Two fingers or Three?

Billy Wilson · Post by **Billy Wilson** » 14 Oct 2005 4:46 pm

3 fingers. I got the idea from Vance Terry along time ago. I feel naked without them now. My only regret is the added dificulty of doing harmonics with the knuckles or the fingernails of the right hand.

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 16 Oct 2005 4:45 pm

I remember seeing a video years back that had a steel player using a thumb pick, and two finger picks on middle and ring finger.

I remember thinking that was a strange setup, but it was certainly working for him. Seems like he was playing a Bigsby.

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John Drury
NTSGA #3

Len Amaral · Post by **Len Amaral** » 16 Oct 2005 6:53 pm

I use 3 finger picks and a thumb pick and play a U-12 guitar. When using the E9 side I usually use the thumb and 2 finger picks but on the B6 side I use all 4 picks for chords a differet phrasings and runs. Joe Wright was an influence to say the least.

Chuck Hall · Post by **Chuck Hall** » 17 Oct 2005 4:43 am

How easy is it to incorporate the ring finger into normal picking technique?

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 17 Oct 2005 7:41 am

I tried using a 3rd pick and found that merely having in on my ring finger threw off my sense of balance in my hand. I could not only play with the 3rd finger, I could no longer play with the other 2.

The irony is that when I play finger style guitar I don't use any picks, and I do occasionally pick with the 3rd finger.

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 17 Oct 2005 8:48 am

How easy is it to incorporate the ring finger into normal picking technique?

For me, it works better and easier for some things than others. The ring finger is not as naturally strong, at least on my fingers. I don't think it's so hard to learn to pinch wide chords and pick wide arpeggios at a reasonable tempo, but speed picking is harder. On guitar, I did learn to do some fairly fast banjo-style rolls with flatpick + middle/ring. I just don't want to give up that flatpick on guitar.

When I started with the fingerpick on the ring finger for guitar, I had to force myself to do it. But my fingernails are not strong, so it was important to get the clear articulation of rolls I was looking for. Therefore, I persisted. I just put the fingerpicks on whenever I played, whether I used them or not. After a few months, it felt OK. But James Burton gets by just fine with flatpick and middle finger only. Didn't seem to hurt him any. Technique is very personal.

Mark Lind-Hanson · Post by **Mark Lind-Hanson** » 17 Oct 2005 10:00 am

I have been doing something a little differently- while I use the 2 fingerpicks I have been using the third finger without a pick to add a little chordal strumming into what I do. While I am working on an inner map of the fretboard I have found that actually there would be times when using no picks at all would be fine, it is just a matter of adjusting the grips. So while I am using a third finger, I am not using a pick with it. I found just adding a little "wiggle" of the third finger helps while my thumb does a bass battern and the
first two fingers add the harmonic to the chord. Sometimes this is a little clumsy, but I think if I keep practicing with it
I might end up with my own way of picking it...

John Drury · Post by **John Drury** » 17 Oct 2005 4:16 pm

Mark,

Bobbe has been doing that for quite a few years now.

As long as I have known him he had always used thumb and three fingers but I very seldom see him wear picks on the fingers anymore, only the thumb.

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John Drury
NTSGA #3

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 17 Oct 2005 6:03 pm

I've been playing a long time with just 2 fingers and a thumb pick. On advice from a very good player I just stuck a 3rd pick on my ring finger and tried to forget about it. It actually worked !, I've only been doing it for a couple of weeks but I'm finding when I'm playing relaxed I can play 4 note chords fairly accurately, at least on the C neck. I really like that sound so I will continue to do so. After 25 yrs of never using the ring finger I'm pretty amazed I'm using it at all. I figured it would be easier to have a couple of teeth extracted.

Darvin Willhoite · Post by **Darvin Willhoite** » 17 Oct 2005 6:10 pm

When I started playing, I had no teacher to tell me how it was supposed to be done. I played guitar before I started on the steel, and used a thumb pick and three fingers. So, when I started playing steel it was just natural to use my thumb and three fingers. I mostly use the ring finger for the chromatic strings on E9th but occasionally use it for chords on both necks.

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Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording

Chuck Hall · Post by **Chuck Hall** » 18 Oct 2005 6:55 am

Wayne Cox · Post by **Wayne Cox** » 18 Oct 2005 9:00 pm

About 25 years ago, Tom Morrell explained it to me this way: basically he said that (all other things being equal) anytime you add another string to your steel, or another pick to your fingers, your over-all speed decreases, but your capability to play fuller/denser chords increases. I have always found this to be true. FWIW, you might say this is a good "rule of thumb".

~~W.C.~~

Chuck Hall · Post by **Chuck Hall** » 20 Oct 2005 4:57 am

James Cann · Post by **James Cann** » 20 Oct 2005 1:51 pm

Amen to it all! This issue is the same as the little finger one: extended or not.

Which works for whomever works whenever!

Klaus Caprani · Post by **Klaus Caprani** » 21 Oct 2005 1:38 am

Thumbpick, index and middle fingerpick for me.

I started out using a pick on my ringfinger as well, but skipped it after some time which actually helped my blocking-technique quite a bit.
Maybe I'll add the ringfinger pick again at some point, but right now I'm very comfortable with what I'm doing.

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Klaus Caprani

MCI RangeXpander S-10 3x4
www.klauscaprani.com

Miguel e Smith · Post by **Miguel e Smith** » 21 Oct 2005 9:46 am

Back in the 70's while I was doing my only regular club gig in Nashville, I decided to add the 3rd finger pick and just see what I could do. I did what several people have echo'd so far by just getting used to the thing being on that finger.

Over time I have used it primarily for playing 4-string chords and I've enjoyed the difference of not having to rake the strings to get a bigger chord or having to always strike the extra notes on another beat (and all of that is ok, I just like the option of doing both).

I've really not used that ring finger for single note things as it just never got that coordinated. I also will frequently slip that ring finger pick off so I can use that ring finger tip for harmonics. I've grown so used to it that I feel a bit naked without it.

But, as James Cann mentioned, it's whatever works for you.

Mike

Chuck Hall · Post by **Chuck Hall** » 25 Oct 2005 6:37 am

Saw Joe Wright this past Sat and noticed he uses thumb and three. Then again, I can't think as fast as he can pick. duh

John McGann · Post by **John McGann** » 25 Oct 2005 7:07 am

The ring finger is the weakest and most clumsy finger on your hand. It doesn't work well for fast picking and rolls. Also, having a pick on your ring finger makes harmonic chimes harder. So the extra pick is not all good.

This will be news to every classical and flamenco guitarist!

Not to mention Joe and Reece

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http://www.johnmcgann.com
Info for musicians, transcribers, technique tips and fun stuff. Joaquin Murphey transcription book, Rhythm Tuneup DVD and more...

[This message was edited by John McGann on 25 October 2005 at 08:08 AM.]

Chuck Hall · Post by **Chuck Hall** » 27 Oct 2005 4:41 am

Bob Snelgrove · Post by **Bob Snelgrove** » 27 Oct 2005 6:13 am

Larry Bell,

Paul F. uses 3 finger picks??

bob

Chuck Hall · Post by **Chuck Hall** » 6 Nov 2005 6:17 pm

The other night at a gig I decided to just use a thumb pick. I happenend to notice that I unconciously was using my ring finger to pick occasional notes but can't do it with a pick?

Go figure.