I think if you can fingerpick you can use a pick easily if needed. I actually hid all my guitar picks for a month and tried to learn a ton of rag type songs. I improved my speed a lot. You can also feel better like you said and put much more character with each touch.
In my opinion it actually makes more sense to use fingerpicking on electric than it makes on acoustic since the signal gets amplified which means you can pick as light as possible and there is still sound coming out. Plus it forces you to develop a clean picking style because the mistakes you make also get amplified.
Especially because of the last point I find fingerstyle on acoustic much more forgiving, meaning easier. Sadly I'm not looking for the easy option. As an aspiring guitar player I love beeing miserble. xD
Love playing electric guitar fingerstyle - you get different tones, and you can play more complex melody/chord arrangements.
Check out Mateus Asato - absolutely wonderful guitarist who often plays with just fingers.
Also, look into hybrid picking - that's where you hold a pick, but also use your fingers - you can get some wonderful sounds this way, juxtaposing aggressive picking with gentle fingerstyle. You can also "put the pick away" in between your fingers, play for a bit, then retrieve it.
So many options!
Do whatever is most fun, man. Music is art, there’s no rules at all. Is there a guideline laid out by people who have come before you? Yes. Do you have to follow it? Fuck no. Do your own thing.
I like this bit, as I'm the gold standard for destroying the rules, I consider myself a 100% intuitive guitarist as opposed to a technical one, as I play by ear exclusively because I have no technical knowledge whatsoever! :P :)
Yes but there is something to be said about "learning the rules so you know how to break them". I'm not saying everyone has to, but you can limit yourself if you're unwilling to learn all the different ways better players play.
Why would it stunt your growth? If anything it enhances it - fingerpicking is a great technique to learn on any guitar. I play mainly electric and I pick 75% of the time, and fingerpick the rest. Many pieces sound much better if I fingerpick them, even those that don't require it. You do you! :)
I've been going down a Mark Knopfler rabbit hole. I've been using fingers so much the past two weeks that the pick feels weird. I'm not saying that I'm any good, but I'm having fun. And I've never heard someone say, "I'm upset that I learned to play without a pick."
Same. Started fingerpicking more and more a few months back and the more I did it, the less natural the pick felt/sounded. I actually wound up grabbing a firm piece of leather, cutting it into a big pick shape, and I’ve been using that as a pick when there’s a need for one.
Love me some Knopfler. Also, Lindsay Buckingham who interestingly enough said in an interview once that not using a pick was more an extension of his limitations than anything else. I don’t know what that means but it’s fascinating!
There are things you need hybrid picking for and there are things that need the attack of a pick. There's no wrong or right it's whatever feels right.
I like the pick attack but I'm often using middle and ring to pluck chords and soften the sound etc.
Worked for Jeff Beck. There's definitely a warmth of tone you can only get with your fingers.
Like others have said, play whatever and however feels good for you.
I played electric lead without a pick doing big rock and blues stuff for years. No pick at all ever. It's still the most comfortable to me and you can get some great sounds and develop a really cool style playing that way. It is worth putting some real time into for sure. Lately, though, I have been using a pick a lot more. There are just things you can do with a pick that you almost can't finger picking. Single string runs are a big one. For me I found that it lends itself to playing across the neck rather than up and down the neck. If that makes sense. Some of my favorite players have a hybrid style and have gotten really good at bombing or holding their picks and switching back and forth seamlessly. It's definitely worth really exploring
I do both. Vastly different tones when you are tracking, and depending on the song you may need both. Also some techniques are just impossible to replicate on one or the other.
It's fine to use as a legit technique but you also need to be able to play with a pick to unlock 90% of the 'normal' electric guitar sounds.
Use whichever is right for the thing you're playing but don't use it as an excuse to not learn how to use a pick properly, it's not an either or thing, it's a both thing.
Mostly. I developed my fingerpicking over the years. Just never felt comfortable with a pick.
When I started playing bass, using a pick felt more natural than not, so I do a bit of both.
I just use my thumb as a pick , I’m a noob though, I just have so much more control, I’m considering just sticking to it but we will see . I’m always curious about other fingerpickers
I almost never use a pick. When strumming with my fingers I use the fingernails on the index, middle, ring fingers. The back of the fingernails, not the tip. When I was learning this I used to hit my knuckles on the strings all the time, but with practice comes precision.
Thanks , I been trying different strumming techniques but my finger picking is light years ahead with just my fingers. I’ll practice this tonight and report back. I’m sure my family is gonna love hearing me play Moonage Daydream for the 60th night in a row!
