jeff5341 Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I work for a small college in North Carolina and had to play for about 200 people at the college Christmas party today. I was playing solo and had to follow the college Jazz band and the college choir, both of which are very good so I was a bit nervous. I am primarily a singer and use my guitar for accompaniment. I was getting my stuff ready about 5 minutes before time to go on and I discovered I had thumb and finger picks but somehow I did not have a flat pick. Our jazz band doesn't have a guitar player and the choir only uses piano so i couldn't borrow a pick and with the set list I had worked up I had to have a flat pick. I find Christmas songs hard to play so to perform them in public they have to be songs I have practiced and am comfortable with so I couldn't change my set list. I scrambled around and the only thing I could find was a plastic knife, I broke off the last 2 inches of the blade and with trepidation went on stage. I won't say it was great but I did pull it off. Let me say though that I do not recommend the tip of a plastic knife as a pick, those suckers are hard to hold onto. The only saving grace was that I was playing my SWD and nothing can really make it sound that bad. Am I the only one to forget something as important as a pick? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I work for a small college in North Carolina and had to play for about 200 people at the college Christmas party today. I was playing solo and had to follow the college Jazz band and the college choir' date=' both of which are very good so I was a bit nervous. I am primarily a singer and use my guitar for accompaniment. I was getting my stuff ready about 5 minutes before time to go on and I discovered I had thumb and finger picks but somehow I did not have a flat pick. Our jazz band doesn't have a guitar player and the choir only uses piano so i couldn't borrow a pick and with the set list I had worked up I had to have a flat pick. I find Christmas songs hard to play so to perform them in public they have to be songs I have practiced and am comfortable with so I couldn't change my set list. I scrambled around and the only thing I could find was a plastic knife, I broke off the last 2 inches of the blade and with trepidation went on stage. I won't say it was great but I did pull it off. Let me say though that I do not recommend the tip of a plastic knife as a pick, those suckers are hard to hold onto. The only saving grace was that I was playing my SWD and nothing can really make it sound that bad.Am I the only one to forget something as important as a pick? I carry a pick in my wallet just 'cause of that. I used to carry other things in my wallet...but since my wife had me neutered, not need for anything 'cept the pick! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bkharmony Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I keep extra pick(s) in my wallet, in my car, there's about a 100 in my case, my coats, etc... I used to play horn in a band, and our guitarist never had a pick. He had to scrounge one from someone every gig, and it really frustrated me. I got to carrying picks in my trumpet case. When I picked up guitar I swore I'd never be that guy who brought the show to a screeching halt on account of a penny's worth of plastic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanvillRob Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 I keep extra pick(s) in my wallet' date=' in my car, there's about a 100 in my case, my coats, etc... I used to play horn in a band, and our guitarist never had a pick. He had to scrounge one from someone every gig, and it really frustrated me. I got to carrying picks in my trumpet case. When I picked up guitar I swore I'd never be that guy who brought the show to a screeching halt on account of a penny's worth of plastic.[/quote'] I've actually USED a penny!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drathbun Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 The best non-pick flatpick substitute is one of those plastic clips on the bread bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 We used to cut picks out of milk jugs. They don't sound very good. ;) Excellent save Jeff! I now have a pick attached to my keys and a necklace with a pick on it, so I'm covered when I head over to the music store. I even have pick earrings! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nodehopper Posted December 9, 2009 Share Posted December 9, 2009 You are like the MacGyver of guitar players. After your set did you use a rubber band, toothpick and duct tape to thwart a plot to take over the college ? :- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevef Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 MatchBook covers work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markob Posted December 10, 2009 Share Posted December 10, 2009 All the years being a gigging bass player I became very comfortable without a pick. In fact it feels awkward even to hold onto one. I drop them all the time. I fingerpick about 80% of the time and seem to be able to control my volume and attack better w/o a pick. I need to learn to use a thumbpick better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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