3 finger picks or 4. Jeff newman or Joe Wright

[Bill McCloskey]

So, I've been studying both Jeff Newman's speed picking course and Joe Wright's methods. These two methods seem diametrically opposed. Jeff Newman favors 3 picks, and really 2 picks in that he uses the Thumb and Middle fingers almost exclusively when speed picking. Joe Wright, who is certainly no slouch when it comes to speed picking, favors 4 finger picks, all on the strings and working independently. Jeff Newman teaches a right hand that is leans to the right with the edge of your palm on the strings and your forefinger knuckle up high, almost like a karate chop with palm blocking emphasized. Joe Wright seems to favor a flat hand approach and pick blocking emphasized.

So which should we practice and which do YOU practice.

[Doug Taylor]

I have been all around the block on this Bill. I started out watching Jeff’s videos and trying to palm block. During Covid I took Skype lessons with Joe and I practiced his 32 moves and pick blocking for months.

Last year I took some lessons from Elizabeth Day Lawerence and she encouraged me to go back to thumb middle and palm blocking so I practiced with Jeff Newmans Right Hand Alpha for months.

I am now faster and cleaner with 2 fingers than I was with 3. But I still pick block dome things!

In the end everyone’s hand is different and you have to do what works for you.

[Bill McCloskey]

Now that is interesting. Did you ever use four picks or did you stick with three? I'm fairly use to 4 picks after playing eharp, so I like that aspect of Joes methods.

[Doug Taylor]

Joe encouraged me to use 4 but I never could get comfortable with that extra pick.

[Bill McCloskey]

how was he as a one on one teacher?

[Doug Taylor]

I will send you a PM Bill

[Bill McCloskey]

I think key to Joe's method is that 4th pick for sure

[Ian Rae]

I have always used four picks, but I mostly use thumb and middle. I use a mixture of palm- and pick-blocking, depending on what I need to play. I'm not sure you have to keep to one school. I can't do all the things the great players do, but I copy what I can use.
Right Hand Alpha will give you basic clean technique. Joe Wright is more intellectual.