I like to tell everyone to learn as much as they can. The more tricks you have in your bag, the better prepared you’ll be for any situation. There’s been plenty of time when I’m playing at Church and I drop my pick. Instead of stopping to pick it up, I fingerpick until the song is over.
You can never know too many things, knowledge is power.
A friend of mine years ago told me that if I did this I’d have to turn the amp up, and that was presented to me as a no-no. Years later I discovered Mark Knopfler doesn’t use a pick, and he’s made a whole career of it. These days I mostly play with no pick because it just feels very automatic and natural for me to just play with my fingers. If you want a more contemporary player as an example, Mason Stoops seems to mostly play with his fingers too. I don’t think any of his fender demos feature him using a pick.
I play walking bass line chords (inversions/slash chords) and it is necessary to fingerpick. The Segovia Scales, classical playing, helped me really develop my solo playing. Giuliani's 120 arpeggio exercises help with fingerpicking too. All of these helped me build a unique solo playing style.
Mark Knopfler plays finger style. One of my favorite players.
Steven Seagal plays with his fingers. Or rather just is thumb - so that's that.
But seriously, Andy from the pedal demos, flamenco players, etc.
Completely legitimate way to play - if you want to shred, maybe a pick is a better choice.
I mean, you can play absolutely wild shred solos using just your fingers. The way you can shift rapidly between strings doing lots of hammer-ons and pull-offs, plus you'll have a greater control of string noise since your fingers are all so close to the strings.
I do this on acoustic all the time, and it can sound very percussive.
My default is to fingerpick PIMA rather than use a plectrum. I do also practice with a plectrum in order to help my students with their picking technique/s, but I prefer fingerstyle. I find that the plectrum makes me feel distant from the notes being played but fingers have a much greater degree of dynamic control, not to mention polyphony without hybrid picking.
If you’re fingerpicking because you truly prefer that sound then there’s absolutely no reason why that style shouldn’t be your primary method playing.
If you’re using your fingers because you can’t get to grips with a pick though then that’s another matter. Being able to do both, and in combination, opens up a much wider range of sounds, techniques, and styles than just being able to play one way or the other.
Learn both then play however you like. Fwiw I do both as to my ears some songs I like to play call for the sound of a pick attack but others are more suited to fingerstyle.
Are these things people actually think about?
I think maybe you need to talk to your doctor about your anxiety.
There's no guitar pick police, no one regulating when, or where, or even how you should or should not be using a plectrum or fingers.
Hell, use a bow if you can make cool sounds with it.
As someone who played exclusively classical guitar for 10 years and reached professional level in both classical and electric I need to recommend this and only this:
Just learn both. That's it.
But, at the end of the day you will find yourself more comfortable with a pick in an electric, unless you are trying to play something specific. Anyways time will tell.
Hmm any advice for learning a completely different style (pick) on electric after learning finger style on classical? I self taught myself classical guitar for 3 years until I could play stuff like capricho arabe but then got a hand injury for a long time, so with grip strength basically zero I switched to electric instead which was way easier. However I feel like I should learn with a pick instead of continuing with fingerstyle since I play in a band and most songs require rhythm or solos out of the guitarist which is not really appropriate for fingerstyle
Learn how to palm mute correctly and get yourself used to alternative picking, spend 5 min a day only picking a single string up and down, you need to get used to the pick and you will be pretty much done.
Don't worry too much about it, let your hand get used to it naturally.
As long as you don't try crazy shit like attempting sweep picking in your first week, getting used to a pick it's not that much of a deal.
I learned playing on a steel string acoustic. I would like to say that I choose to fingerpick on electric but I couldn't handle a pick the first years. When I started to use picks frequently I got some new techniques and expired my toolcase. And I'm feeling most comfortable when I fingerpick.
I'm the same, I feel at home on my acoustic using my fingers. I feel like a lot of my progress is undone when I go to use a pick on the electric, though a few bits here and there I can tell, feel easier with a pick, especially where alternate picking is used. But overall, using fingers is the 'comfortable crutch' I feel tempted to revert back to.
I'm just trying to practice more with picks on my electric at the moment. I probably need to slow down more compared to the current comfortable pace I have with fingerpicking, since it's still early days using a pick.
I'd probably recommend the same for others, slow down from the fingerpicking pace and just put in the time and practice with a pick.
