Should I use a pick?
Question:
As a fellow lefty-plays-righty, I have found that different strumming patterns are easy enough with right hand – I think it’s probably more down to your sense of rhythm than which hand you use. Using a pick makes strumming, IMO, easier, and it makes it easier to to the correct strings and ONLY the correct strings. Using a thumb tends to brush against unwanted strings, which can be deadly (ok, maybe a bit overstated) on a electric. At least when you hit a wrong string with a pick, you tend to hit it full force and you can hear what you are doing wrong and fix it. Ross
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hey! Wow! Thanks you guys 
I’m overwhelmed > I like to play songs by Oasis, The Verve and a lot of general 60’s songs. > Greatly appreciate all your detailed and helpful answers. I think I will > force myself to try it but not to expect results from it to soon. In the > meantime I am also going to look into (as some of you suggested) > fingerstyle. Sounds like it could be fun. > I tend to have avoided most of these styles mainly because I am a > left-hander playing on a right hand guitar. I didn’t want to learn on a > lefty guitar basically because all the info in books and off the net and my > mate all concentrates on right-handed playing. I’ve managed to overcome that > obstacle so I think I’ll set too, pick up the pick and tackle another > Thanks again you guys > Best wishes. Paul. > > Hi group, > > I’ve been learning for about 4months now and I am (IMO) coming on > > really well. My friend who has been playing for a long time keeps > > telling me to use a pick. I’ve only been playing by using my thumb to > > strum with and I like the sound it gives, I’m playing an electric and > > I find the pick diffcult to use and I think it gives a harsh sound. > Don’t worry about that. Your friend is used to using a pick, so that’s > the only way he knows. > > Should I practice with the pick and learn to get used to it? > Yes. > > or should I just carry on the way I have been? Or is it just personal > > preference? Are there any good players who never use a pick? > Yes. *Every* classical player thoughout history, as well as many rock, > folk and jazz palyers. > > I can see how the pick is useful for emphasis but is it really > > necessary? > No, but it can be useful for many things. There are certain things you > can do with a pick that you can not do without. > > Any advice greatly appreciated. > I would suggest trying the pick and learning about the things that you > can do with it. You might even want to try learning each and every > song and exercise with *and without* the pick. This will develop each > method in a somewhat equal way and you can choose when and where you > want to use each. Don’t worry to much about "developing your own > style". Let this happen. Each decision you make will change this, > just worry about learning music and moving forward. > Josh > Before you buy.
Response:
I say play with the pick some. Either that or get REALLY good at finger-picking – that’s all the fingers (except the pinky), not just the thumb. You will sound better with a pick, IMO, not to mention that you will be able to play many more songs that will be recognizable to your friends and family. Are the picks you’ve experimented with "thin" or "heavy" picks? Beginners should usually start with thin, since it allows for easier strumming. Heavy is good if you’re playing lead guitar in a band and not playing any chords. But you’re probably not at that stage yet. You will be limiting yourself very much if you don’t use the pick, IMO. However, do what makes you happy and lets you get the most out of your guitar. -Will H.
Response:
Jeff Beck used his Fingers
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi group, > I’ve been learning for about 4months now and I am (IMO) coming on really > well. My friend who has been playing for a long time keeps telling me to use > a pick. I’ve only been playing by using my thumb to strum with and I like > the sound it gives, I’m playing an electric and I find the pick diffcult to > use and I think it gives a harsh sound. > Should I practice with the pick and learn to get used to it? or should I > just carry on the way I have been? Or is it just personal preference? Are > there any good players who never use a pick? > I can see how the pick is useful for emphasis but is it really necessary? > Any advice greatly appreciated. > Thankyou. Best wishes. Paul.
