So, I'm looking to get into playing some slide guitar. I see a lot of guitarist using thumbpicks, but usually can't make out which kind. I know there's plastic ones and there's metal ones, I suppose they sound different. Which ones do you use and why? Does size matter at all? Which ones should I avoid?
You need to be a member of Cigar Box Nation to add comments!
Replies
Hi.
Yes. The finger picks are easily adjusted. The stainless ones are a bit stiffer but both can be bent easily enough. The plastic thumb picks are easily adjusted with heat (I use a hot air gun) because they are usually set too small to start with. If you make the thumb pick very short you may well have to reduct the length of the bit that wraps round the thumb to avoid it catching on the strings (this should be visible in the photo).
Good luck with that.
John
Stubby said:
Thanks John! The fingerpicks look interesting, they can be adjusted to size? The short thumbpick is a good idea, that'll allow you to play like you don't have one on and still get nice attack.
Just to echoe what Harrison said about reducing the length of the picks.
These are what I use. On the left are two finger picks. The good thing about these is that they still allow you to feel the string. I started off with stainless ones, but then got some nickel silver ones as they don't make a noise when you touch a mag. pickup.
On the right are two thumb picks. One is cut down so that only the smallest amount comes past the thumb. The thing to remember is to thin the flat part of the pick so that it has some flexibility. If you just shorten it you fill find it is very rigid. I have been using the cut down one for the best part of a year. They are cheap as chips on eBay.
Hope this helps.
Hey, thanks people! Your advice will be taken to heart. I'm not really new to fingerpicking although 'my style' isn't much like the level a certain Mr Emannuel and the likes operate on. I'll just start with practicing without the thumbpicks, meanwhile I'll comb the net for 'lefty' thumbpicks and order a couple different kinds.
I really appreciate the advice.
BTW nosepicks? Although I LOL'ed... eeeew!!
I forgot to mention, I wear a thumpick (Golden Gate Extra Heavy) and two fingerpicks (index and middle). Steel strings (on an acoustic instrument) due to their higher tension and rough metal material compared to the nylon / gut strings used on classical guita, really need a hard pick (finger picks or plectrum) to create a crip attack and increase volume. Additionally, finger picks protect your fingers. You can dig in deeper and pull out the sound. Resonator guitars just like banjos operator mechanically better with picks. Enjoy your practice, Keni Lee
Stubby,
Just to follow on with Keni Lee's assessment, and offer some unsolicited advice...try two finger (thumb and index finger) fingerpicking for awhile. Not trying to discourage you from buying a thumbpick (I just picked up a packet of 5 Dunlop Delrins a few months ago, and they work great - but differently ;-) ), but putting your flesh in contact with the strings will give you a different feel. Mark Knopfler has done pretty well just using his fingers, and many modern players use hybrid picking, alternating either with a standard plectrum or thumbpick, and their fingers. Feel the blues through your thumb pad first. Then move on to using two or more fingers for fingerpicking. Or not. Whichever you are comfortable with. Many pro lap or amplified steel players use only their fingers, which gives a warmer tone, but just as many go the "banjo" route, and use not only metal or plastic thumbpicks, but metal fingertip picks as well, for a brighter tone. Why not experiment with all of these variants? You'll find a style that suits you.
BTW, the main reason old bluesmen used thumbpicks was to increase attack, which increased volume in a noisy environment. I suspect this is why many CBGers do it, too.
You really have to try them. Some are tight and uncomfortable, some are too loose to be useable. Plastic ones can wear and develop a raspy attack.
Check out Herco picks (also at Elderly). They are the only ones I've seen which let you seamlessly switch between fingerpicking and flatpicking if you need to do that. For straight fingerpicking, their blue nylon ones are comfortable and have a nice sound, but I see Dunlop has Delrin picks that look about the same. That's an amazing material.
I've only used thumbpicks for fingerstyle though... not slide, so I don't know how that is different, especially if you're playing lap steel.
Hey Stubby - here's what I've settled on lately:
http://www.elderly.com/accessories/items/PK24-H.htm
It's made of Delrin which is almost indestructible. I've used a lot of different ones over the years and to me one of the most important things is to get one that fits without crushing your thumb. Many plastic thumb picks can be adjusted by putting them in hot water and shaping them to fit before they get too cool.
I use nosepicks, myself...
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next