Plectrums

Subject: Plectrums
From: Callie
Date: 20 Mar 00 - 10:53 PM

Can anyone help with this dilemma?

I usually pick guitar with fingers. Some songs requires some bits finger picked and then suddenly strummed (which require a plectrum). Anyone have any ideas about how to pick up/put down a plectrum without missing a beat?

--Callie

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 20 Mar 00 - 11:04 PM

There are some players capable of holding a plectrum with thumb and fore finger and using their other fingers separately.

I have seen people use a thumb pick as a plectrum and even know somebody who glues his favourie type of plectrum onto the stub of a thumb pick.

I dont know how effective these methods are but they have appeared to work for the people I have met using them. I tend to just bash strings with a Gibson Heavy pick and have never got into the finer points...

Jon

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: ddw
Date: 20 Mar 00 - 11:04 PM

Many years ago I had a partner who was one helluva flatpicker, but on occasion would throw in fingerpicking as well — without putting his flatpick down. He just held the pick and did the fingerpicking with his middle and ring fingers.

I've also seen people use thumb picks like flatpicks, tho' I've never been able to master that technique myself. I can come pretty close to replicating a flatpicker's pick and strum by sweeping down with the thumb and up with the index finger. Doesn't work too well for really fast flatpicking numbers, tho'.

cheers,

david

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: Mbo
Date: 20 Mar 00 - 11:55 PM

Callie, I'm working on the invention now! I know exaclty how it will work, now all I need is someone to support my idea...

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: BlueJay
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 12:09 AM

MBO- You're too late. In my local music store, I saw what looks like a flat pick crossed with a thumb pick. I didn't buy it, looks to me like it wouldn't be either a good thumb pick OR agood flat pick. But perhaps it has it's applications. Maybe you have something else in mind. Maybe a finger pick with a flat pick glued on the back! Late inventions are a bummer. My mom was making tomato cages years before they were marketed. Talk about kicking ourselves in the butt!

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: Mbo
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 12:24 AM

Ha! Not what I had in mind...my idea's safe..heh heh heh..

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: BlueJay
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 12:30 AM

Good for you, MBO. I wish you luck. Necessity is the mother of abberation, which may lead to a market niche!

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: rangeroger
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 12:56 AM

See also the thread "Thanks Mudcatters.Now about thumbpicks."
I finger picked for a long time without ever using any picks.Then I went to a thumbpick for the bass lines.When I was taking flatpicking lessons I went to either Gibson or Fender heavy mandolin picks held so just the tip of the pick extended beyond my finger tip.
I had a problem with the picks turning when really picking and strumming hard,so I went back to the thumbpick.
Now I never lose my pick,it always stays in the right orientation,and I can go back and forth between full strumming,fingerpicking,and flatpicking without missing a beat.(Most of the time)
I use the Golden Gate thumbpicks(see other thread) and when strumming or flatpicking will usually let my index fingernail brush the string first.( I hold my fingers as if holding a flatpick). rr

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: GUEST,Les B
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 01:55 AM

Callie - you may want to investigate "Carter" style picking which was popularized by Mother Maybelle Carter of the Carter Family in the late 1920's and 30's. She played the melody with her thumb (or sometimes a thumb pick) on the bass strings and scratched down with the back of her index fingernail (or perhaps with other fingers as well) and then back up with the fleshy part/s of the finger/s. This gave a bass-down-up or "Bum-tit-ty" rhythm which is useful for a lot of songs. This also allows you to switch from fingerpicking and back in an instant. (She also fingerpicked at times). This style requires growing your index fingernail out a bit to get a good strum, especially playing steel strings. The Lomax book "Folk Songs of North America" has a section in the back that explains this and other traditional folk styles in good detail.

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: Grab
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 07:32 AM

Re plectrums, has anyone got any advice on technique to avoid losing plectrums? I never got on with plectrums, simply bcos they slide around and slowly fall out of my grip (and generally land inside the guitar, which involves a bit of shaking to get it out again). I'm all self-taught, so is there some technique I'm missing? I find that if I grip the pleckie really hard so it doesn't fall out, my wrist tenses up, and then I can't play properly.

Grab.

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: Whistle Stop
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 08:04 AM

It may seem counterintuitive, but I generally have an easier time hanging onto the pick if I hold it more loosely, allowing it to flex a little with each strum. A tight grip coupled with a vigorous strum can knock the pick around quite a bit, because the impact of pick on string is all transferred back to where you're gripping it, rather than being allowed to dissipate. It's kind of like what drummers have to learn -- to let the stick bounce a little on impact, rather than trying to hold it rigid.

You can also try experimenting with some of the various picks that are manufactured with gripping surfaces -- Herco has been making these for years, and other companies have also gotten into the act. But I think my first suggestion is a better way to solve the problem; how you hold the pick is really the key, in my opinion. Good luck.

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: Midchuck
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 08:05 AM

"Re plectrums, has anyone got any advice on technique to avoid losing plectrums? I never got on with plectrums, simply bcos they slide around and slowly fall out of my grip..."

