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
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Yesterday I had finally nearly worn through the center part of my index finger acrylic nail and had to redo. April 28th to May 10th. Not bad considering the heavy strumming I'm doing on my heavy resonator strings. I'm playing at least a couple hours every day and really abusing my fingers. I feel pretty good about the investment and I have had no issues with breaking. I have had to stay on top of filing them down to the correct length where I like them.
Yesterday I broke out the UV lamp and IBD Builder Gel I purchased. This takes a little getting used to, but I got an acceptable job done fairly quickly. The gel appears to be much harder material than the acrylic and after about an hour of playing I can't really detect any wear on them yet. I put a really thin topping on my ring finger since I don't up-pick with this one, but it gets some use on the strum.
For anyone who has weak, thin, or brittle nails and wants to finger pick, I recommend trying acrylic or gel nails. The salon I went to did not use builder gel so my first time was acrylic and I think they would last a very long time for the average player. Over a month.
For those who don't know, the gel refers to the UV curing polymer. It is painted on and is a viscous liquid. I'm not sure I would really say it is a gel, but it is a thick material that is painted on top of your natural nail. You then cure it under a UV lamp for 3 minutes to harden it. The gel is about $20, but I got a BOGOF and the 9W lamp is about $50, but I got mine on sale and you can find them at a beauty supply place. Make sure to get "builder hard gel" The gel nail polish isn't the same hardness. My acrylic nails had a top coat of gel polish and this wore off very quickly.
Last thing - and I don't want to catch any flack about this - the gel nails sound brighter than the acrylic. There. I said it. Better tone with gel fingernails.
Anyway, this has really improved my playing and my happiness while playing. Thanks Tom T for posting up the discussion.
SPA DAY!!!! Hahahaha
I did actually to to a nail salon today. I had to either stop playing fingerstyle or get some help. I told the woman what I wanted for playing guitar and she put on acrylic extensions, and acrylic (or something) base which dries with heat and then a gel top coat that is UV cure. Given the condition of my nails going in, I'm pretty impressed after only playing a little while this afternoon. They have to be about 2mm thick now. Looks a little weird, but I'm fine with them. I'll have to see how they wear, but after 10 minutes of finger picking, not a scratch on the tops.
I only had the thumb, index and middle finger done. Cost $20 with a tip.
Interesting thread and I have an interesting answer!
Many years ago I had an accident on a building site and lost the use of my left hand, twenty years on I decided to try and play guitar and eventually found left handed was the way to go.
Because my fingers could only grip finger picking was out,I couldn't use a pick the conventional way but with a bit of Velcro the problem was solved, though strumming was the most I could do and with further years of practice I could pick the odd single string, it was difficult but I persevered and found I could play rhythm on 6 string fairly well but it was difficult doing fast phrases and solos and was almost about to give up then I discovered CBG's!
Tuning to open G on 3 or 4 strings opened up a whole new world and I started writing my own songs and building guitars, I built a 6 string which I tuned to open G and have had some success with recording and playing live, but distorted power chords sound great on a 4 string and I use the 6 string for clean playing, like they say, where's there a will there's a way ! :-)
awesome !
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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