Flatpicking with a thumb pick?

[Jack is Awesome]

So i was practising today, doing some flatpicking excercises, just going over scales, and i was wondering whether this was really where i wanted to be going with my guitar playing, getting good with flatpicking...

 

Then i thought, how about I use my thumb pick to play single lines? It means then that i can switch between fingerpicking and flat picking really easily.

 

I was basically holding my index finger to my thumb in the same position as i would be holding a pick, however, instead of a pick a Thumb Pick was there. It seems to be the same position (Thumbs a bit straighter, but not by much). And with a bit of practice ill be playing as well with a thumb pick as i would a normal pick.

 

Howevere, i have some concerns, which is why im asking.. is it possible if i do this a lot ill completely screw up my thumb? Anything else i should be worried about/know?

 

Thanks.

[paganskins]

How about trying a hybrid pick like the bumblebee: http://www.fredkellyspicks.com/bumblebee.html

I think there are other takes on this out there, some time ago I did see a neoprene thimble which you could poke your choice of flatpick through and use as a thumbpick.

[Queequeg]

Lots of people do this, including Tommy Emmanuel.

disclaimer: he did show up here in Ann Arbor in February with a band-aid over his thumb and a box of band-aids on a bar stool on the stage, saying he had sliced it in his performance the previous night. But he's kind of a wild man and at one point was working his right hand; er... arm like Pete Townsend, windmill style.

[Cripes]

I've become accustomed to the Fred Kelly Fast Pik and Slick Pik thumbpicks made of Delrin plastic. They're easy on the thumb by contrast to their polycarbonate brethren. I have used them in the manner you describe but haven't become adept with the technique. I'm a newbie flatpicker and find the more flexible (.58mm) flatpicks best for me. The thumbpick is much stiffer than that.

[brahmz118]

I have chased after the combination of flatpicking + fingerpicking, but I've only ended up with compromises:

 

Thumbpick + bare fingers: not bad for lead lines, but tone from thumb overpowers bare fingers, can't strum upwards with thumbpick. In this scenario thumbpick sometimes breaks, unless it's metal.

 

Thumbpick + fingerpicks: lead lines need to be played with thumb-index alternation, can't grasp thumbpick due to slippery pick on index finger, still can't strum upwards with thumbpick.

 

Flatpick + bare fingers: can strum and play lead lines, but tone from flatpick overpowers bare fingers during fingerpicking, feels awkward.

 

Flatpick + fingerpicks on middle and ring fingers: still feels awkward never to use the index finger in fingerpicking.

 

Bare fingers: strumming sounds hazy, lead lines again need to played with some sort of finger alternation, not crisp.

 

I've tried some of the 'hybrid' picks, but they didn't make too much of a difference -- they still felt like thumbpicks if they wrapped around the thumb.

 

I know there are people who use some or all of the above techniques effectively. I'm still learning my way. I use them all with some competence, but as of yet they are still compromises which prevent me from accessing a great of technique in either flatpicking or fingerpicking.

[PAC]

I've been trying this with a Fred Kelly Speed Pick on single notes/lines and down strums. I'm working on the technique but my up strum is still not right.

[bigby]

It seems to me that you may be at an impasse I was once at...trying to decide which path to take (flatpicking vs. fingerpicking). Of course, you can work on both, but for me, I progress much faster putting my entire focus into one area.

 

At that time, I chose flatpicking. That was several years back..now coming around to the fingerpicking stuff again.

[Krash]

I'm unable to hold onto a regular flat pick for any length of time (bad hands), so I've gone thru many types of thumbpicks and ended up using these as a good general purpose pick -

 

 

It's basically a flat pick with a thumb loop, and plays like a regular pick. I used several Fred Kelly picks, and found them good for lead or bass lines, but they fit tight and are difficult to use for strumming. The delrin Slik Picks were probably the best for fingerpicking - they stay on without being held by a finger, the short blade allows a more natural thumbpicking motion, and the softer material doesn't produce a harsh, twangy tone like celluloid picks. It's an individual thing, but you can order a few of each from most vendors (www.elderly.com), and try 'em until you find one that works best for you.

[Bernie P.]

FWIW-I've been experimenting with all the possibilities as well. I've found that for me at least finger-picking seems to work best bare handed.Granted I lose the "crispness" but I have far better control and no discomfort. You can drive yourself batty with this stuff .

[DonK]

I'm unable to hold onto a regular flat pick for any length of time (bad hands), so I've gone thru many types of thumbpicks and ended up using these as a good general purpose pick - It's basically a flat pick with a thumb loop, and plays like a regular pick. I used several Fred Kelly picks, and found them good for lead or bass lines, but they fit tight and are difficult to use for strumming. The delrin Slik Picks were probably the best for fingerpicking - they stay on without being held by a finger, the short blade allows a more natural thumbpicking motion, and the softer material doesn't produce a harsh, twangy tone like celluloid picks. It's an individual thing, but you can order a few of each from most vendors ( www.elderly.com) , and try 'em until you find one that works best for you.

 

I use those now and then too, the heavy ones. I wish they made them in extra heavy. I feel that fast tremolo picking works better with a really stiff pick, and even the heavy Herco's are more like a Fender medium as far as flexing goes. Mostly on acoustic, though, I'm just thumb and fingers, or a Dunlop Ultex 1.14 that I use to flatpick and hybrid pick with.

[missedmyexit]

I'm unable to hold onto a regular flat pick for any length of time (bad hands), so I've gone thru many types of thumbpicks and ended up using these as a good general purpose pick - It's basically a flat pick with a thumb loop, and plays like a regular pick. I used several Fred Kelly picks, and found them good for lead or bass lines, but they fit tight and are difficult to use for strumming. The delrin Slik Picks were probably the best for fingerpicking - they stay on without being held by a finger, the short blade allows a more natural thumbpicking motion, and the softer material doesn't produce a harsh, twangy tone like celluloid picks. It's an individual thing, but you can order a few of each from most vendors ( www.elderly.com) , and try 'em until you find one that works best for you.

 

I picked these up a couple weeks ago on a whim I really like them. I tend to strum a little on the heavy side and have been known to drop pick mid song. This solves this problem and leaves the rest of my hand free.

[Hudman]

 

It seems to me that you may be at an impasse I was once at...trying to decide which path to take (flatpicking vs. fingerpicking). Of course, you can work on both, but for me, I progress much faster putting my entire focus into one area. At that time, I chose flatpicking. That was several years back..now coming around to the fingerpicking stuff again.

 

 

Me too.

 

I started off playing classic rock and metal.

 

I started playing fingerstyle almost 2 years ago. I can't use thumbpicks. I use my bare thumb and fingers.

 

I'm honest with myself about it. I will always be better with a pick.