One possibility that has helped me in the past is to drill 3 or 4 little teeny holes in the pick near the middle, where you grip it. There are also various picks on the market that have lumps or ridges to help keep your grip on them.

There is also a product on the market called - I swear I am not making this up - "Gorilla Snot," which is simply a soft rosin that you put on your fingers, and is made more sticky by body heat. They sell it for hanging onto both picks and drumsticks.

By the way, shouldn't it be "plectra?"

Peter.

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: Mbo
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 08:10 AM

No, just picks! My picks have raised relief writing on them, so their easy to grasp. They're also only 10 cents, and VERY good, the best I've ever used, in fact.

--Mbo

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: GUEST,Neil Lowe
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 08:18 AM

Grab - they make plectrums now which have so-called "sure-grip" surfaces. I don't have any experience with them, so I can't comment on how well they work. Also there are plectrum models that fit around your finger, "scientifically" designed so that it is always the correct distance from your finger to the string, etc. etc. Again, I can't comment, but I admit I'm curious. These picks are available through on-line music stores and music warehouses, and should be available at any well-stocked "real life" music store.

Regards, Neil

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: Callie
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 09:34 AM

Thanks very much folks. I'm going to visit my local guitar shop tomorrow and investigate the possibilities you've posted. I appreciate all your input.

Lawdy lawdy - the pedant in me must have been 'distrait' when I named the thread.

Mbo - can't wait to see what you come up with!! (distant sounds of test-tubes clanging and sawing & hammering).

On the subject of losing picks/plectra: I lose 'em by the dozens, but the one I've had since I was 10 - it just never gets lost! It always ends up in the case through no special effort on my part.

Thanks a strum everyone

--Callie

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: Fortunato
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 10:33 AM

Callie. A useful technique is that of learning to hold a flat pick with thumb and forefinger, and finger pick with the 2nd and 3rd fingers of the right hand. I recommend a Fender medium pick and Dunlop brass fingerpicks. I taught it to my 20yr old son this way: 1) First practice an alternating bass with the flat pick while changing chords in songs you know. 2) Next add the 3rd finger first as a pinch (say the 5th and 3rd string in the C chord)with the flat pick. 3) Next use the 3rd finger independently, looking for melody notes for your song, or simply think simple arpeggio. 4) Next use the flat pick and the 3rd finger in a pinch, and sound any note with the 4th finger. 5)Last, 3rd and 4th pick up pinches and individual notes. And so on until you are finger picking using a flat pick instead of a thumbpick. Practice it and you'll scare the living bejesus out of a whole lot of folks! My son uses it to play double and triple his notes and play thirds in blues runs on his Stratocaster. He could Travis pick before, so he had an advantage, but I believe you can do it! Let me know if it works for you. Regards, Fortunato

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: RichM
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 11:25 AM

Whistle Stop has some great advice about holding a pick. :hold it a bit loosely,allowing it to flex a little with each strum. I use Dunlop 500's which is a very smooth plastic, because I like the sound of it on guitar. It's a standard teardrop shape, but I always use the SIDE of the pick. I unconsciously learned this many years ago; playing hard in bluegrass would cause the pick to slip around in my grip. Since then I find picks don't slip for me if I play this way. But I also let the pick flex as Whistle Stop does--this doesn't mean the pick isn't in control-it is!

I also fingerpick some parts of my tunes, or accompaniment to singers. I do this while holding the flatpick as I described, and use my middle and ring fingers. The pick performs the "thumb" function. In this way, I am always ready to flatpick OR fingerpick, without missing a beat.

Some people use "Gorilla Snot" to keep the pick from slipping. And there is a pick made by George Dennis, with fantastic gripping power. It's like holding sandpaper. I find it too tenacious, but others might like it.

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: GUEST,Frank Hamilton
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 12:18 PM

To keep from losing a pick or having it turn when sweaty, take a piece of adhesive tape, fold it in on itself so the sticky sides adhere to both sides of the pick. A little piece will do the trick.

Frank

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: Callie
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 06:08 PM

Fortunato: thanks for the advice. I'll try it our today!

BTW: Don't you think it's hilarious that 'gorilla snot' has entered our vocab without anyone batting an eyelid?

--Callie

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 07:46 PM

When I have had problems with my plectrums slipping, I have just lightly rubbed them with a bit of sandpaper. If I get this problem, it is normaly playing in a warm pub when my hands are sweaty and I use the edge of a matchbox.

Jon

Subject: RE: Plectrums
From: DonMeixner
Date: 21 Mar 00 - 08:15 PM

I use the white Dunlop Tortex picks. They come to a very sharp point and are about as thick as a quarter, American, not the Canadian kind which we all know is 40% thinner. These picks are very fast picks and the Tortex doesn't tend to twist in your fingers.

I have a friend who uses the Flat pick and finger style combo all the time and he is very good. But so is Glenn Campbell whom he learned the style from. Its versitile if you can do it. I never caught the nack of it tho'

Don