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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I'm thinking about not even picking up a pick anymore. Over the years I have been choking up on the pick progressivly until it has vanished between my thumb and finger. It's gotten to the point that even when I am gripping one, I'm not using it. I keep my nails trimmed real short but can still get a clean strum sound. This frees up my thumb to play a base note accent.
So, do my fellow Ovationites think this is progress or a death spiral into poor technique?
Also, I thought I'd share the latest family photo.
L to R: The UKE / Al Dimeola CL / Early Breadwinner (ser# 905) / My trusty old Pre-electric Balladeer |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | For years I wanted to learn to fingerpick but could never find anyone to show me and never had the patience to learn how by myself.
About 3 months ago, thanks to inovation in video, I finally got a couple of DVD's that show how to properly fingerpick.
So....for the last 3 months I have been trying to work it out at least 2-3 times a week for an hour or two.
I LOVE IT!!!! Wish I had pursued it sooner.
I doubt that I will ever replace the trusty pick in my arsenal but I will definetly be doing some fingerstyle playing in the future to add new flavor to the old songs I play.
Stephen |
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November 2002
Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | So, Stephen, which DVDs did you purchase? I'm in the same predicament. |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | First, let me say that's a beautiful family. Second, as for picks or no picks --- I find it's dictated by first the instrument, and then by what I want to play. Generally speaking, for me, the nylon string is finger picked, while I use a flat pick with steel strings. Sometimes I do the reverse, depending on what a play. Not really a biggie. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | I play with a flatpick and fingers, no matter the guitar -- steel, nylon, 12, electric. |
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December 2001
Posts: 10582
Location: NJ | depends on the application and desired effect |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7222
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Depends on what I want to sound like. I also use different picks depending on the application too. Everything from very thin to the Adamas graphite picks. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | Here is a good beginning fingerpicking lesson site courtesey of the OFC's own Eltjo Haselhoff "Picker". His entire website is quite good & his music is VERY good.
http://www.eltjohaselhoff.com./fingerpicking_guitar_for_the_beginner.htm |
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Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3611
Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire | Yeah, Nils, I've been to Picker's site a lot. Haven't got up the pace for "The Boxer" yet, but that's the arpeggio for his basic lesson.
As for learning his demo stuff, well......great to listen to, anyway. |
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Joined:
January 2004
Posts: 627
Location: Cherry Hill, NJ | I started out with a pick only, many years ago. That's because I started guitar playing electric. I never thumbed the pick as shown in the Mel Bay method, which is a good thing. That's because I can achieve more using my fingers while holding a pick. I say, whatever your comfortable with, go in that direction.
Tommy |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 613
Location: Zion, Illinois | Originally posted by stephent28:
For years I wanted to learn to fingerpick but could never find anyone to show me and never had the patience to learn how by myself.
About 3 months ago, thanks to inovation in video, I finally got a couple of DVD's that show how to properly fingerpick.
So....for the last 3 months I have been trying to work it out at least 2-3 times a week for an hour or two.
I LOVE IT!!!! Wish I had pursued it sooner.
I doubt that I will ever replace the trusty pick in my arsenal but I will definetly be doing some fingerstyle playing in the future to add new flavor to the old songs I play.
Stephen
Please tell us what DVD's helped you???? |
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Joined:
May 2002
Posts: 3005
Location: Las Cruces, NM | Slipkid
When I was playing my mandolin in a bluegrass band, my pick was like the engine on a drag racer, I had to get all the volume available to keep up with the banjo and fiddle. So, I bought the heaviest picks I sould find, including a 2mm stone pick. I finally settled on 1mm Dunlops and use them to this day on my acoustic guitar and mandolins. My electrics, however, need something more sophisticated so I use a Dunlop 0.5 mm, same feel, less string stretching and no feeling of having to play louder I just turn up the amp (plus, nobody would ever pay me to play electric anyway).
Nice bunch of guitars.
Bailey |
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June 2004
Posts: 365
Location: NC | In certain pieces of music I have to use my fingers in combo with the pick..............but mainly pick! :D |
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Joined:
January 2002
Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Use both, depends what you want. I have found I'm using my fingers much more in the last several years but I've been heading towards a more acoustic blues so it fits. Still use a pick for electrics, the medium MOT ones. |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Thanks for the input gentlemen.
For acoustic play, a pick is beginning to feel restrictive. As long as I can get a clean strumming sound when I need it, I don't think I'm giving up too much. |
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Joined:
April 2004
Posts: 13303
Location: Latitude 39.56819, Longitude -105.080066 | Seesquare, Bradley,
Sorry I have been away on vacation and now on the road traveling for work (me, my suitcase, briefcase, and "O" for late nights at the hotel with nothing to do!). :)
Anyway, I believe one of the DVD's is called "The Art of Fingerpicking" and I am not sure of the other one. I can check out the correct titles when I get back home later in the week.
Stephen |
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Joined:
December 2004
Posts: 370
Location: Isle of Man, UK | Hmm - I confess to being a little of both.
I learnt to play guitar many years ago by using a chord shapes book, the tabbed transcription of Eric Clapton's unplugged, and a CD of the same.
It stood me in good stead, as I've got the basic ability to fingerpick where necessary (James Taylor type style), and I can still rock 'n' roll strum too. Apologies to "proper" players, but I do rest my little finger on the top of the guitar. I'm working on that...
Cheers, all, and hope that the new year is grooving.
JB |
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Joined:
December 2002
Posts: 939
Location: Fort Worth, Texas | I too use a pick sometimes and do some fingerpicking sometimes, where I use only my fingertips.
Since playing in a band the last couple of years (only time I've played in a band after 30+ years off and on of playing) I've experimented a lot with different picks. Here's what I have it down to now:
Rhthym acoustic guitar: Dunlop nylon .60
Lead acoustic guitar: Dunlop nylon .88
Acoustic fingerpicking: No picks, tips of fingers
Rhthym electric guitar: Dunlop nylon .88
Lead Electric guitar: OFC swag picks (they're thick!)
Bass guitar: Thick triangular (I forget what brand these are, they have an eagle on them, and I know, I know - a pick to play bass?!?!?!?) need the larger area to hold onto. I even tried the felt picks for bass - tore them up and couldn't get a good attack when needed.
If I try to strum without a pick I tend to tear up my index and ring fingertips and fingernails!
Sounds like a lot of trouble, but if I don't have the right pick for the occasion, I can't get the feel and thus the sound I'm looking for. On occasions I have a lead (well I try anyway) acoustic part and do strumming on the same song - so I strum further up the neck to not be so loud during the strumming, etc. Which begs the question, anybody else strum/play up and down the neck or closer to the bridge for desired effect?
Our mandolin player uses one of those "frilled" picks for the ending on one song - he holds it sideways and gives the strings several fast strums - it really has a cool rattling, ringing sound....
I learned the Travis fingerpick when I took guitar lessons umpteen years ago and it is so ingrained in my feeble grey matter synapses I find it hard to learn other fingerpicking patterns :rolleyes: , although it comes in handy when playing in guitar circles with a basic 4/4 song - everybody else is strumming and I can give a different "voice" to the chords.
And finally (whew :) ) I'd love to learn the technique I've seen the likes of Clapton, Garcia, Knopfler use - where they add notes, frills, chords, etc, with the other fingers of the right hand (right-handed guitar players) while holding the pick in with thier thumb and index finger... |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Paul....Wow...you got it down to a science! |
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Do you use a pick?