No Picks for the next Month!

Scott_F

Scott_F

Flushologist
Staff member
Okay, until June 1st, I resolve not to touch a guitar pick for any reason. After hearing Seymour and jeremy going pickless last weekend, I'm inspired.

THe good news is that I've been an acoustic player most my life and I"ve been fingerpicking acoustic for ages. So far, the last couple of nights, I'm getting some righteous tones out of these here pickless fingers.

Okay, who's with me? :laugh2:
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

I like that idea Scott! I'm surprised that with the right attack I can actually get some decent pinch harmonics out of my guitar without a pick. But there's no way I would ever consider giving up picks for more than 10 minutes :laugh2:

Have fun with that challenge though, you might discover some seriously cool playing secrets!
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

I've used my fingers for years now, but I'll use a pick sometimes too, just depends.

there are a lot of things you can do with your fingers though, like plucking chords, or just using open voiced chords that are very cool sounding, not to mention the fingerpicking stuff ... lots of ways to add variety to your rhythm playing
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

I normally use a heavy pick and the middle and ring finger on my right hand for hybrid picking. I too was inspired by the idea of shedding the pick.....at least for practicing.

The problem is that I need to strum chords too, and don't really like the sound of doing it with fingers. Also, speedy scales are something I need a pick for. I think I'm just gonna practice it all the time till I get stuff up to speed. For most purposes, I'll just continue to use a pick and fingers. I'll admit I've been practicing that triplet gallop Seymour does with his thumb, first, and second fingers, on 1 string.
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

I have often thought about trying it...after the first time I saw Jeff Beck play, I decided that we do not need picks...I might give it a shot too!
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

Gearjoneser said:
I'll admit I've been practicing that triplet gallop Seymour does with his thumb, first, and second fingers, on 1 string.
Click to expand...

I told my bassist about this...he damned near gave me a heart attack. This kid worships Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, Jaco, and Steve Bailey. ****in insane on the bass, it's unearthly.

So I explain what Seymour did, and he proceeds to take my guitar and do it, only faster. Then, he did it using all five fingers of his right hand. :saeek:
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

I hit it hard tonight. The edge of my thumb is getting raw. It definitely has some possibilities.
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

I hybrid pick alot .. but strumming just doesnt sound right to me without a pick
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

George Lynch was also playing with out a pick a lot. I wish I could play like them without a pick, but I gotta perfect my playing with a pick first!
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

a pick & fingers *always* with me...best of both worlds, and i never have to learn another technique with the right hand. I use this for jazz, bluegrass, ragtime, classical, rock, it doesn't matter.
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

Hey, Scott F., great idea!

I did the same a couple of years ago after seeing Mark Knopfler. Never got the hang of using just my fingers though. But I do a combination of the two types of picking. Great for variation.

Good luck!
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

Sounds intetersting - I'm a fingerpicker on acoustic, I'll give it a try on electric.
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

I use a thumbpick a lot. Talk about speed....When you can get thumb and fingers going, there's a lot of potential for speed. When I play slide, I just use my thumb and fingers. I try not to get too caught up in style and habits. If I play something that calls for a flat pick, I'll use one. Same for fingers and thumbpick. BTW, your fave player, Mark Knopfler, uses only his thumb and fingers... :13:
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

i was thinking the same thing...i did alot of strumming and playing last night on my Tak with just my fingers...it's pretty sore today...i'm gonna have to try that out on an electric too!!!
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

DeadSkinSlayer3 said:
I told my bassist about this...he damned near gave me a heart attack. This kid worships Victor Wooten, Billy Sheehan, Jaco, and Steve Bailey. ****in insane on the bass, it's unearthly.

So I explain what Seymour did, and he proceeds to take my guitar and do it, only faster. Then, he did it using all five fingers of his right hand. :saeek:
Click to expand...

Bassists suck that way. I guess that's what happens when you never use a pick.
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

kill me, tear off my legs, stab out my eyes, but dont take my pick away XD

but MAJOR respect to those who can rip it up without a pick!
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

Scott_F said:
Okay, until June 1st, I resolve not to touch a guitar pick for any reason. After hearing Seymour and jeremy going pickless last weekend, I'm inspired.

THe good news is that I've been an acoustic player most my life and I"ve been fingerpicking acoustic for ages. So far, the last couple of nights, I'm getting some righteous tones out of these here pickless fingers.

Okay, who's with me? :laugh2:
Click to expand...

I also am an Acoustic Player. I rarely play acoustic with a pick. But electric.. I generally have a pick, but I use my fingers as well. Sort of chicken pickin'. I really like being able to feel the strings under my fingers. I would recommend going to a heavier string on the electrics. It makes it easier to finger pick with a heavier string.
 
Re: No Picks for the next Month!

Mattt said:
Believe it or not, i've never used a pick with the strat i bought from you Scott.

It just doesn't seem right.

All my other guitars though... i use a pick.
Click to expand...

I love the tone of a clean strat with some reverb, being played only using fingers.. sounds great.

I play a lot of hybrid picking myself, and sometimes I will just put my pick in my mouth to play a solo with my fingers.. I do like to have a pick though for rhythm (strumming etc)..
 
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