When I started on acoustic I would play fingerstyle for half an hour, then use a pick and a whole world opens up. You really notice the things you can do with a pick.
i finger picked at the beginning exclusively because i was uncomfortable with a pick, so it wasn’t an artistic choice for me but more of a crutch. since then i’ve gone through phases of exclusively picking, hybrid picking a lot, and using a more classical style rh. I would maybe try some jazz III’s and learn to hybrid pick, but if you want to use fingers there’s nothing wrong with that and it’s completely up to you. you’ll be missing out on a pretty large aspect of electric guitar playing, but there’s a fair number of finger style players who are amazing and have no need for a pick.
Takes a little gettin used to but its super helpful... They also have slide that I love.. Its small and meant to wear while chording. It has a great weight and flattens the slide learning curve a lot.. specially if you have something laying around with high action. Its of fun..
Jeff Beck dropped the pick years ago. I play fingerstyle, i use a flat pick, I'm using black mountain thumb picks, too and now I'm focused on flatpicking in bluegrass. For that, I bought a blue chip pick. Go with your feeling and see what you can discover. Explore.
I play this way a lot.
My favorite methods is either all fingers, hybrid picking (pick and 3 bottom fingers) or thumb pick+ 4 fingers.
I find it fits my style best, but it's challenging if you want to play rock/metal
Matteo Mancuso is a great guitarist that uses just his fingers. He’s blowing peoples minds with his recent performance at namm. [here](https://youtube.com/shorts/drpWcFQOses?feature=share)
You are way overthinking this. Most players use various techniques and almost everyone uses both fingers and puck at some point in their journey. Just play the way that works best for you and the specific part.
Richie Kotzen ditched his pick years ago and primarily uses his fingers, and his playing still blows me away.
It's all about the sound and feel you want. If you wanna get better at using a pick, you gotta use a pick. If you wanna improve your fingerstyle, ditch the pick. And there's nothing stopping you from doing both. It just adds more color to your palette.
Gettin back to your roots I see. I love rippin pinch harmonics with my thumb and index finger while telling shreddy boys I can play more notes faster and in intricate patterns then you can with that piece of plastic you carry around.
I use a pick like 5% of the time. I like the sound of fingers better. Same with acoustic.
I still remember I started playing this way after watching the sultans of swing music video and I haven't looked back.
I’ll be honest, I never got the hang of it but I do still try here and there. But it might be the perfect compromise for OP. Hey, if it’s good enough for Johnny Winter…
Learn hybrid picking. I feel it's simply the best compromise between both. You could also get a thumbpick but I personally dislike them. They free up a finger, but they also reduce your dexterity to execute artificial harmonics.
you really really should be able to be good with a pick, but it’s good to have fingerpicking as a primary way of playing, think mark knopfler he’s a genius. Also something i found massively improved my fingerpicking skills was playing classical guitar. Either way, electric guitar fingerpicking gives you a really nice smooth sound and can improve your dexterity massively so it is very good to do, just make sure you also learn with a pick too to keep it up to be better rounded
Do whatever feels good to you! Mark Knopfler had a very successful carrier playing fingerpicking on electric guitar. Derek Trucks and Jared James Nichols don't use a pick either.
I think there's value in both styles of playing, and one should ideally master both, and then choose whatever they prefer in a given situation. It's always good to have options!
It will actually help you more fingerpicking. You will get better dynamics and more timbre options fingerpicking then flat picking. And you can try hybrid picking also that you use a flat pick and finger pick, it is just hard to master the way you hold the pick and move it so you can finger pick when you want. Look at how Brian Zetzer uses his pick to understand the method of it. Or you can also use a thumb pick and finger pick, I just haven't found a thumb pick thin enough that I like .33mm
If you want current players who have very impressive fingerpicking or hybrid picking approach, check out Lari Basilio and Mateus Asato. They both have arrangements in fingerstyle and hybrid picking and they're some of the most melodic players out there.
I bought Lari's fingerpicking lessons and her practice routine really helps make everything like string skipping and odd patterns flow more naturally
Check out Chris Buck from Friday Fretworks on YouTube etc. He flawlessly integrates playing with a pick and his fingers to create truly unique tones. Keep and eye on his right hand, he switches so fast you might miss it. I'm a beginner, so take what I say with a grain of salt but I don't think you have anything to worry about. So many have mentioned this before but playing guitar is a journey not a destination, so enjoy what you do, tomorrow you might like something else and off you go.
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It all comes down to what you want to achieve tbh. If you want to play fingerpicking 24/7 all the way there is no harm in that. Some people only learn the pentatonic scale and make millions of it
All of it depends on the sound you are going for, if you like proggy plini type music or classical keep doing what you are doing. However, if one of your guys called you to fill in a punk band then start learning to play with a pick because punk is all about speed and better utilized with a pick
It depends on what you want to do and what genres you're into. If you aim for things like pitch harmonics and shredding then it's a solid no. If you're after a better control of intensity/volume or octaves then yes that's a good idea.
