Would it be wrong to (playing without picks)

[David L. Donald]

I would say learn BOTH ways.
You lose some parts of tone without picks,
but you GET another tone without them.
It's best to learn all possible techniques for an instrument and then you have them to use as needed.
I started on Dobro, so I had little choice.. picks or shredded fingers.<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by David L. Donald on 23 June 2003 at 08:15 AM.]</p></FONT>

[BobG]

It took a little searching but here's someone else perspective on the subject.

Buddy Emmons
Member
Posts: 987
From: Hermitage, TN USA
Registered: AUG 98
posted 15 March 2000 09:30 AM
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Jeff,
If you find the right angle for your fingers, I don't see why you couldn't play without picks. I accidentally discovered the technique while experimenting with the Match-Bro sound without picks. In a week or so I acquired a slight callus on the tips of my fingers and found I was able to play in my normal way without pain or blisters. I also found that I had adjusted the fingers to where the tip of the nail caught the string.
In answer to your question as to whether it's a bad habit, I would say no, especially when you've spent 35 years developing a hand position that allows you to feel the strings with your finger tips. I played six months doing sessions and concerts without finger picks and totally forgot about them.

As for a difference in sound, guitarist Jimmy Capps and I were listening to a playback of the steel sound on a Step One session when Jimmy said, "I can't tell any difference." I couldn't either, so my "final answer" is, if it feels good, do it.




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Bob Grado, Williams D10 (lefty), Peavey 1000,
Profex ll.