Fingerpicking on the dreaded steel string

lindsmuse

I think I have a solution. I recently took up with my steelstring and then almost instantly gave up! Sounded so feeble. Then I was watching the young prodigy Sungha Jung playing In a Constant State of Flux. It looks like he has picks on all his fingers. So ... Bob suggested a few weeks ago I try fingerpicks, so went and got some. Plastic. They're nice. You have to start slowly it seems - relearning everything and then you start getting used to them. And it's nice and loud!

guitarboy2828

Which ones did you end up getting Lindy?

I now use a thumb pick for my fingerstyle stuff, love it, really brings out the bass.. Otherwise, i have fingernails :-\ not popular with the ladies, but works really well. Have tried many different fingerpicks, but just could not get comfortable with them.

BobC

Lindsmuse

Have a look at these picks if, as I did, you are struggling with losing a sense of touch with the strings. These are the most natural feeling fingerpicks I have used.

http://www.guptillmusic.com/propik/fingertone.html

Check 'em out, they're pretty cool. Neat idea with the piece missing so your fingertip can still touch the string, and you still get the advantage of fingerpick sound / tone.

Regards

BobC

lindsmuse

They're Dunlops. Cheap ol' plastic tortoiseshell effect. I'm wondering whether I should've gotten metal ones ...

lindsmuse

BobC
Just saw that post after. Those look like the thing to have. These plastic ones are a little clumsy I think. Did you buy some and where - from the States?

BobC

Lindsmuse

I asked Wantitall.co.za to import some for me as I am a bit paranoid about credit cards on the internet etc and that way I could make a local bank transfer etc. However I just checked Wantitall and it appears they are no longer carrying it as an available item.

I have PM'd you on this topic as well.

Regards

BobC

guitarboy2828

I have not used metal one's, maybe worth trying, however, I quite like my fingernails, it's just my thumb that I couldn't get right, but I think with a thumb pick i'm set to go.

I have these: http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/Alaska-Pik-Finger-Guitar-Pick?sku=110630

and have used these: http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/product/D%20Andrea-Finger-Guitar-Picks-One-Dozen?sku=110874

The alaska picks are pretty cool, but, you godda have your nails longish for them to work properly, which leads me to just using my nails.

BobC

Lindsmuse

As guitarboy2828 correctly points out, the ones I suggested will only solve the finger problem (which for me was the main stumbling block), the thumb will still feel like you are playing with a chopstick taped to it for a little while (if you are not used to the thumbpick yet).

?

BobC

Fingerpicker

I have tried to use fingerpicks over the years but have now developed a style where I play both up and down with my thumb and three fingers so picks don't work at all. I keep my fingernails short (2-3mm) to so that I can play fast. I also damp a lot to reduce overtones and to emphasise rhythmn.

Bob-Dubery

My problem is looking after my nails. Nails give a good tone, but too much nail can slow you down - and they "attract" more damage. I am trying to keep them at about 2mm of ... er... the white stuff at the business end, and I'm moving to a thumb pick. I find this gives a very different balance with punchier, more prominent bass.

Do I understand Fingerpicker correctly? Upstrokes with the thumb? One of the things I want to do with the thumb pick is to bring the index finger underneath it, almost like I'm holding a regular plectrum, and use it that way for up and down strokes. I've seen Martin Simpson do this.

Lindsmuse, the picks that you are using are, I think, really intended for banjo and lap steel players, but as with all things if it works for you then it works. More usual for fingerpickers are nails and thumb pick, or false nails and thumb pick.

AlanRatcliffe

I use fibreglass overlays on my right hand - I do my own, but any nail salon can do them for you. If they can do the silk versions, they sound and look pretty natural. They stand up to all kinds of punishment - I've been playing a lot of bass the last two weeks (plus my usual electric guitar rasgueado thing) and I've just had to trim my right hand nails because they were getting too long. ?

[deleted]

I have tried the plastic fingerpicks and I have the steel propicks, To be honest... I like neither, no warmth in the plastic pics and lack life... The steel ones sound harsh and are to aggressive, nothing like the nails and flesh... I can alternate between the two without anything getting in the way!

