Hey gang, I've been playing less than a year and haven't found a teacher in the area. I was just wondering if ya'll had any comments or suggestions on my finger picks as. I don't know if I'm wearing them correctly or if I could improve the fit ect..I'm using John Pearse Hi Riders. thanks so much.
Btw. I've been burning my eyes out at night reading hundreds of Q&As' on this site. I'm so thankful you guys are here. Jason Schofield
<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Jason Schofield on 13 December 2005 at 05:42 PM.]</p></FONT><font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Jason Schofield on 13 December 2005 at 09:50 PM.]</p></FONT>
Hard to see in this photo, but I'd say the metal is thicker than yours, and they have more of a curve. I like them the best.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Bill Moore on 13 December 2005 at 06:06 PM.]</p></FONT>
Very similar to the (Stevens) picks I use, except I wear them higher on the finger. My only suggestion would be to form the wrap a little better, as it looks like the top of the wrap isn't hugging your finger. But if they feel comfortable, and don't hinder you're pickin', more power to 'ya!
I tried the Pearse picks and thought they deadened the tone and sustain. There was a significant difference between those and the Dunlop's I use now. The Dunlops look like the silver picks in Bill's picture above. I wear them high (they're short so that's not real high) but wrap them real close around the end of my fingers so there's not too much pick sticking out beyond the fingers. I put a very small round piece of Velcro on the inside top where the metal comes together and they fit nice and snug. That's just my personal experience, I'm sure others may like the Pearse picks.
I find after dabbling with all kinds of picks that I like the Jeff Newman Picks the best.
Also -------my location ---might interest you...neighbor.
James
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1975 Sho~Bud Pro III Custom (8-7)
1981 Peavey Session 500
I'll put in another vote for the JF picks from Jeff Newman. You can order them on their website for something like $3-4 for two of them. www.jeffran.com
Another vote for Newman finger picks, but his thumb picks break to soon, you never know when they will break. Don Sulesky turned me on to some thumb picks, they are great, I have been using them for a year now, and still using the first one I put on, no sign of breaking yet.
I think finger picks are a matter of personal choice, many seem to use Dunlop. I put on Chet Gibsons and could not make a good sound on his fulawka, but he sounds great.
ernie
Another vote for the JF picks. I just ordered some more from Fran last week. They are the only picks I've found that I can put on for the first time and they feel comfortable without a bunch of modifications. I still have 3 pounds of the other brands in my seat case.
I guess I was more interested to see if I was wearing them correctly than what brand. I have some dunlops here that look very similar to the Newman's but they seem too short. I've tried them and my nail on my middle finger seems to keep catching the next string.
As a beginner, getting used to the finger picks has been one of the major challenges and i too was wondering exactly how they should sit on the finger (at first I had em on upside down!). Having watched the video that came with my guitar, a lap steel video by Cindy Cashdollar, and the dvd by Bruce Bouton, it seems that the length the picks extendsfrom your fingertips is a matter of personal preference...but all the players in those instructional videos had the picks closer to their fingertips than yours. So, coming from someonone with very little actual knowledge of the instrument, I'd say your picks are sticking out a bit too far...hehe...take that for what its worth coming from a total newb like myself.<font size="1" color="#8e236b"><p align="center">[This message was edited by Ben Jones on 14 December 2005 at 07:10 AM.]</p></FONT>
The length of projection past the fingertip, and the arc or curl shape, are kinda a matter of personal preference and comfort level.
Watching Jeff Newman's fingers on his videos, he had his projecting much farther from the finger tip, and with much more curl that I've been able to get used to.
I like my Kysers out on the ends of my fingers. I use the eyeglass nosepad cushions so they're very comfortable and don't slip at all. Also, I play 'Pinky under' and this bend fits perfectly.
I use Dunlops and have gone to very light ones (15's) and found them much more responsive and easier to control. I went that direction on Dobro a few years ago before playing steel, and tried heavier ones on steel - they feel and sound clunky.
I use thumb/2. On regular guitar I always used my ring finger (hybrid picking), but I can't get it to cooperate with a fingerpick on it.
You might try pushing them a little further onto your fingers, or pulling them out even further, or adding a bit of a twist, or straightening out the middle finger pick a bit and leaving the index pick as is, or any number of things, really.
You might try putting your hand "karate chop" style onto the strings, letting it relax and fall inward so that your outer pinky and ring knuckles touch the strings, then see how your picks would have to fit to maintain this "natural" hand position as much as possible.
You might try playing and really really focusing on your hand until you get a feel for how it moves when it picks the strings, then seeing what adjustments you can make to the picks to best accomodate that.
You might just let 'em be and adapt to the picks over time, only changing anything if you feel like you've encountered a problem that changing the picks around might help.
The goal, I think, should be to not have to work against your equipment. With that guiding principle in mind, you can do your own experimentation to find what works best for you.
Don't get too worked up over it though unless you find you're really fighting your picks—and if that happens you'll probably be able to determine what needs to change.
Thanks for all the feedback. I was looking thru my step-dads stuff and found a pair of JFs' They seem to fit nice and looks like the middle finger pick is twisted a little. I think I'll give em' a test drive.
I also found a Goodrich volume pedal at my mom's house. It's in excellent condition. Are these better than the Ernie Ball? My step-dad was using the Ernie Ball before he passed. thanks again!
