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Author Topic:  3 finger picks and E9
Jason Schofield

 

Post  Posted 9 Jan 2006 12:43 am    
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Not to beat a dead horse (I've read through all the old threads on 2 -vs-3)but was wondering if only using a S-10 E9 neck are 3 finger picks still useful? I know everyone says it's great for c6 and big chords ect.. BTW I just got Joe Wright's "My Approach to Psg" book and it's quite overwhelming. It's quite a lot to absorb for a beginner. WoW!!
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John Bechtel


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2006 1:17 am    
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As I mentioned in another thread on the same subject: I began using (3)-finger~picks back in the early ’50's when I got my 1st. 10-string guitar. (Eddie Alkire – EHArp) Because of the Chromatic~Tuning and the necessity to skip over certain strings to get proper grips, it was necessary and the instruction material included the use of (3) finger-picks! However, when I took up playing the PSG, it seemed to me that my playing was a little jumbled with too many notes! I gradually got away from the use of (3) finger-picks and my playing seemed to be a little cleaner. However, if you tend or want to play full~chords, other than struming, (3)-picks would seem like an asset. It will also aid in faster picking of single~notes to some extent. I don't think it matters much what tuning you are using, if you're careful. Also, the type/style of music you play would help to determine the necessity of using more than (2) finger-picks. Recently, since I got my new guitar and new setup; I've again tried using (3), but; I'm still not sure it's necessary! I'll have to continue longer with just (2) until I can actually decide if it's necessary. There are several well~known players here in Nashville who are now using (3) finger-picks on the SD–10 E9. And they're really putting out an interesting sound. So, in short I'd say, if it feels comfortable; go for it!
------------------
“Big John” Bechtel
’05 D–10 Derby – (6 & Cool
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment
Newest Steel

[This message was edited by John Bechtel on 09 January 2006 at 01:26 AM.]

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Michael Garnett

 

From:
Seattle, WA
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2006 7:53 am    
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What I've gotten from Joe's book so far is this:

Human beings get good at whatever they do over and over again.

If you start from the beginning with picks on 4 fingers, it'll just seem natural by the time your brain and fingers "get it."

Just my $0.02

-MG
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David Wren


From:
Placerville, California, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2006 10:25 am    
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I use my 3rd finger pick only for larger chords, usually by picking a triad with the fingers, and this allows me to use my thumb for interesting bass notes. I've NOT found it useful for speed picking (the little I do). I also only use plastic picks, except for Dobro. My $.03 :-)

With this said there's a boatload of great players out there that use only 2 finger picks, and this does leave your 3rd finger open for harmonics.



------------------
Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com


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Robert Porri

 

From:
Windsor, Connecticut, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2006 11:05 am    
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I like putting on the extra pick at times for playing fuller chords. I only use an E9 neck. I've only been playing PSG for a few years but have a fairly long background with guitar and music. Although I can figure chords out on my own, I want to mention that I bought this cool little Buddy Emmons E9 chord vocabulary lesson here on the Forum. I notice it is "out" now. Maybe bOb can get more? Whenever I'm using it for help with finding chords for "Real Book" jazz songs for instance, putting on the 3rd fingerpick helps a lot. The ring finger though, I also found this on classical guitar, is sort of a clutzy finger, and you have work at it if you're really going to use it. I also find at least for me on PSG, that the 3rd fingerpick wants to "catch" on the 2nd one so I often like using just 2.

As far as the main question about whether it is useful on an E9.... it is absolutely useful at times.

Joe Wright's instructional material is great also. I have several of his DVD's and his methods make a lot of sense.

Bob P.
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Bobby Lee


From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2006 11:13 am    
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I play with thumb and 3 finger picks. Four note grips are very useful on E9th, especially when the root tone is on the 9th string.

Most of the "commercial" country E9th stuff could probably be played with thumb and one finger. It seems that producers rarely want to hear 3 simultaneous notes from the steel guitar these days.

I'm only half joking.

------------------
Bobby Lee (a.k.a. b0b) - email: quasar@b0b.com - gigs - CDs, Open Hearts
Williams D-12 E9, C6add9, Sierra Olympic S-12 (F Diatonic)
Sierra Laptop S-8 (E6add9), Fender Stringmaster D-8 (E13, C6 or A6)   My Blog
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Mark Lind-Hanson


From:
Menlo Park, California, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2006 11:24 am    
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That is interesting b0b- I play with three picks but I do a little strumming at times with a third (unpicked) finger (or even the pinky). I often find that while knowledge of a proper 3 string grip is neccescary to play a lot of stuff, just the thumb/first finger DO suffice for a lot of melodic parts.
I wouldn't think I would feel qualified ewnough to talk about trends in producers with country music- only that, in my own development at this time, 2-3 picks (with the once in a while 3rd finger) has been getting me along
Then again, I'd LIKE to get to the point that all three cylinders fire simultaneously
on a regular basis! And at that point I would begin to study the 4-string grips.
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Bobby Lee


From:
Cloverdale, California, USA
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2006 12:16 pm    
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Joe Wright's "My Approach" courses are great for this, by the way. About once a month I sit down and spend a couple of hours going through the exercises. It sounds awful (I use headphones to avoid stirring up the natives), but it works wonders in my playing.

