Lochmon

This might be a pretty daft question to ask, but so far I have been having problems with my guitar playing. I can't keep a pick steady, making it hard for me to concentrate on making music. I've been playing without a pick since I began to strum the guitar. I've been using my thumb, and no matter where I look, I can't find any information on playing with a thumb. Sure, there are other methods and styles, and the wavelengths of the sound coming from the guitar sound different when recording...

I guess, my question is: must I use a pick to play guitar? (This does not include fingerstyle).

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MusicMan

I think it'd be best to figure out what the trouble is before offering a definite alternative.

Are you having trouble just keeping a pick from shifting in your fingers?
Sweaty hands or slick picks can be overcome by buying a better pick such as a Dunlop Gator Grip which has a resin on it, or many other easily grippable picks.

Do you have hand tremors of any sort?
If it's a medical problem there's not much you can do, but if your hand isn't anchored in a good spot it could cause a shaky pick hand. Try anchoring in a more comfortable spot and if the setup of your guitar is just akward and doesn't allow for it, try another guitar.

Are you just having trouble picking the wrong strings?
If that is the case, I think that's something we all have to overcome through practice. Hell I still have trouble with it because I've been lazy in my fundamentals on guitar. If this is your problem just practice picking alternate strings. I'll give you some good exercises if that's your trouble.


Hopefully that might help, but if you don't like playing with a pick, then don't! Derek Trucks is an amazing guitarist and he doesn't use a pick. There are plenty of other examples too, so don't worry about it. You may lose a little brightness but brightness can be enhanced with different pickups, a different potentiometer in your wiring, or even an eq pedal or rack. So the important thing is to be comfortable and enjoy your playing, then do whatever it takes to make your tone sound the way you'd like it to.

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Rules! A definite must-read

How to upload music to the Music Showcase. How to embed a YouTube video.

Send me a PM if you need any help with anything.

Mongo97

You don't have to do anything.

If you'd like to play with a pick and are having difficulties, you'd have to better explain the problem, as MM was saying.

If the problem is with how you're using it, it's mostly technique. Playing from the right position at the right angle, and practice practice practice.

If it's with the pick, you're open to experiment with different things for picks. I've used several different brands and models of picks, and have heard of many wide and varied things (coins, poker chips, anything flat can work) being used.

Even your thumb works, or if you prefer, grow out your thumb nail and use that as a natural pick on it's own.

Of course, the other thing that goes with it is what styles and types of music you're playing. Some things could really really use a pick (or are at least easier with a pick), some things you can toss the pick completely and never miss it.

In the end, it all depends on what you're trying to do. Heck, if it works for the music you're wanting to play, you can smack the guitar with a dead fish if you want.

Aqualung

No pick?! Weird...

When I first started playing bass (I play with a pick) I had a lot of trouble keeping it steady, too. Of course, as MM and Mongo said, I have no idea WHY you aren't keeping it steady, but I will tell you what helped ME, in case it's somewhat of a similar problem. For me, I was gripping too hard and was too tense. One doesn't need to hold a pick all that firmly, especially when just playing a guitar (what with their flimsy strings and all ). You also don't need to strum all that hard, especially when you're aplified. So all your motions should be pretty relaxed. If you're relaxed, your movements will be smoother than if you're tense.

Like Mongo said, it really depends on what type of music you're playing, but what I can say is I think (and this is just my own judgement here) that it would be easier to solo with a pick. I don't think soloing would be that easy with fingerpicking.

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Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

Lochmon

Derek Trucks, eh? I might have to look him up. I need someone to look up to for inspiration.


I was reading an article on nail care for guitarists who don't use flat picks and whatnot. The beauty salons and "kits" sort of made look away in shame. Unless I am entirely up to the delicate and patience of cleaning, trimming, filing, adding lotions...

I think I'll just stick with using my thumb. Callus' here I come!

Thank you, by the way.


I actually solo quite well with my thumb. I just think that my neglect of using a pick has kept me from using it skillfully...or I could just be flat pick-impared, if such thing exists. Being weird seems to be a lot more interesting than being considered normal - though not outstanding. Thank you for doubting me...now to PROVE YOU WRONG!

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Kameraad Pannekoek

Big truth here. I have pretty intense tremors, but I can pick alright if I anchor my hand right.

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If you ever need help with anything, anything at all, just send me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you.
Dave's Gear:
MIM Fretless Fender Jazz Bass
Fender Rumble 100w Bass Amp
Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster
Vox Valvetronix AD30VT Guitar Amp
Dunlop .71mm picks (Pink picks for the win!)

Aqualung

Thanks. I don't have a lot of experience not playing with a pick, so it's good that you have developed a way that works for you.