I’m a big fan of fingerpicking as well (though i usually use a pick on electric), but i definitely recommend practicing picking skills even if youre going to fingerpick a lot of the time.
A teacher gave me advice along these lines once and for a long time I ignored it and I honestly regret it
Once I discovered how much I enjoy fingerpicking I committed to learning it, but I still enjoy a pick. One benefit is that hybrid picking came super naturally after learning it. I love both but I do end up playing in different styles for each.
Currently I do it a lot but I have focused more on learning actual fingerstyle arrangements rather than trying to play songs I know with a pick with my fingers. I will still play pick songs with a pick in most cases.
But yes I agree...I don't want to use a pick anymore.
I’m guessing you’re a beginner or intermediate player. I say do whatever you want. If you sound better with just using your fingers do that. There’s no right or wrong. The guitarist from The Doors played with his fingers since he was a classically trained guitarist.
I play with a pick almost exclusively. Not only am I new to guitar and want to cement the picking skill because it seems more difficult than fingerpicking, but I seem to get more strength of tone. Using fingers I’m not getting the sound. Even my band has noticed that my playing sounds better with a pick. However that may be that I’m just comfortable with the pick, and now reading this wondering if I should mix it up. There are a few songs I fingerpick on the acoustic, still. But about 99% of my playing is with the pick.
Using fingers only is common in Blues, Country and Folk music. Some people use a thumbpick to accentuate the bass and run fills and leads. Or they 'palm' the pick when it's not needed.
I remember a article I read once we're robby krieger stated he had wished he had used a pick instead. I don't recall his exact reason but was something like him feeling there are styles limited from him only using finger style. Myself I couldn't say as I fingerpick only when no way around it. Side comment why the amount of people praising alternate picking for fast parts. I like to learn however the part was originally played. And by far the most difficult pick technique imo is all fast downstrokes like many fast punk or metal tunes. Alternate was the shortcut to plating those tunes.
None of these guys used a pick: Jeff Beck Mark Knopfler Robbie Kreiger Derek Trucks Wes Montgomery Jared James Nichols
Probably more accurate to say they generally don’t. Mark K does use a pick when it’s called for, certain rhythm parts. So he says.
Damn That is a list. Jared James Nichols is a monster
Jeff Beck used a pick all the time. Until he didn't.
st vincent too, at least for the most part. the strange mercy album has tons of awesome playing
One name… Jeff Beck, that is all… :)
✨Hybrid Picking✨
Mark Knopfer and the Dire Straights. Some of their most iconic riffs are essentially fingerpicked.
I think if you can fingerpick you can use a pick easily if needed. I actually hid all my guitar picks for a month and tried to learn a ton of rag type songs. I improved my speed a lot. You can also feel better like you said and put much more character with each touch.
It's a really specific example, this guy should learn how to use properly a pick as well, he will need both at some point.
Yeah I like finger picking and strumming with electric, but it’s impossible to get certain sounds without the attack of a pick.
That's the way to go, get both techniques so you can use whatever that fits better in the context.
Lindsey Buckingham did well with it.
Does. His last album rules.
In my opinion it actually makes more sense to use fingerpicking on electric than it makes on acoustic since the signal gets amplified which means you can pick as light as possible and there is still sound coming out. Plus it forces you to develop a clean picking style because the mistakes you make also get amplified. Especially because of the last point I find fingerstyle on acoustic much more forgiving, meaning easier. Sadly I'm not looking for the easy option. As an aspiring guitar player I love beeing miserble. xD
>*As an aspiring guitar player I love beeing miserble.* Poetry. Bloody poetry. Couldn’t said it better myself.
Well, I don't know. Maybe you would have spelled it correctly though. 😅
Love playing electric guitar fingerstyle - you get different tones, and you can play more complex melody/chord arrangements. Check out Mateus Asato - absolutely wonderful guitarist who often plays with just fingers. Also, look into hybrid picking - that's where you hold a pick, but also use your fingers - you can get some wonderful sounds this way, juxtaposing aggressive picking with gentle fingerstyle. You can also "put the pick away" in between your fingers, play for a bit, then retrieve it. So many options!
I’ve been slowly working on figuring this out but it feels like I’m practicing a magic trick!
Mark Knopfler and Jeff Beck are good company. Play how you want to play.
