Bobbie Seymour/Buddy Emmons dont use finger picks?

John Turbeville · Post by **John Turbeville** » 2 Oct 2011 11:20 am

I recd Bobby Seymours newletter the other day and he said that he and Buddy Emmons dont use fingerpicks. Ive played and gigged both ways, I'm more clumsy with the picks (just because I play guitar well w/o a pick) but the tone isnt as crisp w/o picks. I also think I can block much better w/o them.

Is there a way to get better tone w/o picks? Any comments or experiences on the topic?

Rick Schmidt · Post by **Rick Schmidt** » 2 Oct 2011 12:01 pm

Hey neighbor John

.... You can believe that Buddy and Bobbe have both logged in a lot of time with finger picks and will still use them if the need arises. When practicing around the house or doing certain jazzier gigs or sessions I myself might leave the picks off. It does feel natural and more connected that way sometimes. I think it would be a disservice to any newbies out there to not nudge them towards their picks a bit though.

Todd Brown · Post by **Todd Brown** » 2 Oct 2011 12:17 pm

Yeah, I've been wondering about that. That's news to me, that Buddy Emmons didn't use finger picks. I can't find ANY video of Buddy NOT wearing fingerpicks, from any decade.

If your not gonna use fingerpicks, I think part of the trick is growing your fingernails out just a bit to get that pick attack on fast stuff.

You get used to wearing them after a little while. I can't go without 'em!

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 2 Oct 2011 12:27 pm

Hi, John - I wish I lived as close to Rick Schmidt; if I did he'd be sick of the sight of me by now - I'd be on his doorstep asking for lessons! What a player!

For years and years I was completely hopeless without picks and could barely produce a note. Now, though, I find that, with a slight adjustment in my right-hand postion, I'm able to produce a pleasing tone.

You can bet, though, that - if I'm under-the-gun and have to be at my best - I wouldn't dream of leaving them off.

Bob Blair · Post by **Bob Blair** » 2 Oct 2011 1:25 pm

I recall reading that there was a period when Buddy was not using picks. Last time I saw him at the ISGC he was.

Doug Beaumier · Post by **Doug Beaumier** » 2 Oct 2011 1:28 pm

Buddy would occasionally play without fingerpicks, but he used them for most of his career, as far as I know. I heard him play once without picks at one of the PSGA shows about 20 years ago and he sounded awesome, as always. The magic was still there, picks or no picks.

John Turbeville · Post by **John Turbeville** » 2 Oct 2011 1:41 pm

It just surprised me that 2 such prominent players didnt wear them at least according to Bobby S. I thought that would be blasphemy!

I am mainly a Blues guitar (6 string) player and went without picks for about a year, what I found is that it made me a much better player....for what it worth. Finger picking loud overdriven blues is actually pretty fun!

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 2 Oct 2011 1:47 pm

Well, our Bobbe's not afraid of adding a little shock-value to those newsletters of his. They're entertaining, but I take some of the content with a large grain of salt, as the saying goes.

I hope he keeps 'em coming, though!

John Turbeville · Post by **John Turbeville** » 2 Oct 2011 1:51 pm

My favorite one, is where they are crusing from town to town/gig to gig in the 50's with the band in the car and the upright bass strapped on the top!

If he didn't admonish them a bit they wouldn't be as fun. I like it.....surfers call it "talking story" basically the truth with a little extra.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 2 Oct 2011 2:04 pm

Right - but I think the truth was that it was Bobbe strapped to the top....

chris ivey · Post by **chris ivey** » 2 Oct 2011 2:16 pm

the bottom line is the sound coming out of your speaker. however you get there is up to you.

John Turbeville · Post by **John Turbeville** » 2 Oct 2011 3:41 pm

one of my favorite quotes, I think its from keith richards "we make noise, and now were good at it"

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 11 Oct 2011 10:49 am

John Turbeville wrote:My favorite one, is where they are crusing from town to town/gig to gig in the 50's with the band in the car and the upright bass strapped on the top!