I started with 3 finger picks following Tom Bradshaw's advice 30 years ago. After a year of it, I thought "this is dumb - I never use that third fingerpick" and I took it off. I soon discovered that I was using it, without even thinking about it. I've been wearing it ever since (I take it off at night ).
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Dave Mudgett


From:
Central Pennsylvania and Gallatin, Tennessee
Post  Posted 9 Jan 2006 6:11 pm    
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I find it useful on E9 or the E9 side of a E9/B6 universal. I like it especially for arpeggios - e.g., strings 8, 6, 5, 4 or 6, 5, 4, 3. I also like it for really wide grips.

I started out with only two fingerpicks, but I use flatpick + 2 fingerpicks (M, R) for guitar anyway, so I'm used to the ring fingerpick. I just tried it one day, and liked it. I think a Bobbe Seymour video planted the seed.
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Dave Van Allen


From:
Doylestown, PA , US , Earth
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2006 6:27 am    
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I have played for about 33 years.. 25 of that on 10 string E9... after about the first two years I realized my right hand technique was poor and made a conscious effort to modify my technique. At the same time I decided to add another finger pick. After a few months of concentrating on hand position and blocking I realized I had almost unconsciously integrated the third pick into my playing .Not to say that I didn't work on grips and picking patterns, but it was all of a piece with the overhaul of my right hand approach.

The ring finger pick is an integral part of my playing, I use it constantly for two string grips with the index and middle finger, three note close spaced grips, wider separated grips, "spanning" the neck , intricate picking patterns on the top 5 strings...

I do not think you will regret starting early with more options

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Jason Schofield

 

Post  Posted 10 Jan 2006 6:59 am    
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Thanks for all the replys so far. I thought I was making some progress until I got Joe's book. Now it's back to the drawing board. I'm now using the 3rd finger pick and working on pick blocking. I feel like I just started from scratch again LOL. Sun is shining today in Detroit for the 2nd time in about 5 weeks. How do people live like this? I'm movin' back to Nashville!!
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David Wren


From:
Placerville, California, USA
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2006 9:16 am    
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My hat's off to you Jason, sounds like you intend to play this instrument come hell or high water. This gung ho attitude, and the advantage of today's great instructional material (i.e. Joe Wright's material) will have you showing us all up in a short time.

Keep us posted on your progress.



------------------
Dave Wren
'95Carter S12-E9/B6,7X7; Twin Session 500s; Hilton Pedal; Black Box
www.ameechapman.com


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Dave Grafe


From:
Hudson River Valley NY
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2006 10:44 am    
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I started with three fingers on my S10 E9 because that's what I was doing on 6-string guitar already and didn't have anybody to tell me what was "right" or "wrong" on PSG.

I use the ring finger to grab 1st or 2nd strings all the time and there's also plenty of opportunities to pull four string chords - 4+6+8+10 with pedals A+B going either up or down is one of my favorite big fat endings.

[This message was edited by Dave Grafe on 10 January 2006 at 10:46 AM.]

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Gordy Hall


From:
Fairfax, CA.
Post  Posted 10 Jan 2006 3:47 pm    
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On the 'four-finger' picking method--

I have a friend, Jose Neto, who is the guitar player for Steve Winwood. He learned guitar as a child in Brazil, classical nylon finger-picking, and his pinkie work is absolutely amazing. He can do 32nd notes with it while using the others to pick and fly.

I had to video it and slow it down to believe it, but he is evidence that one can use the pinkie with effectiveness.

Of course, being a PSG beginner, I have trouble with just my thumb!
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Charles Davidson

 

From:
Phenix City Alabama, USA
Post  Posted 11 Jan 2006 1:00 am    
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I started using a third pick on a whim a few months ago,now it does not feel right without it,also started using a metal thumb pick,I have a stool full of every thumbpick made,For me the metal one works best.
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John Bechtel


From:
Nashville, Tennessee, R.I.P.
Post  Posted 21 Jan 2006 10:01 pm    
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Since my last Reply of 01/09 I have fitted myself, once again; with a third finger~pick. (Oh! The pain!) I have even lightened the gauge from .025 of many years, to .018. (plain, of course!) Already (3)-finger~picks is beginning to feel quite natural and with my present setup quite necessary at times, as I expected it might be! Especially on my new C-Diatonic Pedal~Tuning! My challange now is to curl my pinky under, if I wish to use finger~harmonics! But, it will all come around with time and I have plenty of that on my hands!

------------------
“Big John”
a.k.a. {Keoni Nui}
’05 D–10 Derby
’65 Re-Issue Fender Twin–Reverb Custom™ 15”
Current Equipment

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Jason Schofield

 

Post  Posted 22 Jan 2006 12:28 am    
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I've been wearing the 3rd finger pick for a few weeks now. I find that I don't use it very often. I have to consciously think about using it most of the time. I'll stick with it for now and see what transpires.
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Donny Hinson

 

From:
Glen Burnie, Md. U.S.A.
Post  Posted 22 Jan 2006 5:40 am    
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Yes, it can be useful. But no, it's not necessary. (It's sorta like owning a pickup truck! )
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Darvin Willhoite


From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
Post  Posted 23 Jan 2006 7:17 am    
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Dave Grafe above expressed my sentiments exactly. I switched from 6 string to steel and I used that ring finger a lot on 6 string. I played steel without finger picks for two or three years, but decided since everyone else used picks, they must be needed. So I forced myself to learn to play with picks, and it was only natural to use three. I use the ring finger all the time for strings 1 & 2, which requires a lot less hand movement, and I occasionally use 4 string grips. Even when I play the Dobro, which is rarely, I have to have that third finger pick on or it just doesn't feel right.

------------------
Darvin Willhoite
Riva Ridge Recording


[This message was edited by Darvin Willhoite on 23 January 2006 at 07:18 AM.]

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