Re: Playing With Fingers - p i or i m

On 8 Aug, 17:33, tenplay <tenp...@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
Cliff wrote:
On 6 Aug, 15:51, tenplay <tenp...@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
Cliff wrote:
I usually practice with a pick but, for years I've been in the habit
of picking up the guitar and messing around playing fingerstyle. I can
play a couple of fingerstyle tunes and a bit of classical but it's not
something I've ever stuck with, mainly due to poor fingernails.
Could you guys who play fingerstyle on steel strung guitars, tell me
how you play single note lines. Do you alternate between thumb and
index finger (banjo style), index and middle (classical style) or
something else?
Cliff
I use mainly thumbpick and my index, middle and ring fingers.  If you
play that way enough, your fingertips will get hard and strong enough to
where you don't need to use fingernails at all.  You can use the
thumbpick like a flatpick when necessary.

Thanks. Thumb pick and finger flesh sounds interesting. I tried finger
picks and found them very hard work. Also tried hybred picking which
is good but seems such a waste of the index finger and means, I
sometimes end up using my weedy little finger for a top note.

Do you use the thumb pick as it come or do you re-shape it?

Cliff

I buy the L size thumbpick.  It's a little tight but it stays in place
well.  In the past I have made M's fit well by dipping them in warm
water and molding them around my thumb.  Some folks use the microwave
but I haven't tried it yet.  Have fun with your experimenting.- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Over the weekend I discovered SlickPicks. The playing end is much more
like a standard pick, compared with other thumb-picks I've tried. Been
practicing with one of those.

Also bought a tub of nice smelling pink hand cream and some files.
Decided it's time to get my fingernails in better shape.

Cheers, Cliff
.

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