As the son of one badass bluegrass bassist (Tom Gray; got me cheap Dobro and steel lessons from that nice Auldridge chap, too: My Dobro is a graduation present from him and my folks), I know many of those stories are true.
George Shuffler tells of traveling with the Stanley Brothers when his bass blew off the roof.
Dad would use, when he could, his brother's 61 Impala, which could hold the bass in the trunk.

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 11 Oct 2011 11:06 am

When I go car shopping, and they offer to raise the hood, I tell them I want to look at the trunk first.

Not using finger picks is part of Bobbe's Atkins on a steel style. You need a bit of nail for it. I wonder if he uses nail hardener or acrylic to strengthen them.

It will change your technique, because you attack the string differently. But you will feel a real connection to the instrument.

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 11 Oct 2011 12:35 pm

Rich, dad used to shop for cars with all three kids and the bass. If we weren't comfortable after about an hour with the bass neck on our shoulders, we tried another wagon.

I sometimes play without fingerpicks, but I don't use the nail. I use the tips, the same bit that (on the left hand) guitarists fret with. I've always assumed that's the part the chicken pickers use. I get a good attack, surprisingly enough.
I usually hang iron, though (to borrow a trucker term)

Ron Pruter · Post by **Ron Pruter** » 11 Oct 2011 11:32 pm

I too played lead guitar with fingers(no Thumb pick also) I also play steel with no picks at all . It sure makes my blocking( Pick type blocking) much more effective. Alot more fat to hit the string. I add brightness by playing closer to the bridge. The attack definately suffers. RON

Clark Doughty · Post by **Clark Doughty** » 12 Oct 2011 6:13 am

If you look at Bobbe's fingers on some pictures of him on his website you'll see that his finger nails are longer than most picks we use....

Fred Glave · Post by **Fred Glave** » 12 Oct 2011 8:52 am

Players who use their finger(s)instead of picks develop callous' on their fingers just like the fingering hand of a six stringer. The callous will give a sharper brighter attack than a non-calloused finger, it just takes time to develop it. Lindsay Buckingham from Fleetwood Mac and Jeff Beck are two well know six string guitarist who get incredible tone and play with thumb and fingers. As far as steel guitarists, I'm not sure who all play without picks but I'm sure in the long run it's all just fine.

Rich Peterson · Post by **Rich Peterson** » 12 Oct 2011 10:56 am

Derek Trucks, also. Huge tone.

Atom Schmitt · Post by **Atom Schmitt** » 12 Oct 2011 12:47 pm

This is very interesting... I asked a local monster PSG player (Ken Wilson) about this before I got my PSG and he said I really should learn with picks. They don't bug me, and I can see where he was coming from as it's clearly the "standard" if there is one... but as an electric guitar player I do a hell of a lot of hybrid picking and it's much more natural for me not to have picks on those fingers. I kind of wonder if I should try putting picks on my middle and ring fingers rather than my index and middle fingers just to see if the pick blocking is any easier... those are my hybrid picking fingers after all and I've been developing that technique a whole lot longer.

Clete Ritta · Post by **Clete Ritta** » 12 Oct 2011 8:32 pm

I'd also add Mark Knopfler to the list of guitarists who play without a plectrum, and then add every classical guitarist you can think of. My left hand fingers are more calloused from playing guitar than the right, so the fingerpicks protect them a bit, but hybrid picking on guitar is popular in many different styles, and I love the sound of natural fingerpicking too. Its also easy to play 4 note chord grips without picks. Adding another fingerpick on the ring finger becomes a bit cumbersome. To pick or to pluck, that is the question.

Clete

Chris Brooks · Post by **Chris Brooks** » 14 Oct 2011 4:12 am

No pick(s)? Sure, I remember some guy from Indianapolis named Montgomery . . . .

Chris

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 14 Oct 2011 12:26 pm

The great Stephen Stills, too - no picks

I play often without. I like the feel much better than with; but in my case, it's a big challenge to speed pick without.

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Bobbie Seymour/Buddy Emmons dont use finger picks?

Bobbie Seymour/Buddy Emmons dont use finger picks?

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