We’ve had a mini-spate of gwee-tar threads lately so I guess one more can’t hurt.
I have been playing pickless for so long I am no longer effectively capable of playing with one.
Now, the reason I don’t use a pick is two-fold. First, one of the first songs I learned was Stairway to Heaven (big surprise). Once I got the finger picking down, I couldn’t switch to the strum very well. I never mastered that “palm the pick” technique.
Secondly, I could never find one when I wanted one anyway, so I just developed my “fingernail as pick” technique.
Depends on what I’m playing. Some songs I’ve learned/developed a fingerstyle thing where using a pick is impossible (“The Thunder Rolls” by Garth Brooks is my masterpiece in that arena). Other songs I strum (using a very thin pick to add volume, if necessary). Still other songs (mostly rock and alternative, things that should be on an electric instead of my acoustic) the lead part is slow and using my thumb doesn’t sound right so I’ll use a pick.
I guess there’s an easier way to say that: If I’m on an electric (or playing something that SHOULD be on an electric) I almost always use a pick. If I’m not, I usually don’t.
This “Pick or not to Pick” question really comes down to style and preference. When I play, sometimes I use the pick, sometimes not. Some songs need a pick, others do not. I need to use a pick on the electric guitar when I’m playing “Smoke on the Water” and finger pick a song like “Blackbird”. So, there is no right or wrong way to play the guitar. Hit the strings with a hammer if you want to, just have fun doing it.
It all depends on the song. It is almost always immediately obvious which you should use.
When I was first starting to play guitar I used fingerpicking a lot when I shouldn’t have, simply because I had problems skipping strings with a pick accurately. For instance, I used to fingerpick the opening lead part of ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’. There are also songs I would fingerpick without using the standard method - index, middle and ring finger on the G, B, and E strings, thumb for the E, A, and D. One I played a lot when I was beginning with just my thumb and index finger got me in the habit of using that technique whenever I play that part of that song, even though I can do it ‘right’ now.
Now sometimes to challenge myself I try to use a pick for songs that normally require fingerpicking. Hardly ever sounds as good, but it’s good practice for selectively muting strings with your left hand.
Definately depends on the style and song. I use a dime on some songs. With my active pickups it gives a fantastic sound picked just right. Kills the strings but it gives a great tone through overdrive pedal for solos.
Generally while practicing acoustic I do not use a pick, although if I need it to sound “clean” I like the Fender lights.
I have picks scattered throughout my house, but do you think I could ever find one? Never. I have ruined many a CD case to break of a chunk for playing. Talk about your extra solid picks…
Depends on the tone I want to get. I usually play with those lil red Jazz-3 picks.
For country type stuff I use pick and fingers;
for jazz I use a combination of pick and fingers, pure fingerstyle - for voice leading and so called piano style chord playing, and my thumb for Wes Montgomery type stuff;
for classical acoustic I play using classical fingerstyle;
for everything else (–I mostly play that blazing-lead- guitar-gunk) I use a pick.
well since I run it strictly rhythm, I don’t want to make it cry or sing I use a pick. I have a tendancy to strum real hard and it just shreds my thumb up.
Bonus points if you know what song I ripped off for the first line in this post.
Keith
“Sultans Of Swing”
I’m still trying to find a good technique for switching between fingers and pick in the same song. I’m pretty useless with the thumbnail. Ideas?
hold the pick between your index finger and thumb and pick the ‘thumb’ parts with the pick while using the rest of your fingers to play the higher notes. it’ll take some practice if you’ve never played that way before. but it adds a real nice crisp sound to fingerpicking.
Or if you don’t mind ruining the finish on you guitar you can get double sided tape and plaster a bunch of picks on it for easy, um, pickin’. We did that in my little college bar band. Of course that was the eighties and all the hair bands did that, so we had to do it too.
Somehow I don’t think I could quite pull of Whiplash by Metallica without a pick (most of the stuff I play is what would be considered Heavy Metal) the only time I don’t use a pick would be for songs like Planet Caravan or something that requires a less sharp attack.
I’ve used both techniques. Depends on the song. More rock stuff I use the pick. But I’ve be doing a lot of Jill Sobule stuff lately and she’s REALLY fond of finger-picking with like strings 2 and 5 alternating with 3 and 6 (or similar weird things).
I fingerpick, it’s the only way to fly. When you gotta flat pick though, you gotta have a pick. Started out with nylon .9mm and finally got myself down to a .69 Fender tortise shell.
Any of youse, email me and I’ll send you some work by some killer fingerpick artists.
Of course on a Classical guitar a pick can’t be used, but with an electric I almost always use a pick. You just have to on some songs (as Azargoth pointed out). I just learned to fingerpick somewhat recently so I’m still trying to learn how to fingerpick songs I used to use a pick with.