#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Fingers, Flat Picks, Finger Picks.....

What is everyone's preference for picking? I use a flat pick a lot, but like the sound of metal finger picks (thumb, first and second fingers).

I recently started playing more with just my fingers. With a single wound pickup and the amp turned up the volume is fine. I like the control I get with bare fingers, but wonder if I could achieve the same control with finger picks and more practice.

So, what is everyone using and what made you decide on that approach? What advice would you give to a relatively new player?

Thanks

1 member likes this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tom T on March 17, 2015 at 3:29am

Makes perfect sense to me. I can tell the difference between just fingers vs finger picks.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on March 17, 2015 at 11:27am

I'm getting on OK with this hybrid picking on my 3-string guitars. More challenging on 5-string. Still working on growing the nails back out. Middle finger is doing OK now, index and thumb are about down to the quick.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tom T on March 17, 2015 at 11:47am

I don't think I will ever have fingernails long enough to use for playing. If I don't break them in the shop, I file them too short. I think those Alaska Piks might be the way to go.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on March 17, 2015 at 12:21pm

My wife got me clear nail hardener that I brush on my thumb, index and middle nails. Both sides of whatever extends past the finger tip. It helps, but still requires care.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tom T on March 17, 2015 at 2:27pm

That's a good idea. I had some of that stuff for when my nails started splitting. It worked well for splits. I can see where it would work well for just protecting them as well.

Thanks.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tom T on March 17, 2015 at 2:26pm

That's far too clever. My wife has had acrylics for years and they are as hard as stone.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Paul Said on March 17, 2015 at 5:55pm

My preference is to use a thumb pick and finger nails when fingerpicking but its a pain when you break a nail. Seems to throw the whole picking thing.
Even when wearing a thumb pick my preference is to strum with my index finger.

Cheers

Paul.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on April 25, 2015 at 7:17am

I have been playing a few hours every day for the last two months. The nail hardener I have used hold up well to picking, but I am finding it is not at all up to the task of strumming on my heavy resonator strings. The top side of my index and middle fingernails are getting paper thin.

I am going to try the UV cured gel stuff. I don't know what other solutions there are for wanting to use both the bulk surface and the tip of the nail. Well, other than flat-picking. It is getting critical. Paper thin nails don't feel good.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Tom T on April 25, 2015 at 2:03pm

I ordered a set of the plastic Alaska picks from ebay and gave them try. Seem to work okay (nothing spacial). Let me know how the brass version works.

My fingernails will never be able to be used for picking. They break just looking at them. What doesn't split gets bitten off (bad habit).

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on April 26, 2015 at 5:35am

Thanks for the suggestions. I'm staying away from the slip-on picks. I just don't like them. I'm sort of getting into this thing where I percussively hit the strings with the top of my nails or strum with the same area. I alternate this with up-picking using the other side of the nail like you would with the Alaska picks.

I might have to do the acrylic nails to get me started since everything is paper thin right now and starting to actually get a little painful. I have applied nail hardener over the surface, but they are still pretty weak. My concern is I have heard a lot of guitar players say nail fungus can get to be a real problem when using the acrylic nails long term.

I'm going to try this stuff.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on April 26, 2015 at 8:26am

That's the point I'm at. Getting really thin. I think I'll stop at a nail salon tomorrow or the next day on the way home from teaching just so I can get back to playing without discomfort. Because stopping playing is not an option. :)