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Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

Mongo97

There's a ton of videos out there of people playing between finger picking and two hand tapping. You can play pretty good without a pick if you choose to.

In the end, the pick is just another way to get the guitar to sound a note. You can use whatever you want to get the guitar to sound that note, as long as it works for you. Jimmy Page used a violin bow, people have used their teeth, some have used hammer-like devices, some have used mic stands, some use specialty devices like the E-Bow. If you get the guitar to make a noise, and you like the noise it makes, then go with it.

If you find you really want to use a pick but are having troubles, a couple of tips:

First, the grip. Take your would-be pick hand. Make a OK sign with it. Move your thumb to the side of your index finger. Pick goes inbetween your thumb and index finger. I generally pull my index and thumb back a bit, smushing the 'circle' that they form. The pick should be against the side of your index finger and against the pad of your thumb. If you're trying to put it between the fingertips, the grip will be a little weaker than doing it the other way.

Second, hand, arm, and guitar position. You want to try to keep your hand and arm in a straight line through your wrist to your elbow. The pick should be coming directly across the strings, as in that it should be coming flat against the strings, not on an angle. So, you want to try to position the guitar and your arm so that everything lines up. If you're coming into the string at an angle, you'll get extra noise. It'll also wear the pick down faster.

Next, the motion. The motion of picking should come from the joint in your elbow. Picking from your wrist can be long term damaging to you, your elbow is a little better suited to take the abuse. It also keeps the pick on the straight line. And I've seen people on occasion try picking with the motion coming from moving their fingers back and forth. Also, not so good, and very hard to develop any kind of speed to it.

Now, actually making some noise with it. When you first start practicing, pay attention to the form and positioning first and foremost. Don't worry about playing anything fancy at first, you can even practice the motion of picking on open strings if you want. Or, just fret a basic chord and leave that hand sitting there and pay attention to the one with the piece of plastic.

Start basic, and preferrably with a metronome if you can. Do a measure or two of just basic downpicking on one string, then a measure or two of up-picking. Practice that motion, adding strings as you feel more comfortable. Two, then three, ect. Then go for alternate picking, down up down up, then up down up down. Same thing with adding strings. Then start looking around for more advanced picking exercises.

It'll all come together, eventually getting to the point where you'll be picking like a maniac without having to watch what you're doing, and hitting everything you want to hit.

Hopefully that helps somebody. If not, hey, keep slapping the guitar with the dead fish!

Jayers

Here's another thought, something I did early on. Try a thumbpick, like banjo players use. You can strum open handed with your thumb, and then pull your fingers together to pick. Might be a good way to ease into a pick.

I however envy no-pick users. I remember the first time I saw Mark Knopfler play Sultans of Swing live on TV... Holy COW!! He did that whole song without a pick! That blew me away.

Kameraad Pannekoek

My pal Mattbjorn does that. Works pretty well for him. Good thing I gave him one of my spare thumbpicks.

__________________
If you ever need help with anything, anything at all, just send me a PM and I'll see what I can do for you.
Dave's Gear:
MIM Fretless Fender Jazz Bass
Fender Rumble 100w Bass Amp
Squier Affinity Series Stratocaster
Vox Valvetronix AD30VT Guitar Amp
Dunlop .71mm picks (Pink picks for the win!)

Aqualung

I think it makes his hands look like lobster claws.

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Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

Jayers

Very nice. My hands can look like chipmunks if they'll play that well. I at first thought that was Live Aid, but now realize it's not. Did anybody notice the mistake he made about 2 mins in ? And that bearded guy hogging the camera, what's up with that???

Aqualung

I listened to it trying to hear a mistake but I didn't catch anything. Not only does he have lobster hands, but he looks like a blond Seinfeld. And that beared guy is Eric Clapton. They did a fair deal of collaboration.

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Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

Lochmon

I thought that too. I was trying to picture him with red hands, wondering if it would help me envision him and his lobster hands.
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In another note, I looked him up on Wikipedia and noticed that his style of playing is called Clawhammer (or Frailing). The name actually fits Aqualung's description of his hands (good job). The technique is usually (and mostly) used for playing folk music, and a banjo is the instrument of choice, but the the technique has been transfered on to the electric guitar (as one can see from the video above), although it is very rare and unlikely.

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Aqualung

That certainly explains a lot!

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Here we go. Mushu cereal for breakfast with duck sauce.

Jayers

Eric Clapton, eh? Is he good? I suddenly want an MGD after watching that video. [Hey, is there an :irony: smiley on this board?}

Edit: Oops, I meant Michelob. What can I say, I typed that after midnight.