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Topic: Playing without finger picks |
Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 28 Jun 2017 4:50 am |
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Yes, it's good to hear someone speak the truth, the emperor's clothes and all that. Pedal steel is like a one-man band.
It could be that playing without picks was out of Emmons' comfort zone (altho he always sounded very comfortable without them).
Heck, I like the feel of the strings on my fingers. |
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Kevin Fix
From:
Michigan, USA
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Posted 4 Jul 2017 4:05 pm Picks, Yes.
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| Could not image not using picks. I use National thumb pick and Jeff Newman finger picks. I tried it a couple times, just for fun without picks. Did not care for the tone. |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 8 Jul 2017 4:40 pm Re: Picks, Yes.
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| Kevin Fix wrote: |
| Could not image not using picks. I use National thumb pick and Jeff Newman finger picks. I tried it a couple times, just for fun without picks. Did not care for the tone. |
Yep, if you have no callouses on your fingertips, the tone will stink and it will hurt to play. For about 3 months, if you can stand it.
Like Charlie said; something about the way the strings feel on the fingers... |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 8 Jul 2017 7:33 pm Yup, I like it both ways
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Yup, I like it both ways, With and without finger picks. Guess that make me bipixual*?
No good for E9th but on the C6th and my lap steels in A6th I find it somewhat better for big chords.
However yes, the tone gets a tad muddy at times. 
*But not quite ByByPixual. 
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project.
Last edited by Andy DePaule on 9 Jul 2017 9:22 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 9 Jul 2017 8:28 am Re: Yup, I like it both ways
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| Andy De Paule wrote: |
| Yup, I like it both ways, With and without finger picks. Guess that make me bipixual*?: |
How brave of you to come out, and on a public forum at that!
I did my entire 2 hour practice session barefinger yesterday in your honor  |
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Andy DePaule
From:
Saigon, Viet Nam & Springfield, Oregon
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Posted 9 Jul 2017 9:24 am Re: Yup, I like it both ways
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| Fred Treece wrote: |
| Andy De Paule wrote: |
| Yup, I like it both ways, With and without finger picks. Guess that make me bipixual*?: |
How brave of you to come out, and on a public forum at that!
I did my entire 2 hour practice session barefinger yesterday in your honor |
Making me laugh so much before I'm completely awake could be bad for my health.
_________________
Inlaid Star Guitar 2006 by Mark Giles. SD-10 4+5 in E9th; http://luthiersupply.com/instrument-gallery.html
2017 Mullen SD-10, G2 5&5 Polished Aluminum covering. Custom Build for me. Great Steel.
Clinesmith Joaquin Murphy style Aluminum 8 String Lap Steel Short A6th.
Magnatone Jeweltone Series Lap Steel, Circa 1950? 6 String with F#minor7th Tuning.
1956 Dewey Kendrick D-8 4&3, Restoration Project.
1973 Sho~Bud Green SD-10 4&5 PSG, Restoration Project. |
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Jack Hanson
From:
San Luis Valley, USA
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Posted 9 Jul 2017 11:06 am
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I always use a plastic thumbpick and two metal fingerpicks on 10-string pedal steel. I usually do likewise on 6-string lap steel, resonator, and Weissenborn. Sometimes I play with bare fingers on lap steel and Weiss, but never on reso. Sometimes on reso I play with a plastic thumbpick and plastic fingerpicks.
Whatever works best to suit the music. |
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Larry Carlson
From:
My Computer
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Posted 9 Jul 2017 11:26 am
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I use a thumbpick and no fingerpicks.
On my Weiss copy I also drop the thumbpick.
Does this mean I am going to Hell?
.....and I love Andy's "bipixual" labeling........ 
_________________
I have stuff.
I try to make music with it.
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn't.
But I keep on trying. |
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Fred Treece
From:
California, USA
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Posted 9 Jul 2017 1:31 pm
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| Larry Carlson wrote: |
I use a thumbpick and no fingerpicks.
On my Weiss copy I also drop the thumbpick.
Does this mean I am going to Hell? |
I guess some people think you already are in Hell.
I'm wondering if some steel players goes go fingerpickless because it is a carryover from playing fingerstyle guitar. That's my excuse. I would never dream of playing my Strat or Tele with fingerpicks on. Playing steel the same way (thumb pick & barefingers) feels like home to me. |
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Gary Walker
From:
Morro Bay, CA
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Posted 9 Jul 2017 3:48 pm
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| I remember once when the Whites were on the Opry back in the 90s, while they were singing, in the long shot, you could see Tommy slip something into his coat pocket. When it came time for his solo, the closeup revealed he was missing his finger picks and his solo was flawless, as usual. I know because I still have the tape somewhere of that event. I don't know whether he did that to reduce any shaking or not, but it was cool, none the less. |
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Larry Carlson
From:
My Computer
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Posted 9 Jul 2017 4:06 pm
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| Fred Treece wrote: |
| Larry Carlson wrote: |
I use a thumbpick and no fingerpicks.
On my Weiss copy I also drop the thumbpick.
Does this mean I am going to Hell? |
I guess some people think you already are in Hell.
I'm wondering if some steel players goes go fingerpickless because it is a carryover from playing fingerstyle guitar.
That's my excuse. I would never dream of playing my Strat or Tele with fingerpicks on.
Playing steel the same way (thumb pick & barefingers) feels like home to me. |
Yup......that would be me.
Fingerpicked acoustic for 20+ years.
Fingernails are staying...... 
......and I really do like the feel of the strings on my fingers.
It gives me a connection I guess.
_________________
I have stuff.
I try to make music with it.
Sometimes it works.
Sometimes it doesn't.
But I keep on trying. |
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