How do you play?

[beaubrummels]

I want to talk about this dumb thing I did as a beginner: I couldn't keep hold of a pick to save my life, so I developed this technique where I held my thumb and forefinger as though I were holding a pick (even though I wasn't) and then played like that, with the tip/nail of my index finger striking the strings.

Anytime else ever do anything that dumb, repeatedly?

I can't play that way because the strings sand my fingernail off. My first finger hits the strings even when using a pick, so if I have a longer 4-5 hour gig, I'll put clear fingernail polish on my first fingernail to protect it.

 

[ehdwuld]

back in the eighties
Lee Press On Nails were popular

 

[alex1fly]

I play nearly exclusively with a pick, but that's not what I want to talk about.

I want to talk about this dumb thing I did as a beginner: I couldn't keep hold of a pick to save my life, so I developed this technique where I held my thumb and forefinger as though I were holding a pick (even though I wasn't) and then played like that, with the tip/nail of my index finger striking the strings.

I kept that up for literally YEARS.

Anytime else ever do anything that dumb, repeatedly?

I don't think this is dumb... because I do it! :nana:

If I drop my pick or if I'm fingerpicking without a pick handy, and I want a more percussive sound similar to what a pick would do, I'll use this ghost pick method.

 

[Mincer]

I hybrid pick classical pieces, too. I started learning classical fingerpicking at 8, but then went to strictly pick playing. Eventually I went to hybrid picking as I didn't want to have to drop my picks to play the intros to my favorite hard rock songs.

 

[DKSEARS]

I play almost exclusively with a pick. I keep trying to learn to finger or hybrid pick, but it never really gets beyond my practice at home.

 

[Aceman]

Almost always with a pick, but various approaches
- I will occasionally play hybrid
- I can play finger style, having played classical for a while and now working bass
- I can tap with more than 1 finger on the right hand

More tools is more tools

 

[playas]

I hybrid pick classical pieces, too. I started learning classical fingerpicking at 8, but then went to strictly pick playing. Eventually I went to hybrid picking as I didn't want to have to drop my picks to play the intros to my favorite hard rock songs.

Another little trick that I must practice more is to roll the plectrum back and forth between the playing position, and held between 1st & 2nd (or between 2nd & 3rd) fingers towards the base of the fingers. That allows you to keep hold of it but have it far enough away to not interfere excessively with finger-picking.

 

[Mincer]

Another little trick that I must practice more is to roll the plectrum back and forth between the playing position, and held between 1st & 2nd (or 3rd & 4th) fingers towards the base of the fingers. That allows you to keep hold of it but have it far enough away to not interfere excessively with finger-picking.

I never do that. Just pick and other 3 fingers. I got really good at balancing the sound of the pick with the fingers.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Flatpick for me, almost exclusively. Sometimes fingers for bass depending on the gig.

I do occasionally crook the pick in my index finger and use the other three & thumb for fingerstyle moments.
That comes so naturally I didn't really even notice what I was doing until the other guitarist in the band asked me about it.

 

[Demanic]

Almost always with a pick, but various approaches
- I will occasionally play hybrid
- I can play finger style, having played classical for a while and now working bass
- I can tap with more than 1 finger on the right hand

More tools is more tools

+1

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