Learn Different Ways of Finger Style

I have offered to help many guitarists to learn to use plastic finger picks when playing finger style guitar.   I've been told by many of them that when they are finger picking guitar they prefer not to use picks but to use only bare fingers and nails.   I think I've heard just about every possible reason why they don't like plastic picks.   However, I believe that contemporary guitarists who prefer to use only fingers and nails are the ones who have never overcome those first awkward feelings of using plastic finger picks.   Certainly the clear, crisp sound that finger picks produce COULD NOT be the objection!   Nor is it the volume that those picks produce a reason not to use them!  Think about this - you know it's possible to strum the guitar using just bare fingers and nails too.  Why is it that those same guitarists don't object to using a flat pick when strumming instead of just using bare fingers and nails?  You can get some great sounds strumming with just fingers and nails.  Flamingo guitarists can blow you away with their bare fingered strumming.  Some of those sounds they get are awesome and you could never ever get even close to that with a flat pick.  So why don't these people object to using a flat pick?  Why is that?  I'll tell you what I think.  I think the real reason they don't object to using a flat pick is that a flat pick is relatively easy to use.  So they have "no complaints about flat picks."  And so....... I believe the real reason they don’t like finger picks are because finger picks are TOO DIFFICULT FOR THEM to use.  Finger picks are too difficult for them only for one reason.  They have never done what it takes to use them.  Don't let that be true of you!  You would be missing out if you did!  

Yes, it is true that there are disadvantages to finger picks, but there are also disadvantages to nails as well. There are also advantages to finger picks over nails and there are advantages unique only to nails. So then why should you limit yourself to just only one way of finger picking? Why not learn to play both ways? "Variety is the spice of life and variety also adds life to music."  (Hay, I like that!  I just made that up!  Cool!  It's true too!  You can quote me on that if you like!)  Variation is the key point I've been stressing here.  Variety is a beautiful thing in music.  It is good to learn to do both.  Make it your goal then to learn to play the guitar using a variety of styles.  When learning finger style guitar, learn to use plastic finger picks right from the start.  Also learn to use bare fingers and nails.  If you learn finger picking using plastic picks you will find it easy to take the picks off and use bare fingers ands nails as discussed in the previous article.  I'm speaking solely from experience now.  I don't believe that using plastic finger picks is just a good idea for some people.  Rather, I believe it's the BEST way to learn for everyone interested in finger picking guitar.  I believe it is a must for any serious guitarist.  Especially is this true for professionals.