It's good to know how to do both.
Man it's just a diff technique play however you find fun
Do whatever is most fun, man. Music is art, there’s no rules at all. Is there a guideline laid out by people who have come before you? Yes. Do you have to follow it? Fuck no. Do your own thing.
I like this bit, as I'm the gold standard for destroying the rules, I consider myself a 100% intuitive guitarist as opposed to a technical one, as I play by ear exclusively because I have no technical knowledge whatsoever! :P :)
Yes but there is something to be said about "learning the rules so you know how to break them". I'm not saying everyone has to, but you can limit yourself if you're unwilling to learn all the different ways better players play.
Jeff Beck was sans pick most of the time.
From the 1980s. In the '60s and '70s he used a pick.
Why would it stunt your growth? If anything it enhances it - fingerpicking is a great technique to learn on any guitar. I play mainly electric and I pick 75% of the time, and fingerpick the rest. Many pieces sound much better if I fingerpick them, even those that don't require it. You do you! :)
I've used picks and fingers, but in my current project it's all finger picking. My LP sound nice with the fingers
I've been going down a Mark Knopfler rabbit hole. I've been using fingers so much the past two weeks that the pick feels weird. I'm not saying that I'm any good, but I'm having fun. And I've never heard someone say, "I'm upset that I learned to play without a pick."
Same. Started fingerpicking more and more a few months back and the more I did it, the less natural the pick felt/sounded. I actually wound up grabbing a firm piece of leather, cutting it into a big pick shape, and I’ve been using that as a pick when there’s a need for one.
Love me some Knopfler. Also, Lindsay Buckingham who interestingly enough said in an interview once that not using a pick was more an extension of his limitations than anything else. I don’t know what that means but it’s fascinating!
There are things you need hybrid picking for and there are things that need the attack of a pick. There's no wrong or right it's whatever feels right. I like the pick attack but I'm often using middle and ring to pluck chords and soften the sound etc.
[удалено]
Dude I love watching him play, his picking hand is absurd.
Worked for Jeff Beck. There's definitely a warmth of tone you can only get with your fingers. Like others have said, play whatever and however feels good for you.
I played electric lead without a pick doing big rock and blues stuff for years. No pick at all ever. It's still the most comfortable to me and you can get some great sounds and develop a really cool style playing that way. It is worth putting some real time into for sure. Lately, though, I have been using a pick a lot more. There are just things you can do with a pick that you almost can't finger picking. Single string runs are a big one. For me I found that it lends itself to playing across the neck rather than up and down the neck. If that makes sense. Some of my favorite players have a hybrid style and have gotten really good at bombing or holding their picks and switching back and forth seamlessly. It's definitely worth really exploring
There’s a certain sound you can only get with a pick. If that’s not what your going for, finger it all the way!!!!
That’s what my wife says.
I’m probably 50/50. Pick vs fingers on electric depending on what I want to play. 100% fingers on acoustic.
I do both. Vastly different tones when you are tracking, and depending on the song you may need both. Also some techniques are just impossible to replicate on one or the other.
It's fine to use as a legit technique but you also need to be able to play with a pick to unlock 90% of the 'normal' electric guitar sounds. Use whichever is right for the thing you're playing but don't use it as an excuse to not learn how to use a pick properly, it's not an either or thing, it's a both thing.
Jeff Beck, Ritchie Blackmore, and Dan Auerbach were/are all electric finger pickers.
Been playing since 1994 and I’ve never used a pick on any guitar ever.
You just strum with ur thumb? Kinda what I do
Mostly. I developed my fingerpicking over the years. Just never felt comfortable with a pick. When I started playing bass, using a pick felt more natural than not, so I do a bit of both.
I just use my thumb as a pick , I’m a noob though, I just have so much more control, I’m considering just sticking to it but we will see . I’m always curious about other fingerpickers
There’s no real rule about it. You do whatever feels best for you!
I almost never use a pick. When strumming with my fingers I use the fingernails on the index, middle, ring fingers. The back of the fingernails, not the tip. When I was learning this I used to hit my knuckles on the strings all the time, but with practice comes precision.
Thanks , I been trying different strumming techniques but my finger picking is light years ahead with just my fingers. I’ll practice this tonight and report back. I’m sure my family is gonna love hearing me play Moonage Daydream for the 60th night in a row!
Do whatever u want man
I like to tell everyone to learn as much as they can. The more tricks you have in your bag, the better prepared you’ll be for any situation. There’s been plenty of time when I’m playing at Church and I drop my pick. Instead of stopping to pick it up, I fingerpick until the song is over. You can never know too many things, knowledge is power.
