The Steel Guitar Forum

I play guitar and steel and have trouble keeping my picks on.
On the gigs that I play a lot of steel it's not as much of a problem, but when I'm going back and forth 'tween guitar and steel it is.
I have the Jeff Newman picks that fit real good and moisten my fingers when putting them on.
Anything that might help??
Jack

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RUS-LER S-10 NV 400
TELE's,STRAT FENDER TWIN

...someone on the Forum recommended "Elmers Washable Glue Stick"...it sounded "crazy" but I tried it...and have never been without it since! But remember, "a little dab'l do it". www.genejones.com <FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 03 November 2002 at 10:11 AM.]</p></FONT>

Rosin Dust, from a fiddler, does the trick.

Pete Burak used to use a product with the improbable name of "Gorrilla Snot". Really. I think he got it from music stores but not sure.

Gorilla Snot for sure. A very small amount.
Available in most music stores here.

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The spirit be with you!
If it aint got a steel, it aint real

Jack,
Tighten the pick up by squeezing it round your little finger, then put the pick on the desired finger, it should stay on for a few songs.

Ever seen a bluegrass band when the banjo player loses a fingerpick? Nobody moves their feet, just stands in one spot, looking around in circles, watching the banjo player crawl around?

I used Gorrilla Snot for a while, but it got too messy for me.
I've been using the finger lick method with much success (moisten your pick fingers with a little spit just before putting picks on).

I've often found spitting a little on the lead guitar player helps a bit too!

Pete---that's why you should buy it in that little jar from the music store! Let the gorilla keepers deal with the mess of harvesting the stuff. Use your head, man!

I have a little jar of stuff called pro-grip. Probably the same stuff. Smells like Vicks vapor rub. I only use it when absolutely essential. Not crazy about the smell or the feel.

Hair Spray! Apply and let dry. When ready to apply picks moisten fingers lightly and apply. Picks will stay on! Take picks off between sets ... no problem ... a light lick and they will stick! regards, fred

Another possibilty is get a lemon wedge from the bar, it cleans the oil off your finger tips and makes them smell better.

Chas, When I was playing regular and smoking my fingers on right hand would be dark brown in one evening so the lemon was used to remove brown stain.Worked like a champ! regards, fred

I've had this problem for many years, & I tried everything Imaginable, the only thing that I found to work, is Violin Rosin, I carry a small piece or two in my pick bag & scrape the inside edge of my Kyser picks & it powders up & then gets sticky from the heat of the fingers, you will have to repeat the process, at the beginning of each set, especially after washing your hands! I also found that Gorilla Snot does not work! Good Luck, & let me know what you think! au

Saw a fellow once had dipped his picks in that rubber coating that you dip toolhandles in (pliers and such).Just the part that goes on top (nailside)he also had different colors so to keep track which went where,haven't tried it though.

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Bill Ford

Eyeglass nosepad cushions. Get 'em at any Walgreens.




Larger pic

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Fessenden SD10 - Mesa/Boogie amps

I like the finger lick method....just don't forget to wash your hands if you use the men's room before your set....

Thanx for all of the ways that you guys address my problem. I will try them.
(I'll ignore the suggestion about spitting
on our other guitarist.)
Jack

I like the eyeglass nosepad suggestion, as I find fingerpicks to be a necessary annoyance (I've never found them comfortable to keep on the fingers --why I used them as little as possible on 6-string as well!)... have to try that....

... I wonder how pieces of the cork pads they sell for bowling ball finger holes would work... would give the grip and comfort.... hmmm while at the bowling alley to get that ... grab a rosin bag

Coca Cola should do the trick.

Jon has shed some Light on this subject that I agree with whole heartedly. I have had this problem for years, as I wear my picks way out on the very ends of my fingers, and I have served a lot of time on the dancefloor or stage floor looking for that certain pick...this is where I learned comedy (get down comedy)
The late Shot Jackson always told me to just have a chaw of his Redman Tobacky just before pickin,just remember to use the pickin fingers when diggin out yo tobakker...
Or you could drop by ANY BOWLING ALLEY and pick up some PRO GRIP which sells for maybe $1.50 This is designed for bowlers to grip a ball and will certainly do the trick for you, just rub one finger in the grip paste lightly, then rub others with that one,in a matter of seconds, which you can feel, fingers will start to get tacky...keep rubbing, as they dry you may place the picks...picks may be re adjusted any time you need to and fingers will stay tacky until you wash them or until you get another chaw...Hope this will help, I recommended this to Don Helms and Buddy Charleton and they have both given up tobacca forever,they now chew PRO GRIP ......
Hi Tech Funny Face goes right here...wish I knew how to do that.....<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Lynn Owsley on 04 November 2002 at 03:54 AM.]</p></FONT>

Super Glue does it for me.
Uff-Da!

Believe it not I have used a small piece of scotch tape to tape the top of the finger picks to the top of my knuckle. It works perfectly. I never lose a pick anymore and carry a dispenser roll of tape at all times. If you wanted to be fancy you can use decorative tape.

Just remembered....I used to cut the tape part of curads and put that on my fingers under my picks at the cuticle(sp).

BF

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Bill Ford<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by Bill Ford on 04 November 2002 at 06:44 PM.]</p></FONT>

The new powder coated picks by Chuck Brittain who makes the Red Rajah bars do not slip off your fingers. The powder coating keeps them in place. I use them for that reason. I have not noticed any change in my tone between them and the chrome plated picks I used to use. There is a slight differece in the way the strings feel though, but not enough to matter.

I also like them because they're red.

They are available from Norris Music in Dallas.