I have a long right hand thumb nail, bout 4 mm long and the rest I keep 2-3 mm... Pointing finger nail always seems to be the weakest and seems to grow slower than the rest too... This way I can still do my tapping and slapping ala Justin king, don Ross, Andy mckee, Antoine dufore, and still be comfortable....

Finger picks just don't suit my style of play...

Bob-Dubery

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I use fibreglass overlays on my right hand - I do my own, but any nail salon can do them for you. If they can do the silk versions, they sound and look pretty natural. They stand up to all kinds of punishment - I've been playing a lot of bass the last two weeks (plus my usual electric guitar rasgueado thing) and I've just had to trim my right hand nails because they were getting too long. ?

Some question, if I may....

1) How long does a set last?
2) How do you trim them?
3) How do you eventually remove them?

Keira-WitherKay

X-rated Bob wrote:

Do I understand Fingerpicker correctly? Upstrokes with the thumb?

yeah most definitely if you fingerpick get that thumb moving both ways.......most fingerpickers do ........... martin taylor the fingerstyle multi part...jazz guitarist is a master at getting the thumb to play intricate swing jazz bass lines with the right feel by using up and down strokes with the thumb........ it's easy once you get going ....... and free's up the other fingers to do the other parts.........

Bob-Dubery

Keira WitherKay wrote:
X-rated Bob wrote:

Do I understand Fingerpicker correctly? Upstrokes with the thumb?

yeah most definitely if you fingerpick get that thumb moving both ways.......most fingerpickers do ........... martin taylor the fingerstyle multi part...jazz guitarist is a master at getting the thumb to play intricate swing jazz bass lines with the right feel by using up and down strokes with the thumb........ it's easy once you get going ....... and free's up the other fingers to do the other parts.........

I can see the mechanics of it, but surely there's a variation in tone? Unless your nail grows out of the side of your thumb in a dead straight line. It also raises the question of why people bother to teach themselves the hybrid picking technique.

guitarboy2828

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: I use fibreglass overlays on my right hand - I do my own, but any nail salon can do them for you. If they can do the silk versions, they sound and look pretty natural. They stand up to all kinds of punishment - I've been playing a lot of bass the last two weeks (plus my usual electric guitar rasgueado thing) and I've just had to trim my right hand nails because they were getting too long. ?

Picture of your hand? ?

guitarboy2828

Brentcgp wrote: This way I can still do my tapping and slapping ala Justin king, don Ross, Andy mckee, Antoine dufore, and still be comfortable....

Finger picks just don't suit my style of play...

+1 to that.. That's what I'm finding hard with a thumb pick. I like it for some stuff I play, but others it just doesn't work, especially tapping and "pop and slap" style stuff.

It's interesting that of those artists your mentioned, some use thumb picks and some don't.. None use anything but nails, which I'm sure they aren't all natural.

lindsmuse

use fibreglass overlays on my right hand - I do my own, but any nail salon can do them for you. If they can do the silk versions, they sound and look pretty natural. They stand up to all kinds of punishment - I've been playing a lot of bass the last two weeks (plus my usual electric guitar rasgueado thing) and I've just had to trim my right hand nails because they were getting too long.

Picture of your hand? ?

???

Acrylic nails didn't do it for me and that was on nylon and I'm a hobbyist. Waste of money. But fibreglass - I've worked with this stuff - pretty extreme - do you buy a mat and a bit of resin - how does that work Alan?

guitarboy2828

lindsmuse wrote:
use fibreglass overlays on my right hand - I do my own, but any nail salon can do them for you. If they can do the silk versions, they sound and look pretty natural. They stand up to all kinds of punishment - I've been playing a lot of bass the last two weeks (plus my usual electric guitar rasgueado thing) and I've just had to trim my right hand nails because they were getting too long.

Picture of your hand? ?
???

Acrylic nails didn't do it for me and that was on nylon and I'm a hobbyist. Waste of money. But fibreglass - I've worked with this stuff - pretty extreme - do you buy a mat and a bit of resin - how does that work Alan?

Hence the request for pics of the hand... I can't quite picture having fiberglass on my hand :O

lindsmuse

Me neither thats why I want to see what Alan's done! ?