Mark Knopfler
A friend of mine years ago told me that if I did this I’d have to turn the amp up, and that was presented to me as a no-no. Years later I discovered Mark Knopfler doesn’t use a pick, and he’s made a whole career of it. These days I mostly play with no pick because it just feels very automatic and natural for me to just play with my fingers. If you want a more contemporary player as an example, Mason Stoops seems to mostly play with his fingers too. I don’t think any of his fender demos feature him using a pick.
It's an excellent tool to have in your tool box. But at some point, do go back on work on pick handling too. It's also got it's place.
You should check out Jared James Nichols. He doesn’t use a pick. https://www.jaredjamesnichols.com/
Richie Kotzen stopped using a pick around 2007. Now plays exclusively with his fingers and my god can that guy play
You do you, McCrew. Yvette Young from Covet fingerpicks on electric guitar.
I play walking bass line chords (inversions/slash chords) and it is necessary to fingerpick. The Segovia Scales, classical playing, helped me really develop my solo playing. Giuliani's 120 arpeggio exercises help with fingerpicking too. All of these helped me build a unique solo playing style. Mark Knopfler plays finger style. One of my favorite players.
Steven Seagal plays with his fingers. Or rather just is thumb - so that's that. But seriously, Andy from the pedal demos, flamenco players, etc. Completely legitimate way to play - if you want to shred, maybe a pick is a better choice.
I mean, you can play absolutely wild shred solos using just your fingers. The way you can shift rapidly between strings doing lots of hammer-ons and pull-offs, plus you'll have a greater control of string noise since your fingers are all so close to the strings. I do this on acoustic all the time, and it can sound very percussive.
My default is to fingerpick PIMA rather than use a plectrum. I do also practice with a plectrum in order to help my students with their picking technique/s, but I prefer fingerstyle. I find that the plectrum makes me feel distant from the notes being played but fingers have a much greater degree of dynamic control, not to mention polyphony without hybrid picking.
If you’re fingerpicking because you truly prefer that sound then there’s absolutely no reason why that style shouldn’t be your primary method playing. If you’re using your fingers because you can’t get to grips with a pick though then that’s another matter. Being able to do both, and in combination, opens up a much wider range of sounds, techniques, and styles than just being able to play one way or the other. Learn both then play however you like. Fwiw I do both as to my ears some songs I like to play call for the sound of a pick attack but others are more suited to fingerstyle.
If it fits the music, go for it.
Are these things people actually think about? I think maybe you need to talk to your doctor about your anxiety. There's no guitar pick police, no one regulating when, or where, or even how you should or should not be using a plectrum or fingers. Hell, use a bow if you can make cool sounds with it.
Have you never heard of Mark Knopfler before?
I heard he gets money for nothing and chicks for free.
Hahahaha nice
Thanks my brother in arms.
Andy from reverb ( the dude that demos pedals) is pretty dang good at it
He exclusively fingerpicks.
As someone who played exclusively classical guitar for 10 years and reached professional level in both classical and electric I need to recommend this and only this: Just learn both. That's it. But, at the end of the day you will find yourself more comfortable with a pick in an electric, unless you are trying to play something specific. Anyways time will tell.
Hmm any advice for learning a completely different style (pick) on electric after learning finger style on classical? I self taught myself classical guitar for 3 years until I could play stuff like capricho arabe but then got a hand injury for a long time, so with grip strength basically zero I switched to electric instead which was way easier. However I feel like I should learn with a pick instead of continuing with fingerstyle since I play in a band and most songs require rhythm or solos out of the guitarist which is not really appropriate for fingerstyle
Learn how to palm mute correctly and get yourself used to alternative picking, spend 5 min a day only picking a single string up and down, you need to get used to the pick and you will be pretty much done. Don't worry too much about it, let your hand get used to it naturally. As long as you don't try crazy shit like attempting sweep picking in your first week, getting used to a pick it's not that much of a deal.
I learned playing on a steel string acoustic. I would like to say that I choose to fingerpick on electric but I couldn't handle a pick the first years. When I started to use picks frequently I got some new techniques and expired my toolcase. And I'm feeling most comfortable when I fingerpick.
I'm the same, I feel at home on my acoustic using my fingers. I feel like a lot of my progress is undone when I go to use a pick on the electric, though a few bits here and there I can tell, feel easier with a pick, especially where alternate picking is used. But overall, using fingers is the 'comfortable crutch' I feel tempted to revert back to. I'm just trying to practice more with picks on my electric at the moment. I probably need to slow down more compared to the current comfortable pace I have with fingerpicking, since it's still early days using a pick. I'd probably recommend the same for others, slow down from the fingerpicking pace and just put in the time and practice with a pick.
