Damn the fingerpicks!

Terje · #1 October 19th, 2004

Back to normal again. I have started taking lessons for a jazz teacher I've gone to before. And we were going to play through Skylark and I couldn't find that third fingerpick (I know... ) so I decided to play without.

After the tune was finished I just sighed of relief and said "Man it was good to play without pick again!". My teacher looks up at me and says "Did you hear what you just said to yourself?" Maybe that's the way you should play if that'sthe way you feel".

And he's right. Whatever speed the picks gave me boils down to bad right hand technique. With a lighter touch I can get as fast without them, basically. I like the tone better without. I like the feel better.

Kirk Lorange · #2 October 22nd, 2004

That's music to my ears, Terje.

Kirk

manwithaplan · #3 January 6th, 2005

Yes, someone else agrees wiht me, fingers do sound better, and are more comfortable to play with. Yes Kirk it is music to my ears also

.

Skibumdog · #4 January 26th, 2005

Never liked 'em.

I like the feel of my paws on the strings

Everyone tells me I can get more volume with picks

Kirk Lorange · #5 January 26th, 2005

That may be true, the volume thing, but I'm with you: there's nothing like bare skin on the strings to really get a vibe happening.

Kirk

Terje · #6 May 17th, 2005

Well... whaddya know, things change and here I am with picks on my fingers again. But with a "new" knowledge, that my old technique of damping with my fingertips works just as fine with the picks as it does without.

This is good cause it means I can use them if I want to. Sometimes I like the sound of the picks better than the sound of bare fingers, depends on what I want. Sometimes the sound of bare fingers is the only way to go. Some things are easier with the picks some easier without.

There's no reason why I can't do it both ways (just as long as I don't try to do it at the same time... ).

Frankenstrat2 · #7 May 21st, 2005

I gave up on fingerpicks a long time ago.
I tried the herco thumbpick/flat pick that Sonny Landreth uses, and I cant get used to it either.
I still use a flatpick for regular playing sometimes, but mostly its flesh on the string.
Recently I put my fingerpicks back on and yes- louder and a bit more bell-like, especially on my resonator. But still- for muting and expressiveness, gotta press the flesh.
I would be a fingerpick guy if I was more serious with my lap steel, however.

Diamond · #8 May 22nd, 2005

Top U.K. slide player (..and one of our slide endorsees..) Kevin Brown http://members.aol.com/thekevinbrown/ pays a visit to his local 'Nail Parlor' once a month to have acrylic nails fixed onto his normal fingernails....he swears by 'em - and they cost the same as a set of fingerpicks! His only problem stems from meeting up with buddies when he comes out of the shop

Happy Slidin'

Big D.

www.diamondbottlenecks.com

Frankenstrat2 · #9 May 25th, 2005

LOL!
My wife hated acrylic nails- they pop off or break, and you can get infections under the fake nail in your nail bed.
She just discovered this new process where they apply a new synthetic substance to your own nail- bond it and shape it. It looks totally natural and it is much more long lasting. As the nail grows out, you must go back and have it re-applied or else you have 'ridges'. My wife used to need a manicure once a week, now its a freshup once a month. Amazing stuff. Looks totally natural but apparentl;y much tougher than human nails.
Meanwhile- I'll stick with the fleshy fingers thanks. I do go for manicures, but ask for a buff rather than clear coat at the end. 8)

John · #10 May 25th, 2005

I never liked finger picks, and 20 years ago I actually invented the 'Herco' style thumb pick, and even though it was better than a regular thumb pick, I couldn't get used to it either... I recently bought a couple of 'Herco' thumbpicks, and same deal--I can't get used to using them. They sort of lock you into one position and give you only one attack one the strings. :?

If I need a pick, I just use a heavy one, otherwise, its bare fingers..

John

Kirk Lorange · #11 May 25th, 2005

A few years ago I played just about every night in a loud rock/blues band and I did the acrylic nail thing. The first time, I went to a little salon in the local shopping center and sat there while the lady did four fingers. She then suggested, for her dignity and mine, that she sell me the ingredients so I could do them at home.

My nails were steel like ... I joked I could adjust the truss rod on my Strat with my index fingernail. I could beat those strings night after night and never make a dent. However ... as the nail grows, the little acrylic raft starts moving down, exposing the blank area at the cuticle ... that can snag the string and rip it off. Also, each time they pop off, which they do after a while, they take a layer of nail with them, so in the end your nail is one molecule thick. When I stopped working so much, I stopped applying it, and my nails grew back in very strong.

Highly recommended though if you're working often. There's nothing worse that having a nail break off in the middle of a show.

Kirk

Frankenstrat2 · #12 May 26th, 2005

I spoke to my wife about this new process that I referred to above. From what I have observed, its quite remarkable.
This is a new process, quite unlike any other imitation nail product- very state-of-the-art.
I think it may be of great interest to the fingerstyle guitarist community because it is so natural looking, and durable.
There is a website. I recommend that you read the press releases on PDF format that describe the product. This is not a do-it-yourself affair. The nail technicians must be trained and certified.
Although the website and the literature seems very 'female oriented' the nail technition we know who has been training students worldwide tell me that the process is very popular with many men. and she did quite a few of the men at the Grammy Awards this past year.
Here's the link:
PDF PRess Release:
http://www.creativenaildesign.com/do...custommani.pdf
Website:
http://www.creativenaildesign.com/index_consumer.asp

I know you're wondering- it costs about $40 per visit, which is good for about 3 weeks.
b.

Terje · #13 June 1st, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frankenstrat2

But still- for muting and expressiveness, gotta press the flesh.

But that's the thing, you can still damp with your fingers if you want to while wearing the picks. Now it's just a matter of which sound I happen to prefer at the moment when choosing between picks or bare fingers.

John · #14 June 1st, 2005

Well, base upon this thread, I did go out and buy some finger picks--and yes, you get lots of volume, but I feel like I'm wearing a work glove on my hand! :? I don't know--I'll use them a while to give them a fair shake, then we'll see...

John

Terje · #15 June 3rd, 2005

You know, if you wear them for a while so you get used to how they feel you can always take them off later if you don't want them.