Fingerpick/Flatpick Switch

[BradPA77]

I just watched a video of John Mayer playing acoustic guitar and I noticed something really cool. He was fingerpicking and then the next time I looked at his strumming hand, viola, he was using a pick. What the heck is that?! I didn't hear any break in the music or anything. He just magically went from fingerpicking to using a pick. I'd love to know how to do that. Hopefully this wasn't just some cheap camera trick.

 

Does anyone know any tricks on how to switch from picking to fingerpicking in the middle of a song without a break in the action?

 

Brad

 

[badtzwang]

The trick is to palm the pick in your right hand .... and when it comes time to use it slide it down with your middle finger and grasp on to it. It takes some practice .... but nothing too hard i dont think.

[BradPA77]

Originally posted by badtzwang The trick is to palm the pick in your right hand .... and when it comes time to use it slide it down with your middle finger and grasp on to it. It takes some practice .... but nothing too hard i dont think.

 

 

That sounds pretty hard. I'm having a hard time picturing it too. Do you know any websites that might show that technique with some pictures?

 

Brad

[DonK]

A lotta guys regularly palm their pick, including me, but he one that does it best IMO is Brian Setzer. I watched him on a Hot Licks video where he explained how he does it. He doesn't actually palm it, as that term is normally understood, he simply tucks it in the fold of his index finger, so he can tuck it and untuck it at will, kind of like flicking it up and down. He can play three notes with the pick, flick it, play three more with his thumb and fingers, and then flick back to the pick, all at lightning speed.

[kwakatak]

The way I see it, you have to kind of cup your palm to hold the pick while you're not using it.

[jackwr]

Originally posted by DonK A lotta guys regularly palm their pick, including me, but he one that does it best IMO is Brian Setzer. I watched him on a Hot Licks video where he explained how he does it. He doesn't actually palm it, as that term is normally understood, he simply tucks it in the fold of his index finger, so he can tuck it and untuck it at will, kind of like flicking it up and down. He can play three notes with the pick, flick it, play three more with his thumb and fingers, and then flick back to the pick, all at lightning speed.

Does that mean he finger picks without the index finger?

 

 

 

 

The Penn and Teller method of EZ play

[Stophe88]

or there's the pick tuck, where you bend your pointer finger to hold the pick and use the other fingers... hard to get used to though
edit: and that's why i should read before i post... never hurts to echo someone though, just gives you twice the reason to listen

[DonK]

Originally posted by jackwr Does that mean he finger picks without the index finger? The Penn and Teller method of EZ play

 

 

Yep, he uses his thumb, middle and ring fingers, but his ability to flip back and forth is amazing.

[jackwr]

Originally posted by DonK Yep, he uses his thumb, middle and ring fingers, but his ability to flip back and forth is amazing.

Thanks Donk, now I got something new to try.

[Stophe88]

my first/only guitar teacher used to talk about pick tucking shootouts

[kwakatak]

Originally posted by DonK A lotta guys regularly palm their pick, including me, but he one that does it best IMO is Brian Setzer. I watched him on a Hot Licks video where he explained how he does it. He doesn't actually palm it, as that term is normally understood, he simply tucks it in the fold of his index finger, so he can tuck it and untuck it at will, kind of like flicking it up and down. He can play three notes with the pick, flick it, play three more with his thumb and fingers, and then flick back to the pick, all at lightning speed.

 

 

A lot of people use only their index and middle fingers to fingerpick, so a good alternative would be to tuck the pick in the crook of the ring finger instead.

[jackwr]

Originally posted by kwakatak A lot of people use only their index and middle fingers to fingerpick, so a good alternative would be to tuck the pick in the crook of the ring finger instead.

That's why I questioned Donk. I usually finger pick with 3 + thumb, sometime post pinky. The only way it made sense to me was to tuck index cause the pick is already in position that way. Wasn't sure if I could get it far enough out of the way though. Will have to wait to see. Don't want to wake the house now. **as he goes searching for his gorrilla snot**

:bor: nighty night

[DonK]

Originally posted by jackwr That's why I questioned Donk. I usually finger pick with 3 + thumb, sometime post pinky. The only way it made sense to me was to tuck index cause the pick is already in position that way. Wasn't sure if I could get it far enough out of the way though. Will have to wait to see. Don't want to wake the house now. **as he goes searching for his gorrilla snot** :bor: nighty night

If I had that Hot Licks video on DVD I'd post a clip, but it's on VHS and thus a pain. Maybe I'll try anyway...it's really cool how he does it.

[Steverino]

My fingerpicking is limited to mostly my thumb, index and middle. When I've had to tuck the pick, I do it like Setzer, except I tuck it into my middle and use my thumb and index. I've gotten pretty good at "the switch", the trick is to make it flow naturally, with lots of practice.

[DonK]

Originally posted by Steverino My fingerpicking is limited to mostly my thumb, index and middle. When I've had to tuck the pick, I do it like Setzer, except I tuck it into my middle and use my thumb and index. I've gotten pretty good at "the switch", the trick is to make it flow naturally, with lots of practice.

Steverino, my curiosity is killing me...do you mind sharing who that is in your avatar. It looks a bit like Alison Kraus...

[Steverino]

Originally posted by DonK Steverino, my curiosity is killing me...do you mind sharing who that is in your avatar. It looks a bit like Alison Kraus...

It is.

I love her:love:

[DonK]

Originally posted by Steverino It is. I love her:love:

Yep, she's awesome. I love the Live CD, have the DVD as well.

[Rada]

Well, what I've seen John Mayer do and what I do is place the pick between my index and middle finger.....

I'll try to find some photos

[Cldplytkmn]

i generally just hold it between my ring finger and pinky, the only thing difficult about it is getting it to the picking position without dropping it... after a while its second nature though

[JasmineTea]

Interesting. I don't tuck at all. Instead, I hold the pick as normal, and if I want to fingerpick, I use the other three fingers and the pick. When I fingerpick without a pick, I use all four fingers and thumb, so adding the pick is like subtracting a finger. Sort of.

[DenverDave]

When I fingerpick, I always use the thumb and index, middle and ring fingers, so I've never managed to master the pick tucking thing. Too uncooridinated I guess. What I usually do is to just put the pick in my mouth while I am fingerpicking if I am switching back and forth inside the same song. I've gotten pretty darn quick so that I rarely miss a beat

[rhat]

Originally posted by DenverDave When I fingerpick, I always use the thumb and index, middle and ring fingers, so I've never managed to master the pick tucking thing. Too uncooridinated I guess. What I usually do is to just put the pick in my mouth while I am fingerpicking if I am switching back and forth inside the same song. I've gotten pretty darn quick so that I rarely miss a beat

 

 

 

ever try a thumb pick ? I like herco's rat

[Blackwatch]

Steverino, my curiosity is killing me...do you mind sharing who that is in your avatar. It looks a bit like Alison Kraus... It is. I love her

 

 

 

 

I love her band....But Allison's good too....

[DenverDave]

Originally posted by rhat ever try a thumb pick ? I like herco's rat

 

 

I've been thinking that maybe I should try a thumbpick, but I haven't yet. I'll have to pick one up next time I'm at a music store.