The Steel Guitar Forum

o.k.guys,heres that old question again.how to keep those nasty finger picks from slidin off.i have a large knuckle on my index finger,i only get the pick on so far,how do you guys keep em on there?

try a can of spray on extra -hold hair spray---shoot the area litely where your picks fit on and put em on---works great for me!!!
shake it up good.
jack ritter
enid,okla.

Bill,
You see a lot of players lick their fingertips before puting their picks on, I've tried it and it works. Also I beadblasted the inside of mine with good results."CAUTION" beadblasting will flatten them some,you have to rebend/refit them, also protect the pickin side if you try this.

A question I'd like to throw out..how many sets of finger picks have you bought trying to get a spare set for backup?

Bill

A lot of people keep saying to try Gorilla Snot and finally I did! It works perfectly for me and keeps the picks good for about 2 weeks of picking an hour or so every day. This stuff is cheap and works great for flat picks too. After you get used to your picks staying put, you can relax your hand muscles a little more and stop focusing on keeping the picks on. It's a pleasure to have the picks stay absolutely where you put them for a change.

See the reviews:
Gorilla Snot

Greg<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Greg Cutshaw on 07 October 2006 at 07:42 PM.]</p></FONT>

Go to Walmart in the stationary dept. & look for a round box about the size of tobacco box white with red lettering Keene Take Hold fingertip grip for sorting stationary,mail,etc.Cheap & works great.Have to wait a few seconds to dry good.

<SMALL>Go to Walmart in the stationary dept. & look for a round box about the size of tobacco box white with red lettering Keene Take Hold fingertip grip for sorting stationary,mail,etc.Cheap & works great.Have to wait a few seconds to dry good.</SMALL>

Better than "snot"?

Lynn Owsley carries a pouch of chewing tobacco and uses that on his fingers. I don't know if it's a specific brand or just any brand.

I just blow some of my "hot air" on the picks and that seems to workd for me.

Dang, Jack, There's enough hot air in you to cause your fingers to burst into flame... use it sparingly..
Seriously, I have never had a problem with finger picks, I bend them tight enough so they can't come off.
Bill, are you using picks which have holes in them? The holes should keep the picks in place if you bend them tight enough. If you feel some discomfort from the tight fit, I think your fingers will adapt to that, in time.
I suppose it is possible to have an unusual finger shape that would cause a problem, but I have never experienced that.


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www.home.earthlink.net/~johnd37

I know this has been suggested by Mike Holland, but it works well for me. Eye glass nose pads.

One thing I just found out - if you use the ubiquitous Dunlops, take every one you own and smash that useless "comfort" curve out of it! Then re-fit to your fingers until they are flush al the way around, and you'll find they don't slip anymore.

I had a problem with the curve catching between two picks and the middle finger one getting knowcked off sometimes - problem solve, and the side benefit is it also solved the "slipping" problem.

Best thing for me is to wash my hands with Lava soap which removed all of my 'sweat' and did NOT leave any lotion as many hand soaps do nowadays. After breaks at jobs when I would be doing a lot shaking hands with people, then go back and wash my hands again with the Lava. (Bring your own soap!)

Also, I agree that the 'comfort curve' on the new Dunlop picks are a bad idea. I have to flatten them so they do not gouge my fingers and catch on each other.

Thanx,
Jim

Nationals sound better than Dunlops.

Large knuckle? Did you mean to say that? My picks (Newman JF and National NP1 and NP2) only go as far as the base of my cuticle - maybe a tad beyond - but nowhere near the knuckle. I'm new to PSG and my first set of picks were the Dunlop. I had a problem of catching the forward string in that upturned flange of the Dunlop. Thought it was me until I picked up Jeff Newman's "Right Hand Alpha" wherein he advises against the Dunlop just for that reason.

Forgot to mention, I keep 'em on tightly to the point where my finger tips are hurtin' just a bit.
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Ed Shimkus on 14 October 2006 at 11:37 AM.]</p></FONT>

I have posted here before, but we make a pick that has an electric wire shrink wrap applied to it. This came out of my own needs as to try and keep the picks on hurt my fingers after a few minutes. That doesn't happen any more as the wrap pads the pick as well as keeping them on. It is offered in both Nationals and Kaisers.
Contact me at dougrolfe@tds.net and I'll send them to you at $3.00 each plus postage.

washable glue sticks, a little dab'll do ya

The tip of my index finger was removed by a power tool 15 years ago and the middle finger next to it was broken at the first joint many years befor that. Close fitting picks with holes (Keyser) work best and with smooth gripped picks I need help. Thanks for the advice. Still picken'.

Bill I lick my fingers and they slid on keep in mind it is important to have the rings of the picks crimped so much so they won't fall off, it is hard to get use to at first.

But don't crimp the picks so much you cut blood flow off!!

Saliva for every-day playing and Gorilla Snot for important gigs and steel guitar shows. The "snot" is a little trouble to use, but really holds the picks on well. I also touch the fingers of my left hand lightly to the stuff then wipe it off. Really gives me a secure feeling when handling the bar

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Yeah, I`ve tried all the above & I find that just wetting my fingers works for me. But, man, don`t get that gorilla snot on your strings, It will sure slow you down Ha Ha. Just keep on pickin..Old Jer...(: (:

I just lick my finger tips too, works fine....anyway I can never find a Gorilla with a running nose when I need one !

Bill, I think all of these suggestions are great. My wife is serious musician, and we recently attended a lecture sponsored by Steinway pianos,given by the technician that traveled with a great classical performer (whose name escapes me now) sprayed the keys on his piano with hairspray just before his concerts. I've tried Gorilla Snot, and, what seems to work equally as well is the powdered resin from the sporting good stores, such as ball players use. This also comes in a small jar from the bowling suppliers, its very similar to Gorilla Snot. Whatever you choose, use it carefully in small amounts.

I use to have is problem and I watched Jody Sanders just you put the tip of finger in your mouth just wetting it then slide the pick on and let is sit a few moments and that's cheap always available and promote washing your hands often.

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Thomas SD10 3/4,Thomas D10 8/5 and Desert Rose S10 3/4. Beginner Just Steelin on the Brazos river.

I would have the Bass player stick his tongue out and drag your fingers gingerly over the tongue, be sure to thank him or her for there services afterwards.

Bl, youre probably already familiar with the 'alaska picks', there are some pictured here, they do make a nice alternative. click