So does anyone out there use thumbpicks or just their thumb? I'm just getting started with some fingerstyle stuff and have been experimenting.

I had a Dunlop clear that was way to large at the picking point and I tried to shave that down but that never was a very comfortable pick for my bigger thumb. My thumb felt too confined, almost sweaty, not too pleasant.

I saw a Pete Huttlinger DVD and stopped and zoomed on what he was using, John Pearse thumbpick, I ordered some of those and I think I like them much better but then I saw some discussion on Red Bear pick on this board and of course I had order one of those but I found they also make something called Red Bear LB Custom Thumbpick; Oh baby! Nice open air thumbpick, the pick is just the right length for my liking and it's open air with a small metal bracket to hold it to my thumb so I don't feel like my thumb is sweating. Yeah, I'm probably kookier than most but I think so far I like the Red Bear best.

Pete Huttlinger has now switched to National thumb picks. Here is a quote from his site:

"By the way, the National is my new thumb pick of choice. I get a much better bass response because it has a larger and thicker tip."


For certain songs I do use a thumb pick, but not that often. For other tunes it just doesn't work. When I'm playing fingerstyle with aggressive slapping techniques, I find that end up banging the pick against the top. No need for dings.

I don't use picks when I practice which is about all I do these days. When I used to play for an audience I'd used a National thumb pick and National metal finger picks that I mold close to the shape of my fingers.

Lately I've liked the Fred Kelly Slick Pick, Delrin X- Heavy. IMHO they are more comfortable than the Nationals.
Alan

Thumb picks by their nature are going to vary for different individuals. You need a good fit so that the thumbpick is tight enough to not move/rotate, but not so tight as to cut off circulation. To some degree you can adjust fit by holding the pick briefly in boiling water and shaping the softened plastic. Different materials/thicknesses have a different attack and tendency to make a pronounced "click" on string contact. The good thing is that thumbpicks are cheap so you can try a lot of different ones. I like to get some skin in contact with the string, so I make string contact close to my thumb. Therefore, I almost always cut the length of the thumbpick down by using a belt sander to reduce size and reshape. I have tried and used thumbpicks from national, dunlop, propik, fred kelly, etc. At the present my favorite is the Herco flex 52 nylon thumbpick. I don't like the blue color, but it fits pretty well as received and I like the sound after I have reduced the size. Your mileage may vary.

Rich