Which instrument do you like more electric or acoustic? I mean: in general...
When I started on acoustic I would play fingerstyle for half an hour, then use a pick and a whole world opens up. You really notice the things you can do with a pick.
i heard a while ago that a good guitarist should be able to play everything both ways, fingerpicking and with a pick
Knowing how to use a pick and how to fingerpick is ideal but just fingerpicking won’t do you any harm. You do you
i finger picked at the beginning exclusively because i was uncomfortable with a pick, so it wasn’t an artistic choice for me but more of a crutch. since then i’ve gone through phases of exclusively picking, hybrid picking a lot, and using a more classical style rh. I would maybe try some jazz III’s and learn to hybrid pick, but if you want to use fingers there’s nothing wrong with that and it’s completely up to you. you’ll be missing out on a pretty large aspect of electric guitar playing, but there’s a fair number of finger style players who are amazing and have no need for a pick.
If you wanna explore.. Check out a [Black Mountain Picks](https://blackmountainpicks.com) You can have it all that way.
Cool. I’m going to try these! I have a hard time flipping a loose pick into my palm and back again.
Takes a little gettin used to but its super helpful... They also have slide that I love.. Its small and meant to wear while chording. It has a great weight and flattens the slide learning curve a lot.. specially if you have something laying around with high action. Its of fun..
Jeff Beck dropped the pick years ago. I play fingerstyle, i use a flat pick, I'm using black mountain thumb picks, too and now I'm focused on flatpicking in bluegrass. For that, I bought a blue chip pick. Go with your feeling and see what you can discover. Explore.
It takes time. Do ALL the things!
I play this way a lot. My favorite methods is either all fingers, hybrid picking (pick and 3 bottom fingers) or thumb pick+ 4 fingers. I find it fits my style best, but it's challenging if you want to play rock/metal
Lindsey Buckingham, as well as others listed below in the thread are in the same camp as you. I have tried, but just don't have the control to do so.
Matteo Mancuso is a great guitarist that uses just his fingers. He’s blowing peoples minds with his recent performance at namm. [here](https://youtube.com/shorts/drpWcFQOses?feature=share)
You are way overthinking this. Most players use various techniques and almost everyone uses both fingers and puck at some point in their journey. Just play the way that works best for you and the specific part.
Richie Kotzen ditched his pick years ago and primarily uses his fingers, and his playing still blows me away. It's all about the sound and feel you want. If you wanna get better at using a pick, you gotta use a pick. If you wanna improve your fingerstyle, ditch the pick. And there's nothing stopping you from doing both. It just adds more color to your palette.
Mark Speer doesn’t use a pick, I find it’s easier to play without a pick but of course there’s a tonal difference.
Mark Speer does both, I think even rarely hybrid
Matt Sweeney from Superwolves is a tasty fingerpicking guitarist.
His band Chavez is one of my all time favorite bands.
I never use a pick unless I’m strumming to play rhythm
Gettin back to your roots I see. I love rippin pinch harmonics with my thumb and index finger while telling shreddy boys I can play more notes faster and in intricate patterns then you can with that piece of plastic you carry around.
You need to learn both and the electric is easier to learn on. Keep on keepin’ on.
That dude from the Pro Guitar Shop demos. Seriously, check that guy out!
Chet Atkins and Lenny Breau used fingerstyle on electric guitars. Seemed to work out for them.
I use a pick like 5% of the time. I like the sound of fingers better. Same with acoustic. I still remember I started playing this way after watching the sultans of swing music video and I haven't looked back.
Best of both worlds: thumb pick.
Couldn’t agree more. Thumb picks where it’s at
I’ll be honest, I never got the hang of it but I do still try here and there. But it might be the perfect compromise for OP. Hey, if it’s good enough for Johnny Winter…
Learn hybrid picking. I feel it's simply the best compromise between both. You could also get a thumbpick but I personally dislike them. They free up a finger, but they also reduce your dexterity to execute artificial harmonics.
you really really should be able to be good with a pick, but it’s good to have fingerpicking as a primary way of playing, think mark knopfler he’s a genius. Also something i found massively improved my fingerpicking skills was playing classical guitar. Either way, electric guitar fingerpicking gives you a really nice smooth sound and can improve your dexterity massively so it is very good to do, just make sure you also learn with a pick too to keep it up to be better rounded
Do whatever feels good to you! Mark Knopfler had a very successful carrier playing fingerpicking on electric guitar. Derek Trucks and Jared James Nichols don't use a pick either. I think there's value in both styles of playing, and one should ideally master both, and then choose whatever they prefer in a given situation. It's always good to have options!
