MorrisrownSal Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I have been playing with metal finger picks in the last year (Think Townes Van Zandt or Lyle Lovett). I am getting better at using them, I think. However I have the curve of the picks curving out, and I have seen some videos that the right way to wear them is with the curve in towards the palm. Which is right? This? http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/images/PTLGNSRF-ACTION.jpg or the inverse? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnneS Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Can't speak to "right," but I do like in the picture. And, yes- Townes. "Name she gave was Caroline..." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Can't speak to "right," but I do like in the picture. And, yes- Townes. "Name she gave was Caroline..." Ah I love that old song. Sal , you not going through strings awful quick ? I hope you dont get an itchy eye and forget Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 Ah I love that old song. Sal , you not going through strings awful quick ? I hope you dont get an itchy eye and forget Generally my strings are good for a bout a month. I play pretty evenly - 1/3 flat pick, 1/3 finger picks, 1/3 bare fingers. I am using Martin SP4100s, Gibson Masterbilts, EJ16s, DR Rares, and DR Sunbeams... My Martin D15 loves Lifespan PBs, and the AJ500M loves anything PB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Generally my strings are good for a bout a month. I play pretty evenly - 1/3 flat pick, 1/3 finger picks, 1/3 bare fingers. I am using Martin SP4100s, Gibson Masterbilts, EJ16s, DR Rares, and DR Sunbeams... My Martin D15 loves Lifespan PBs, and the AJ500M loves anything PB. I was close to a deal for a D15 for my lowdeny guitar last week but the guy changed his mind. Nice little guitars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PrairieSchooner Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 The pic (!) is correct. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I have been playing with metal finger picks in the last year (Think Townes Van Zandt or Lyle Lovett). I am getting better at using them, I think. However I have the curve of the picks curving out, and I have seen some videos that the right way to wear them is with the curve in towards the palm. Which is right? This? http://www.themusicroom-online.co.uk/images/PTLGNSRF-ACTION.jpg or the inverse? As shown in the photo. I generally bend the tips of the picks so they are tight against the fingertips. I used plastic thumb pick and metal fingerpicks for years. I am now picking without picks of any type, and attacking the strings a bit harder to make up for it. A bit of thumbnail helps a lot, but my fingernails are constantly breaking off. I like the feel of the strings against my fingers, and I'm not constantly fiddling with the picks, which are not very comfortable. Tried plastic finger picks, but they are even worse. Also tried the Propicks, which cut away most of the metal tip, but did not like those at all. No free lunch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gov Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 you don't need no stinkin finger picks ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gytJemzNTM Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EuroAussie Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Creepy .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j45nick Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 Creepy .... Forgive the rough complexion. I've had some work done since then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fortyearspickn Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 you don't need no stinkin finger picks ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gytJemzNTM Thanks Gov. Nice to be reminded about our musical roots. Somehow, The Kingston Trio were able to mainstream this (and other classics like Tom Dooley) and get us interested in the people who really lived the music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blindboygrunt Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 His right thumb is a legend all on its own isn't it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tpbiii Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I have been round and round on this topic for the last 40 years -- no need to jump to a premature solution[rolleyes]. I really enjoy playing bare finger stuff, but I hang out with the wrong kind of people for that to be anything but a personal, private activity. I (almost) never plug in -- of XXX guitars, we only have three with pickups -- and two of those as CAs. All our other stuff is (relatively) loud and acoustic, and I need the extra volume from picks. I would say I play fingerstyle with picks maybe 35% of the (guitar) time -- the rest is flat picks. I also play Scruggs style banjo. When I play bare finger, I don't anchor my hand -- the touch of the strings is enough, When I play with fingerpicks, I either anchor my palm (to give Travis style low string percussion) or plant my finger banjo style. It is not hard to switch back and forth. I also play clawhammer banjo, and I have pretty good fingernails -- but when I want to make like Grandpa Jones (not to often anymore) I put a finger pick backwards on my index finger. These (and a few more) are always on my person. The medal finger picks are John Pearse -- I kind of got into them about 15 years ago. They fit farther up on the finger than nationals and such. For traditional thumb picks, I mostly use nylon -- I ware out and break plastic ones too quickly. I really use three different sizes -- extra light for playing with lightly set up guitars and banjos, medium for playing BG banjo where there is a lot of melody picking with the thumb, and heavy for heavy guitar work where the thumb carries the rhythm. Any combination will work for any application, but it is nice to match the picks to the instrument/situation. Recently I have been using the extra heavy Herco quite a lot, and I like it quite a lot. For me (my personal problem I think), it works better for strumming strokes on both guitars and banjos. I also use different flat picks. The orange one is a 1.15mm nylon -- a nice any-guitar any-application compromise. The yellow one is a very light (73mm) for when I play a guitar set up very lightly -- flat picking a guitar that is mostly used for bare finger style. The next two are the high $$ bluegrass picks -- for heavy rhythms and flatpicking leads. The TS was made from an old mirror -- there is a whole business now converting 19th century TS accessories into guitar picks. The two below them are the cheaper alternatives you don't have to guard with your life -- plastic 1.5mm and 1.8mm (I think). If you can make any sense out of this, you are a better man than me -- but hey, life is an adventure. Off to pick. Best, -Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MorrisrownSal Posted March 5, 2014 Author Share Posted March 5, 2014 BBG - ummm keep the metal picks away from your cedar top ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irish Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 I've used metal finger picks and a plastic or nylon thumb for years, but generally just on certain guitars and in certain circumstances. They have a nice bright sound and cut through well especially when playing with others who are flat-picking or strumming. I use primarily the old Nationals or Dunlops, and occasionally can find them in various gauges which helps when fitting them for best position and comfort. Rarely use them when playing alone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted March 5, 2014 Share Posted March 5, 2014 My default game is bareback, but I glad I learned the thumb and finger picks because 1. We can have a tin full of stuff! 2. It is like riding a bike - fo me, anyway - once you have it sorted you never forget.....a few runs and it is like they were never off...sort of. I must try those Pearse picks - I had some other longer body ones I liked, but lost. BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QuestionMark Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 I use three metal fingerpicks...dunlop .20s. Curved away from the palm (around the fingertip), each on a slightly different angle (noticeable only to me probably.) Its all in what one gets used to. Also, use a clear plastic pointy Dunlap thumppick. QM aka Jazzman Jeff Note: This post was edited to correct its earlier version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Yep, Sal, you're wearing the picks correctly. Wear them the other way and you're going to be getting hung-up on the strings......I use a thumb pick a lot along with bare fingers. My nails are pretty strong. I mainly strum with my fingers, once-in-a-while a guitar pick......Thanks for the Mississippi John Hurt video. He was an original. Great, yet simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted March 8, 2014 Share Posted March 8, 2014 Yep, Sal, you're wearing the picks correctly. Wear them the other way and you're going to be getting hung-up on the strings......I use a thumb pick a lot along with bare fingers. My nails are pretty strong. I mainly strum with my fingers, once-in-a-while a guitar pick......Thanks for the Mississippi John Hurt video. He was an original. Great, yet simple. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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