it will shrink nice and tight around the :Wings of the pick.....Dont put it on your finger as it hurts when you stick a match to it !!!!LOL!!!!

I have the same lot on my picks that I applied four years ago...never replaced......getting a bit worn now ...but the picks are so dented from heavy Dobro picking that I may replace the lot soon
Tony