Fingerpicking

CliveE

I recognise that I'm probably the only person on this forum who doesn't know this, but is the only reason to use a pick to do with tone. I'm confused as to why you wouldn't use the thumb and free up another finger. Jeff Beck seems to do it quite effectively.

Goldrush

I think tone has a lot to do with the pick argument. I use the thumb so I can have all my fingers free and just grow my nails out a bit to get that pick tone.

weelie

For me it at least is very much due to the tone. and I hate "losing a finger". I realized many years ago that many of my favorite players mostly play pickless. But I think I need it, it gives a solid tight tone. Like the most telefied tone close to the bridge. Using nails on the picking fingers I never really focused on, never seemed that important to me... but I guess I just don't get it yet.

Currently I am in my thumbpick phase. Frees the fingers, sounds good to me. Fred Kelly (yellow) speed pick now. The problems with a thumbpick are: attack tends to be heavy all the time (this is the top worry for me!), up strokes can be more difficult, false harmonics are more difficult to do, lack of blood circulation to the finger.

But, well Jeff Beck is a genius, like was Snooks Eaglin, for example.