Right hand and also fingerpicks

[Jerry Recktenwald]

I am having trouble fitting my national np2s finger picks. One day there fine the next loose.But before I forget I want to thank Jerry O for hie expert help with my knee levers and a big thanks for the VHS right hand alpha by Jeff Newman. I'm working at getting my right hand proper.any suggestions on making the finger picks fit my fingers better than keep re bending them everyday?

[Lane Gray]

1) Make sure you're not swapping index for middle.
2) try painting the inside scoop with clear nail polish,, it'll keep them from slipping.

[Jerry Recktenwald]

Lane I hurried and posted last night without searching for old post on finger picks. I saw where you have suggested [ like now] to use finger nail [polish. I will try that tonight. thanks Jerry

[Jerry Overstreet]

Hi Jerry. I'm glad you are finding the video helpful and I hope your guitar is still working fine and you are enjoying the experience.

Your body tissue will expand and contract throughout the day including your fingers, especially since you are a working man. Also certain health issues can cause changes.

There are a few things you can do. Use some shrink wrap on the rings of your picks or use something called Pick Stix or other commercially available products that are made for guitar players to put on the tips of the fingers to grip picks...or come by the house and harvest some pine tar off one of my white pines

That's what I do, but it can be messy and get places you don't want it if you're not careful.

Some people put saliva on their finger tips.

Any of these methods will help your fingers get a better grip on your picks.

Shrink wrap is pretty easy to do. You can pick some up for pretty cheap at Harbor Freight. A piece about 1/2"x 1/2" on ea. side of the ring will shrink down about right...or there are people here on the forum that sell the picks like this already wrapped.

[Erv Niehaus]

[Edward Rhea]

It seemed like it took forever to get my Nationals bent right, to fit my fingertips? Or maybe it was just getting used to wearing them? I don't have to use anything now, but tried several things as others have suggested. This instrument sure will teach you the value of patience...whether it's accessories, technique, playing or troubleshooting! All good advice and tips from these veterans.

[Ian Rae]

It seemed like it took forever to get my Nationals bent right.

Me too, but now they stay on all by themselves. My round-nosed pliers are my best friend. Also, the inside surface of the nickel silver seems to have become etched a bit (perspiration?) as time has passed, or just plain dirty, which seems to help.

[Erv Niehaus]

You can't beat spit!

[Andy DePaule]

1) Make sure you're not swapping index for middle.
2) try painting the inside scoop with clear nail polish,, it'll keep them from slipping.

Lane got it right... I also use Nationals because they stay on well.
I bend them very carefully with two pairs of needle nose pliers.
First I bend the wrap over part until they are the same and just the right angle. Then I bend the bands to fit each finger. I make them a little tight and they stay on.
At first they may hurt a little but you'll get adjusted to that the same way you got used to fingering your 6 string guitar.

[Erv Niehaus]

I really prefer the Dunlop finger picks for a couple of reasons.
For one, they come in different gauges, the lighter gauges are easier to shape to your fingers and,
secondly, they have wider, contoured bands that don't dig into your fingers.

[Andy DePaule]

So Erv likes Dunlop, How about this one?
Tom Bradshaw gave me two of these Dunlop picks engraved by Mr. Dunlop about 1979 or 80....
My son who is now 45 was playing soldiers with them back then and one went down the heating vent in the house. That was just a few months after I got it.
He didn't tell me until a few years ago. He felt bad because he remembered me looking everywhere for it back then.

Used it so long it finally split (Bottom Right Photo) and I had a jeweler weld it for me. Now I just save it, memorabilia.

[Erv Niehaus]

Andy,
I sure wouldn't mind owning a couple of them.

[Jerry Recktenwald]

WOW ! finger nail polish works great! After I believe that they are finally bent to my fingers.I also appliedc the finger nail polish to my thumb pick and 2 of my guitar picks so onward to practing [ getting my right hand right ]

[David Mason]

I'm quite convinced that if you're sitting in front of your steel, fiddling with picks, you're not practicing music. One fine solution is to have AT LEAST two sets of picks, so you can fiddle with one while watching TV, etc. When they get to fit better than the set of "Playing Picks", the pairs change place. I have also found that "ACRI" picks makes the entire issue moot. We Like Moot!

https://www.elderly.com/acri-fingerpick.htm

I still have to shorten the blades and re-curve the curve a bit.

[Bill Cunningham]

I really like the Show Case 1941's. They are very heavy gauge. Once they are adjusted they don't change. For me, heavy picks like the Show Case and JF's give a better tone than thinner gauge Dunlops, etc. FWIW, in another recent thread, Tommy White chimed in that he uses Show Case. YMMV.

As Erv said, a little spit keeps them in place for an entire hour set. Again, YMMV.

[Howard Steinberg]

A product called Tool Magic, that is supposed to be used for protecting tools by coating parts (ie. Jaws of pliers) works really well if you coat the band of a finger pick. It creates a thin, rubbery coating on the band that keeps the pick from moving or falling off. Costs $5.00, at Joann Fabrics. Enough to do a lifetime worth of picks.

[Charley Bond]

I'm quite convinced that if you're sitting in front of your steel, fiddling with picks, you're not practicing music. One fine solution is to have AT LEAST two sets of picks, so you can fiddle with one while watching TV, etc. When they get to fit better than the set of "Playing Picks", the pairs change place. I have also found that "ACRI" picks makes the entire issue moot. We Like Moot!

https://www.elderly.com/acri-fingerpick.htm

I still have to shorten the blades and re-curve the curve a bit.

I like the ACRI Picks, they are smooth where the pick touches your skin. At first they may seem bulky, but that goes away quickly. They are rounded where the pick strikes or plucks the strings,,,, great design.

[Tom Bradshaw]

Recently I was asked if I had any of Jeff Newman's finger picks. I didn't, but am wondering who might know if Jeff and Fran Newman's family retained or sold the remaining inventory that was left when Fran passed away? Perhaps there was a supply of those picks with all his teaching courses (???). ...Tom
P.S.: Back when I was playing, I had no problem keeping my Dunlop picks (which I preferred) on by using a non-slip product sold at bowling alleys for better grasping of a bowling ball!

[Bill L. Wilson]

These made out of silver, by Doyle Mitchell down in Texas, are the best and most comfortable picks I've ever had. And me being an old Texas boy, I Like'em.

[Fred Treece]

These made out of silver, by Doyle Mitchell down in Texas, are the best and most comfortable picks I've ever had. And me being an old Texas boy, I Like'em.]

Y'know what would be a hard state to do on a fingerpick like that? Hawaii.
Michigan too, if you included the upper peninsula.

[John Billings]

The ends of my fingers are now the shape of the same Dunlop picks I've used for 39 years!

[David Weisenthal]

I just emailed Melissa at Jefran this morning to ask if she has any finger picks left. I will update this page when I hear back from her. She responded very quickly to a question about her stock of Jefran's courses and costs....