Response:
Precisely what I do. My stepdad said "Use the pick for the most part when you practise, and you’ll see your strumming improve." And sure enough. A song I pick-strum may be mediocre, but I can strum that same song with fingers even better now. I say practise with both, maybe half and half. I think one improves the other, though i have no idea why. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi group, > I’ve been learning for about 4months now and I am (IMO) coming on > really well. My friend who has been playing for a long time keeps > telling me to use a pick. I’ve only been playing by using my thumb to > strum with and I like the sound it gives, I’m playing an electric and > I find the pick diffcult to use and I think it gives a harsh sound. > Don’t worry about that. Your friend is used to using a pick, so that’s > the only way he knows. > Should I practice with the pick and learn to get used to it? > Yes. > or should I just carry on the way I have been? Or is it just personal > preference? Are there any good players who never use a pick? > Yes. *Every* classical player thoughout history, as well as many rock, > folk and jazz palyers. > I can see how the pick is useful for emphasis but is it really > necessary? > No, but it can be useful for many things. There are certain things you > can do with a pick that you can not do without. > Any advice greatly appreciated. > I would suggest trying the pick and learning about the things that you > can do with it. You might even want to try learning each and every > song and exercise with *and without* the pick. This will develop each > method in a somewhat equal way and you can choose when and where you > want to use each. Don’t worry to much about "developing your own > style". Let this happen. Each decision you make will change this, > just worry about learning music and moving forward. > Josh > Before you buy.
Response:
Hey! Wow! Thanks you guys I’m overwhelmed I like to play songs by Oasis, The Verve and a lot of general 60’s songs. Greatly appreciate all your detailed and helpful answers. I think I will force myself to try it but not to expect results from it to soon. In the meantime I am also going to look into (as some of you suggested) fingerstyle. Sounds like it could be fun. I tend to have avoided most of these styles mainly because I am a left-hander playing on a right hand guitar. I didn’t want to learn on a lefty guitar basically because all the info in books and off the net and my mate all concentrates on right-handed playing. I’ve managed to overcome that obstacle so I think I’ll set too, pick up the pick and tackle another Thanks again you guys Best wishes. Paul. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi group, > I’ve been learning for about 4months now and I am (IMO) coming on > really well. My friend who has been playing for a long time keeps > telling me to use a pick. I’ve only been playing by using my thumb to > strum with and I like the sound it gives, I’m playing an electric and > I find the pick diffcult to use and I think it gives a harsh sound. > Don’t worry about that. Your friend is used to using a pick, so that’s > the only way he knows. > Should I practice with the pick and learn to get used to it? > Yes. > or should I just carry on the way I have been? Or is it just personal > preference? Are there any good players who never use a pick? > Yes. *Every* classical player thoughout history, as well as many rock, > folk and jazz palyers. > I can see how the pick is useful for emphasis but is it really > necessary? > No, but it can be useful for many things. There are certain things you > can do with a pick that you can not do without. > Any advice greatly appreciated. > I would suggest trying the pick and learning about the things that you > can do with it. You might even want to try learning each and every > song and exercise with *and without* the pick. This will develop each > method in a somewhat equal way and you can choose when and where you > want to use each. Don’t worry to much about "developing your own > style". Let this happen. Each decision you make will change this, > just worry about learning music and moving forward. > Josh > Before you buy.
Response:
>Hi group, >I’ve been learning for about 4months now and I am (IMO) coming on really >well. My friend who has been playing for a long time keeps telling me to use >a pick. I’ve only been playing by using my thumb to strum with and I like >the sound it gives, I’m playing an electric and I find the pick diffcult to >use and I think it gives a harsh sound.
As you improve you will find strumming with the thumb limiting. For a start you are limited to strumming. There are a lot of different techniques on guitar to sound notes. Using a pick doesn’t just allow you to strum with more attack, but also it allows you to strum with more precision. What use is this? It allows you to play different strumming patterns. Using the thumb tends to be a down strum deal, whereas with a pick you can go up and down easily. Also, you can more easily play arpeggios, a long word for picking individual strings rather than playing all the strings at once. You can’t successfully play lead guitar with your thumb, you would definitely be limited. Aside from using the pick, you can also investigate other playing styles, such as using your thumb to play a bass note on the bottom strings, and the fingers to pluck the higher strings. This is what some people call fingerstyle. Another thing is as a beginner, the softer sounds tend to disguise mistakes. As you get better you most likely will start liking a sharper sound as you make fewer mistakes. Bottom line is you don’t have to stop playing with your thumb, but you will be limiting yourself if you only do that. Ian
Response:
> Hi group, > I’ve been learning for about 4months now and I am (IMO) coming on > really well. My friend who has been playing for a long time keeps > telling me to use a pick. I’ve only been playing by using my thumb to > strum with and I like the sound it gives, I’m playing an electric and > I find the pick diffcult to use and I think it gives a harsh sound.
