Fingerpicking with a "thumb pick"

MahlerGrooves · Post by **MahlerGrooves** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:09 pm

I was watching this guy at GC playing some kickass blues fingerpicking stuff, but he was using a sort of pick that fit onto his thumb.

Anyone here use them? What are the advantages over normal fingerpicking??

Thanks

dmbguitar718 · Post by **dmbguitar718** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:16 pm

I have one. Very interesting. It provides a more pronounced bass lines, attacks, whatever, and you can also use it like a regular a pick during a fingerpicking song. It's good for those ringing out kinda chords in a fingerstyle song.

a1075dd63aa12 · Post by **a1075dd63aa12** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:48 pm

i have one, i just havent been able to get use to it

MahlerGrooves · Post by **MahlerGrooves** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 6:51 pm

thanks guys!

fatjack · Post by **fatjack** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:15 pm

they are typically used with a banjo (along side picks that fit onto the tips of your fingers)

like everyone else said, they make a fingerpicking song sound like its been attacked with a pick, but they are just a bitch to get used to

6_strings_for_life · Post by **6_strings_for_life** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:41 pm

yea i have one, but I can never get anything to sound good with it. It is very uncomfortable. i have seen people play amazing stuff with those things though!

czech · Post by **czech** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:50 pm

fatjack wrote:they are typically used with a banjo (along side picks that fit onto the tips of your fingers)

like everyone else said, they make a fingerpicking song sound like its been attacked with a pick, but they are just a bitch to get used to

I have one for my banjo. Problem is that I have very big fingers so it hurts to try and squeeze even the large dunlop ones on.

guitardmb · Post by **guitardmb** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 9:25 pm

Just grow out your finger nails. Its cheaper and easier in my opinion.

MahlerGrooves · Post by **MahlerGrooves** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 10:16 pm

I think I will pick one up and experiment. After all, I think they are only like one dollar, so I can spare the expense

Davy28 · Post by **Davy28** » Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:22 pm

I bought one, but it was a total waste of money as I never figured out how to use it and it would always slip off my thumb.

filmdude100cms · Post by **filmdude100cms** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 12:02 am

i just use the bare fingers.

Ryeguy · Post by **Ryeguy** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 1:48 pm

I use a thumbpick on some songs.. it really helps with alternate picking and finger picking.

dacanemadness · Post by **dacanemadness** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:02 pm

I tried using a thumbpick with fingerpicks to play some jim croce stuff, but i just haven't had the motivation to continue using them to get used to em. Very, very awkward at first because you have to totally change your hand positioning.

a1075dd63aa12 · Post by **a1075dd63aa12** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:22 pm

guitardmb wrote:Just grow out your finger nails. Its cheaper and easier in my opinion.

theyre less than a dollar

Davy28 · Post by **Davy28** » Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:24 pm

Paul simon uses one, but I haven't the foggiest idea how he does it on his songs.