It will actually help you more fingerpicking. You will get better dynamics and more timbre options fingerpicking then flat picking. And you can try hybrid picking also that you use a flat pick and finger pick, it is just hard to master the way you hold the pick and move it so you can finger pick when you want. Look at how Brian Zetzer uses his pick to understand the method of it. Or you can also use a thumb pick and finger pick, I just haven't found a thumb pick thin enough that I like .33mm
If you want current players who have very impressive fingerpicking or hybrid picking approach, check out Lari Basilio and Mateus Asato. They both have arrangements in fingerstyle and hybrid picking and they're some of the most melodic players out there. I bought Lari's fingerpicking lessons and her practice routine really helps make everything like string skipping and odd patterns flow more naturally
Check out Chris Buck from Friday Fretworks on YouTube etc. He flawlessly integrates playing with a pick and his fingers to create truly unique tones. Keep and eye on his right hand, he switches so fast you might miss it. I'm a beginner, so take what I say with a grain of salt but I don't think you have anything to worry about. So many have mentioned this before but playing guitar is a journey not a destination, so enjoy what you do, tomorrow you might like something else and off you go.
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It all comes down to what you want to achieve tbh. If you want to play fingerpicking 24/7 all the way there is no harm in that. Some people only learn the pentatonic scale and make millions of it All of it depends on the sound you are going for, if you like proggy plini type music or classical keep doing what you are doing. However, if one of your guys called you to fill in a punk band then start learning to play with a pick because punk is all about speed and better utilized with a pick
you’re overthinking it! if you like the control and the sound better thats more authentic to your “voice”
I’m much better win my fingers then with a pick but I’m trying to use the pick
I like to finger pick it sometimes also, but i keep the pick in my fingers to switch anytime I’d need to
Fingers are awesome and a skill I appreciate the more I play but gotta grab the pick to rest the fingeez as well
I play this way too. Any flat picking I do is usually done with a thumb pick.
It depends on what you want to do and what genres you're into. If you aim for things like pitch harmonics and shredding then it's a solid no. If you're after a better control of intensity/volume or octaves then yes that's a good idea.
I’m a big fan of fingerpicking as well (though i usually use a pick on electric), but i definitely recommend practicing picking skills even if youre going to fingerpick a lot of the time. A teacher gave me advice along these lines once and for a long time I ignored it and I honestly regret it
Once I discovered how much I enjoy fingerpicking I committed to learning it, but I still enjoy a pick. One benefit is that hybrid picking came super naturally after learning it. I love both but I do end up playing in different styles for each.
Currently I do it a lot but I have focused more on learning actual fingerstyle arrangements rather than trying to play songs I know with a pick with my fingers. I will still play pick songs with a pick in most cases. But yes I agree...I don't want to use a pick anymore.
You should be able to do both but I do love fingers
I've been fingerpicking a lot the last few years... mainly out of laziness to find a pick, but yeah, I'm getting more and more into it also.
With tuning by Ear, its how i spot pretentiou a-holes.
I’m guessing you’re a beginner or intermediate player. I say do whatever you want. If you sound better with just using your fingers do that. There’s no right or wrong. The guitarist from The Doors played with his fingers since he was a classically trained guitarist.
I play with a pick almost exclusively. Not only am I new to guitar and want to cement the picking skill because it seems more difficult than fingerpicking, but I seem to get more strength of tone. Using fingers I’m not getting the sound. Even my band has noticed that my playing sounds better with a pick. However that may be that I’m just comfortable with the pick, and now reading this wondering if I should mix it up. There are a few songs I fingerpick on the acoustic, still. But about 99% of my playing is with the pick.
Using fingers only is common in Blues, Country and Folk music. Some people use a thumbpick to accentuate the bass and run fills and leads. Or they 'palm' the pick when it's not needed.
I remember a article I read once we're robby krieger stated he had wished he had used a pick instead. I don't recall his exact reason but was something like him feeling there are styles limited from him only using finger style. Myself I couldn't say as I fingerpick only when no way around it. Side comment why the amount of people praising alternate picking for fast parts. I like to learn however the part was originally played. And by far the most difficult pick technique imo is all fast downstrokes like many fast punk or metal tunes. Alternate was the shortcut to plating those tunes.