Hi,
Due to the after-effects of cancer treatments, my nails are as thin as paper, and as fragile as can be. I have been using Acrylic Nails for awhile, and although they work good, there are some nuances with them that I do not like.

So I have decided to use fingerpicks instead. Picked up 3 Dunlop .018 Nickel Silver Fingerpicks and am giving them a try. I have been a fingerpicker most of my Guitar career, and after only about an hour I can see that these may be doable.

Any suggestions, preferences, tips or tricks for using metal or plastic fingerpicks would be greatly appreciated.

Looking to shorten my learning curve. Any advice from seasoned fingerpick users welcomed, and needed.

Thanks to All,
Michael

This message has been edited. Last edited by: dadthrash,

The banjo playing world has long experience with fingerpicks, and no doubt 10 people will give you 15 different "right" ways to wear them.

Some fingerpicks -- such as Dunlops -- extend rather straight from the finger loop. One thing which many players do is bend the part from the finger loop to the tip of the pick into a curve that matches better the curve of your fingertip. This does not have to match exactly -- there will still be a gap between the tip of the fingerpick and the tip of your fingernail.

Bending into slightly more of a curve -- thus making the fingerpick closer to the shape of your finger -- makes the feel of touching the strings and the motion of plucking the strings more intuitive. Reduces the sensation that you have extenders on your fingers and are playing the guitar from an inch away.

Hope this helps, and good luck.

Alex

Michael,

I also am a committed finger-picker. At first I tried a thumbpick with my own nails. My experience is that when the nails were just the right length and thickness, they sounded fine. But whenever they needed filing or shaping they would sound raspy. Finally, I tried the Dunlop .025 Nickel Silver fingerpicks. What a revelation! They sound gorgeous on my Collings 00-1A. Unlike Alex, I don't have to bend them at all, but I do fit them so they just extend past my finger tip. I only use one finger to pick similar to Gary Davis, Doc Watson, Elizabeth Cotton, and so on. I also prefer the Pro Pik thumbpicks.

Howard

quote:

Originally posted by dadthrash:
Hi,
Due to the after-effects of cancer treatments, my nails are as thin as paper, and as fragile as can be. I have been using Acrylic Nails for awhile, and although they work good, there are some nuances with them that I do not like.

So I have decided to use fingerpicks instead. Picked up 3 Dunlop .018 Nickel Silver Fingerpicks and am giving them a try. I have been a fingerpicker most of my Guitar career, and after only about an hour I can see that these may be doable.

Any suggestions, preferences, tips or tricks for using metal or plastic fingerpicks would be greatly appreciated.

Looking to shorten my learning curve. Any advice from seasoned fingerpick users welcomed, and needed.

Thanks to All,
Michael

Michael,
I see you have not gotten any recent responses so I will chime in. I only fingerpick these days. Can't remember the last time I used a flatpick. Obviously, there are MANY ways to go with this issue of picks (or no picks). I like the sound of metal picks (like Kottke used for years) but as even Kottke said "they fly off at the worst of times". The biggest negative for me for metal picks is when I can no longer feel the string with my fingertip. I think there is a big advantage to feeling the string directly with my fingertip as I do when playing with natural fingernails. The Alaska Pics give me the advantage of feeling the string with my fingertip and having a prop (Kottke's term) to pick with. You can file the Alaska Pics to be the exact length you want(most people file them down a lot) and they play remarkably like fingernails. They fit on your finger and just under your natural nail.

You can also buy metal Alaska Pics that fit like the plastic ones. But they need much filing to get them to the right length. They are easy to bend to get to the right shape. Again, they will not fly off and you can do both up-strokes and down-strokes.

The pros:
- they will not fly off in my experience
- can do both up-strokes (normal single note pick) and down strums (again without coming off, where most metal pics are not good for down strums at all)
- you feel the string right on your real fingertip
- can get a tone almost like real nails (plastic pics), or a metal tone (metal pics)

The Alaska Pics are cheap, so I encourage you to try them even if you find you like another solution better.

FYI: I play with a thump pick (Fred Kelley Slick pick medium) and natural nails. But when I break a nail, I just slip on an Alaska Pic and play with the combination of natural (the unbroken nails) and plastic Alaska Pic. If I'm playing so much that my nail growth is not keeping with with my nail ware down, then I put super glue on the tips of my nails (this I learned from Bruce Cockburn) and they hardly ware at all so I keep them filed to length.

I use the Dunlop finger picks also, for many years, but I use the .013 gauge. They are very light, so that you can still feel the string (sort of). I wouldn't play with a heavier gauge pick because of the lack of feel and immediacy. Give the .013s a try.

I also use a plastic thumb pick, usually a National light. Try experimenting with the placement on your finger. The closer it is to the knuckle joint, the more power it will transmit to the string. I hope your treatments were 110% effective!

I don't play guitar with a violin bow like Page, but I play most other ways, including with finger picks. I use a flat pick (thick, small, jazzoid) and fingers for some things, plain naked thumb and fingers for others, and a thumb pick and finger picks (three, all black plastic) for the rest. I find metal finger picks too, well, metallic. The human nail is not metal for most of us non-droids, and plastic, to me, is a closer match to the sound of a healthy nail. My own nails are genetic Saran Wrap, and split or tear if I look at them wrong. I thought about getting artificial nails installed by a manicurist, but my family threatened to disown me. So, for a lot of songs where volume and a crisper tone is desirable, I use a Dunlop large white thumb pick, black plastic finger picks on the next three fingers. I've had the same three picks for about 15 years and they've conformed to the differences in my pudgy fingers. On stage in a group setting I rarely use them, since I don't want to diddle around between tunes getting them on and off. I first started Travis picking with finger picks in 1965, and I've used the same setup pretty much the whole time. Old dogs, etc. best tom

Thanks for reviving this old Thread Guys. And I appreciate all the info, tips and tricks. Also, it helps just knowing what works for other players.
At the present time, I have tried the Silk-Wrap, but still too fragile, so I am using Propik Fingertone Split Wraps. It was a pretty easy transition in the begining because your flesh pad still can feel the strings. Now, getting as proficient as I have always been with flesh and nails......That's a whole different story!

I also have bought Alaska Picks, and sugarlander has sent me photos of how he uses them.
And sonoman, by golly if I didn't just pick up some dunlop plastic finger picks.

I have always used a National Large white Thumb Pick....since Birth!
Keep it coming .....MRT

Dadthrash,
sorry to hear of the after effects of your cancer treatment. Have you considered products that strengthen your nails. I found this http://www.guitartips.addr.com/tip05.html.
Peace,
Rip

Thanks 1ply....I will check it out....MRT

I'm trying out finger picks myself. I like the Fred Kelly ones but they are very tight.
I've been wanting to try the Alaska picks.
Could you guys send pictures of how you use them and how long they are?

Where do you want them sent to?
MRT

quote:

Originally posted by dadthrash:
Where do you want them sent to?
MRT

tonewolfn at hotmail D O T com

Thanks very much!