The Steel Guitar Forum

I don't remember having this trouble when I played decades ago. Just starting back again, and no matter how I adjust it, can't seem to get it to stay on my middle finger.
Ideas or suggestions? Gorilla glue?

Thanks for any and all help.

Brian

What kind of fingerpick?

Does it rotate or it actually falls off or maybe the band catches on the strings.

There's threads about bail pliers being useful to shape the bands and blades (I don't have any myself)

https://www.riogrande.com/product/BailS ... ers/111957

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?t=360967

Maybe a photo of the offending pick...

Spit! Works for me everytime, and on different brands, too. I use NP2 and Dunlops.

Roland Scholl wrote:Spit! Works for me everytime, and on different brands, too. I use NP2 and Dunlops.

He’s right. Saliva is magic and works every time. I saw a buddy Emmons do this many times

Propick, or Jeff Newman. Either or. Just falls off mostly, or gets caught in a string.
I'll definitely try spit, thanks!

Coat the inside of the picks that make skin contact with fingernail polish. That helps the saliva stick even better.

Yeah, spit is kinda like contact cement…my picks don’t fall off. I gotta pull em off.
But I have to remember to ‘spit’cause after settin up, fingers don’t taste so good😆
Gotta go wash my hands now. ,

This thread from last week's about thumbpicks falling off, but lots of strategies there: plastidip, violin rosin, heatshrink tubing, and taping the picks on with medical tape which works great

https://bb.steelguitarforum.com/viewtopic.php?p=3022193

Thanks for all the tips, guys!
I've got to admit it, spit works............

There's a gripping aid product called Gorilla Snot for drumsticks and picks. Available at most music stores and Amazon. It's basically tree rosin, I believe. It works good. I've used it for years. http://www.gorillasnotusa.com/

Another idea is pine or other conifer tree gum. Usually one near you somewhere, parks, parking lots, back yard etc. But be careful, it's very aggressive and can be a mess if you get it anywhere but on the very tips of your pick fingers. I harvest a small amount in a medicine bottle or similar from time to time, but Gorilla Snot or a glue stick type called Sticky Picks works best and a little less messy. http://www.sticky-picks.com/

Saddle Picks. Comfortable and NEVER come off when you don't want them to.

I usually don't have a problem, but "human oil" (gross) will accumulate over time in my picks and on my bar, so about once a week I'll wash them in the sink with regular diswashing detergent. Clean picks are way stickier.

Ron Hogan wrote: Saliva is magic and works every time. I saw a buddy Emmons do this many times

Yes. But you don't even have to go that far -- I don't want to stick my bacteria-finger in my mouth and catch a cold (or worse), so I just exhale moist air on both the picks and my fingers before putting them on (think the way you shape your mouth and exhale to fog up a mirror). You have to exhale a few times to get enough moisture on there, but it adds just enough to keep the picks on.

People in the audience probably imagine I'm doing some stupid pre-game ritual for luck.

Glenn Demichele wrote:I'll wash them in the sink with regular diswashing detergent. Clean picks are way stickier.

I'll wipe my bar on my pants but this is MUCH better, great idea.

I started out playing finger style on nylon strings, so when I started using finger picks, I did not want the picks extending to far and ending up feeling unnatural, like "Edward Scissor Hands." I notice in photos and videos, players having the picks extended. Maybe that works for them, but it puts more leverage on the bands around the finger and they a closer to the finger tip - easier to lose.