Using Finger
Picks
When you begin to learn finger style guitar, I
believe it is BEST (not the easiest) to learn using finger picks right from the
start. I teach my students to use three
finger picks and a thumb pick. This is
what I have been recommending to my students for years. Let me explain
why I do this! I have had countless guitarists who already play finger style
come to me and comment on the superior clean sound quality, clarity, speed and
consistency that I get with plastic picks compared to what they do without
picks and they say that they would like to learn to use picks too. That's
understandable, and so I'll offer to help them. I'll even go so far as to
shape for them some of my special custom finger picks (I discuss these custom picks later and how they can make
it a little easier to learn with.) and still many of them don't stay with it.
Why is that?
Well, I've asked them that very question. They
tell me the reason they give up using picks so quickly is that the picks, 'slow
them down', 'get in the way', or 'they make them feel clumsy', it's
'frustrating' or something along those lines. (There is more about this too, in the article "Pros and Cons of Nails and Plastic Finger
Picks") However, I have found in my experience is that when the student learns
finger style guitar while using finger picks, he is more likely to succeed in
using the picks. This is because when beginning, it's ALL NEW to the
student and the using the picks is just part of the learning process. Since
using picks has so many advantages, it's a shame that so many never actually
persevere long enough to get over those initial clumsy feelings and learn to
use them. So I teach my students to get over that "using plastic finger
picks hurdle" right from the start.
When you learn how to finger pick guitar using
plastic finger picks, you will be entering that new world of guitar
playing. You will be adding a lot of that "dimension"
and "appeal" to your guitar work that I've been talking about.
Finger picking that moves along rapidly comes at you so quickly that it makes
it difficult for the mind of the listener to keep up with all of what was just
heard. Its like what was that! Still, despite the speed, the mind is able to
comprehend that this music is orderly, very clear and very, very
clean -- More than any other style of guitar playing, finger style
guitar, done with plastic finger picks is captivating. When you learn
finger picking guitar, using finger picks, you will be able to do arrangements
that really stand out as different; arrangements that will grab
the attention of people and truly impress them! That is true for these two
simple reasons.
1. - Few people play finger style guitar using plastic finger
picks and even fewer do it well.
2. - The very nature of finger picking with finger picks -- Stands
out as different and it is captivating.
For example consider the song, Bob Dylans Dream.
It has been performed by many outstanding artists. It too is truly a
classic song and also one of my favorites.
Thats why I included it on my first CD, Relax and Reminisce.
It's track #13. Listen to my finger picking version, with its finger
picking guitar work that moves right along, and see if you do not agree that it
can make a difference in a song. All 14 songs in this album have
finger picking guitar work somewhere in each arrangement and all the finger
picking was done using plastic finger picks. In some songs the finger
picking was used as a back up for strumming. In other songs finger
picking guitar is the main stay.
I thank you for helping me when you
purchase my CDs. You see..... I need encouragement too! Please purchase CD by clicking here or on its title. It's one way you can SHOW your
appreciation for what I'm offering you free of charge! I explain
later the benefits that come simply by listening to others play.
Especially will you benefit from this particular CD because the different songs
on the album Relax
And Reminisce incorporate the picking
patterns that you can learn to play and are taught right here free
of charge on this website. If you master just a few of the basic
"Travis" style patterns taught here you can learn to finger pick most
of the songs on this CD. Also most of the songs on this CD are cover
songs and familiar to many people. By using this CD along with the lyrics and
chords page of this site you can learn to play them similar to the way I do.
You can order the CD along with TWO
sets of custom finger picks for only $22.
You save on the reduced combo
prices and no shipping cost. Please REMEMBER I would love you to buy and
listen to my CD's.
The point I'm making here is that,
there is a huge difference between finger picking guitar using finger picks,
compared to just using bare fingers and nails or relying solely on a flat pick.
I'll discuss using bare fingers and nails in the next articles but right
now as far as the flat pick goes, let me just say this. Actually there is
simply no way in the world that even the best guitarist can play with a flat
pick what can be done with finger picks. It just cannot be done!!!
Using a frat pick can produce some awesome sounds and any good guitarist
should know how to use one well. The fact is though - those who finger
pick guitar using plastic finger picks can duplicate just about anything done
with a flat pick. Plus they can also do much, much more than those limited to
just a flat pick, and they can do it much, much faster and much
cleaner too. Why? Because they have more picks on their hand --
four picks as compared to one flat pick! (This is the way I teach finger style
guitar - one thumb pick, and three clear plastic finger picks).
You can do the math - one flat pick
just doesn't add up!