Don’t worry about that. Your friend is used to using a pick, so that’s the only way he knows. > Should I practice with the pick and learn to get used to it?
Yes. > or should I just carry on the way I have been? Or is it just personal > preference? Are there any good players who never use a pick?
Yes. *Every* classical player thoughout history, as well as many rock, folk and jazz palyers. > I can see how the pick is useful for emphasis but is it really > necessary?
No, but it can be useful for many things. There are certain things you can do with a pick that you can not do without. > Any advice greatly appreciated.
I would suggest trying the pick and learning about the things that you can do with it. You might even want to try learning each and every song and exercise with *and without* the pick. This will develop each method in a somewhat equal way and you can choose when and where you want to use each. Don’t worry to much about "developing your own style". Let this happen. Each decision you make will change this, just worry about learning music and moving forward. Josh Before you buy.
Response:
I started just the opposite of you. I used a pick, and wouldn’t and couldn’t play at all with my fingers. Now I have an accoustic along with my electric, and have been learning to fingerpick. I really enjoy it a lot, and alos fingerpick on the electric. IMO, try to learn both ways, as there are sounds that you can get with a pick that you can’t get with fingers, and vice versa. Also, some people play with the pick and fingers. I think there are a lot of pickless players out there, and that is cool too. For me though I am trying not to limit myself in any way, to close any doors so to say. So IMO if you don’t want to mess around with a pick right now, more power to ya. Just don’t say you’ll never use one. Maybee use a pick 2 days a week or something. Paul – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Hi group, >I’ve been learning for about 4months now and I am (IMO) coming on really >well. My friend who has been playing for a long time keeps telling me to use >a pick. I’ve only been playing by using my thumb to strum with and I like >the sound it gives, I’m playing an electric and I find the pick diffcult to >use and I think it gives a harsh sound. >Should I practice with the pick and learn to get used to it? or should I >just carry on the way I have been? Or is it just personal preference? Are >there any good players who never use a pick? >I can see how the pick is useful for emphasis but is it really necessary? >Any advice greatly appreciated. >Thankyou. Best wishes. Paul.
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Response:
Hi group, I’ve been learning for about 4months now and I am (IMO) coming on really well. My friend who has been playing for a long time keeps telling me to use a pick. I’ve only been playing by using my thumb to strum with and I like the sound it gives, I’m playing an electric and I find the pick diffcult to use and I think it gives a harsh sound. Should I practice with the pick and learn to get used to it? or should I just carry on the way I have been? Or is it just personal preference? Are there any good players who never use a pick? I can see how the pick is useful for emphasis but is it really necessary? Any advice greatly appreciated. Thankyou. Best wishes. Paul.
Response:
using your fingers or a pic is totally up to you. don’t base your style of playing on anyone elses. on the other hand, at least at the beginning, its advantageous to base your style on someone elses until you develop a style of your own. who do u like to listen to?
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> Hi group, > I’ve been learning for about 4months now and I am (IMO) coming on really > well. My friend who has been playing for a long time keeps telling me to use > a pick. I’ve only been playing by using my thumb to strum with and I like > the sound it gives, I’m playing an electric and I find the pick diffcult to > use and I think it gives a harsh sound. > Should I practice with the pick and learn to get used to it? or should I > just carry on the way I have been? Or is it just personal preference? Are > there any good players who never use a pick? > I can see how the pick is useful for emphasis but is it really necessary? > Any advice greatly appreciated. > Thankyou. Best wishes. Paul.
Response:
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