Jump to content
Please note: You can easily log in to MPN using your Facebook account!

thumb picks - how does your's fit?


caprae

Recommended Posts

Bluesape, Lee, et al.,

 

How do you select a thumb pick that fits you? What are your favorite brands, styles, thicknesses? Do you use it like a regular pick (holding it with your first finger) or does it stay in place on its own? Do you trade back and forth with a standard pick while playing live?

Raise your children and spoil your grandchildren. Spoil your children and raise your grandchildren.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 9
  • Created
  • Last Reply
Great question! I use only white National brand thumb picks, heavey white with the gold lettering. I use it only on certain songs that require some constant downstrokes with upstrokes on the 2,3 and 4. I use it always on Dobro and hold it pretty much like a standard pick, I don't switch between flat and thumb picks within the same song. I do modify my Nationals to be very short (about less than 1/4 of a inch) sticking down past the side of my thumb, I guess it would be someting like 1/8 of an inch. I also sand a slight taper using a fine wet/dry sanding papaer two way taped to a wood block.. the taper starts where the flat part of the pick starts and is thinner towards the tip, so heavy at the top and thinner where the pick meets the string. This way I get the heavy and strong feel at the base of the pick near the thumb and the thinner element with more control and feedback from the stings at the tip. Most of my playing is done with flatpick or NO pick. The fit as far as the wrap around your thumb should be firm but not so much as to turn your thumb tip white or red, there should be good circulation of blood to the tip of the thumb,yes you can expand the pick and open it up abit, but the way to tell is to buy a medium and large pick and wear it around for a couple of hours and see how your thumb feel after a long time wearing it, it should STILL be very comfortable.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Excellent information, Lee, and a "well, duh" moment at the end of your post. I would not have thought of just wearing one around for a while and see how it feels. Kind of like a pair of shoes - either it fits or it doesn't. I've never given them a chance because they always felt like they were choking my thumb. I also would not have thought of filing one down. I've seen the aLaska finger picks and they recommend clipping and filing them.

 

I did figure you couldn't change during a song, but it sounds like you definately change between songs depending on the playing style needed.

 

I always appreciate your wealth of information and experience. Thank you, my friend.

Raise your children and spoil your grandchildren. Spoil your children and raise your grandchildren.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No problem Caprae! anytime I can help I sure will. Reif can give some insight too, he uses them all the time and evolved his style around using them, like Johnny Winter did on electric, they are a different animal and actually most guys who use them do use a bit heavier gage strings than I do, but on Dobro they are the only way I've found to get authentic delta sound. I think you will like using them it's just another technique to develope a little.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used to use only the white Nationals like Lee uses, and I used to clip and file them as well. One problem with that brand: THEY BREAK A LOT!! :mad: I now use Dunlops. I tend to only find the tortoise ones, but they last for years! I have a white Dunlop on my Ovation that's gotta be 10 yeas old! Perhaps my extemely light strings prolong their longevity. I use 10s on my acoustics and 8s on my electrics. I used to use 6s and 7s, but they don't come in sets and they break constantly. I hardly ever break strings now, and I attribute it to a lighter attack from the thumbpick. I was always dropping flatpicks - still do when I attempt to use one. I'm a bit klutzy and even manage to drop thumbpicks on occasion, and have learned to get by with no pick if need be. My speed is impacted, especially for trills, but otherwise I'm fine. I don't generally use my index finger to anchor it, and my picking is articulated by my thumb rather than my wrist, allowing me to pluck with my fingers. This has evolved into an accurate and really fast technique, however unconventional.
Never a DUH! moment! Well, almost never. OK, OK! Sometimes never!
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've always wanted to be able to use a thumbpick but never have gotten along with them. I tend to pick more perpendicular to the strings than the conventional way, instead of the thumb clearing the other fingers mine kind of crosses past the inside of the index finger. I know classical technique doesn't really encourage this but for me its a necessity. My thumbs are double jointed so the traditional extended thumb position puts mine right in that spot where it wants to go either way so I have no real control over it. So I guess its no Chey Atkins style for me :(
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks for the great advice, guys. I'm going to have to look for some next time I'm in the local shop...hmmmm, good excuse to get some new strings.
Raise your children and spoil your grandchildren. Spoil your children and raise your grandchildren.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...