Finger picks

Harry C Clark · Post by **Harry C Clark** » 8 Feb 2006 3:34 pm

I'm surprised that no one has commented on Bobbe Seymour's latest newsletter about playing without finger picks.

Harry Clark
Kingston Springs, TN

Mullen D10 HWP
Nashville 400

Bo Borland · Post by **Bo Borland** » 8 Feb 2006 4:03 pm

Not to be a smart a@@ but Why??? If you can play without picks why not? I never use pick on my acoustics.. I like the sound and feel of meat on the strings. One day when I grow up, I may stop using them on steel too.

<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Bo Borland on 08 February 2006 at 04:08 PM.]</p></FONT>

Mac Knowles · Post by **Mac Knowles** » 8 Feb 2006 4:09 pm

I didn't see Bobbe's newsletter, but just thought I'd say that I've always played steel without fingerpicks at all. I play fingerstyle spanish guitar and never could get used to picks for one guitar and no picks for the other, especially at a gig where I take both guitars. I never found it a problem without finger picks on steel, quite the reverse, I can use three fingers more easily for grips. The only problem is keeping the nails in shape. Believe me I've broken a nail and gone to the drugstore for women's false nails to use...have even glued on a piece of broken off nail with crazy glue to get me through the night.
Cheers,
Mac

John Bechtel · Post by **John Bechtel** » 10 Feb 2006 11:09 pm

Well, take your ‘pick’! Some people use/like them and some don't! I like picks and haven't had the desire to remove them from my playing technique. But, I might just try removing them when I'm not playing, one of these days just for fun¡ Every time I rub my eyes, I scratch my glasses!

------------------
“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
’05 D–10 Derby
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment

Jack Stoner · Post by **Jack Stoner** » 11 Feb 2006 4:08 am

Everyone to their choice, as noted. I like the "bite" of finger picks on the steel and don't like the tone without them.

However, on 6 string guitar I (attempt to) play Chet Atkins style and only use a thumb pick.

Erv Niehaus · Post by **Erv Niehaus** » 11 Feb 2006 8:12 am

Some steelers can learn to use picks and

some can't!

Uff-Da!

Charles Curtis · Post by **Charles Curtis** » 11 Feb 2006 12:50 pm

I played without 'em when I was young 'cause I didn't have the money to buy 'em; now it seems the skin of my fingers is too thin, oh well.....

T. C. Furlong · Post by **T. C. Furlong** » 11 Feb 2006 1:23 pm

When I started playing steel in 1974, I didn't even know that picks were the norm. So I played for about 6 months 4 nights a week plus rehearsals without picks. I got a tone but man did my fingers hurt and a giant callus formed on my thumb. At times the skin would come off and my fingers would bleed. What do you no picks guys do about that. BTW, I play six string guitar without picks and it works OK. But then again I am not playing 20-30 hours of six string per week.
TC

David Wren · Post by **David Wren** » 11 Feb 2006 3:12 pm

Guess that's why I've always used plastic finger picks, nice in-between sound from metal to fingernails. Get a little "bounce" out of them too.

------------------
Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com

Marc Weller · Post by **Marc Weller** » 11 Feb 2006 3:29 pm

I switch off between Telecaster and steel all night long. I play Telecaster with a flat pick and three fingers with bare nails. I play steel with the conventional plastic thumb pick and two steel finger picks. Keeping my nails in one piece for Tele picking has always been a challenge. A broken nail can screw up my playing for weeks. Once I saw Chet Atkins perform and he mentioned that he had broken a nail just before the gig and was using a Lee Press On!!! Personally,I've never been able to make those things work. Lately I've be using nail dust from a file combined with superglue to repair nail splits. Works better than anything else I've tried.

Joseph Meditz · Post by **Joseph Meditz** » 11 Feb 2006 4:44 pm

Well, as a PSG beginner with some nylon string background I first tried playing without finger picks. But it did not work out for me because when I play nylon I often "dig in" when plucking the string like an archer pulling back a bow string. After playing PSG about 6 hours one day I had pain at the base of my nails at the cuticles. The cheese cutter strings on the PSG, compounded with playing close to the bridge, have very little give. So, I adapted to finger picks, one thumb and three finger picks. (Had them on backwards at first!) After a week I got used to them. Now I can play all day without pain. Also I prefer the tone of metal picks.

Joe

Darrell Owens · Post by **Darrell Owens** » 12 Feb 2006 3:13 pm

The answer is a thumbpick and three Acrylic Nails. They are strong and give a bright clear tone. Blocking is easy and harmonics are great.