Anyone else prefer to use their fingers?

[jiujitsu_jesus]

I have found that, as far as lead guitar goes, I am far more fluent with my fingers than I am with a pick! Strange, because I play mainly blues, metal and jazz - all of which are thought of as picking styles. Perhaps it's the former pianist coming out in me. Does anyone else prefer to use their fingers?

[rockonn91]

sometimes i find it easier and even more effective.

if i want a sort of muted sound, finger picking is an easy way to go. jazz sounds great finger picked.

however, unless your an incredible finger picker, you wont get the speed factor in your pick attack. thats when you need a pick.

which is whyyy i use a thumb pick!

best of both worlds!

[bigbuda]

I do like the attack you get with a pick but I do like to pick with my fingers as well. I seem to play a little better.

[Kodiak420]

Personally i'm trying to improve soloing with my fingers. It just takes practice but I think it can sound really good! Especially when you're playing blues, jazz. I find you can do a lot more, however, a pick is also really nice.

Though, just take a look at Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac, he can solo with his fingers, and does a damn good job!

[Armenian]

dire straits wasnt so bad either

[jiujitsu_jesus]

dire straits wasnt so bad either

Wasn't so bad?! Mark Knopfler is the KING of fingerstyle lead!

(with the obvious exceptions of Fernando Sor and Andres Segovia :D )

[bigbuda]

I remember the first time I saw him on MTV. That was back when they actually played music. The lick from money for nothing was one of the first one's I learned when I bought a guitar. SWEEEEET!!!!!!

[jiujitsu_jesus]

I'm currently trying to learn the arpeggiated section of the solo in "Sultans of Swing". God, I love that song! I've almost got it down - all I need is a nice Fender Mark Knopfler Custom Strat, and I'm set :D

[Andrew Sa]

I love Mark Knopfler...saw him live in London last year...was an awesome night.

[6stringaddict]

Im trying to learn all of the White Summer solo thing that JP does on the Zeppelin DVD and its opened my mind to using both. Hopefully I can get good enough to play like that all the time.

[Vegas Wierdo]

I'm with ya there, brother!!! I'm five times better by far with fingerstyle than with a pick.

I only wish it had the same bite as my hard pick... or even a med/soft pick, for that matter. I think I am going to try those "Alaska Pik" thingies that you put on your fingertips.

[jiujitsu_jesus]

I'm with ya there, brother!!! I'm five times better by far with fingerstyle than with a pick.

I only wish it had the same bite as my hard pick... or even a med/soft pick, for that matter. I think I am going to try those "Alaska Pik" thingies that you put on your fingertips.

My guitar teacher, who is also a fingerstyle player, has tried using those Alaska Picks and found them annoying, so he just grew his fingernails. He retained all his fluency, and gets the same bite in his attack. And yes, he keeps them clean!

Personally, I like the softer tone afforded by my fingertips - I like aping Wes Montgomery LOL

[Vegas Wierdo]

Can't grow my fingernails like that... it would negatively affect everything from woodworking to martial arts. :( I'll give the AlaskaPiks a shot and try real hard to get used to them.

[el_charro_artur]

I Dont Know Why But I Just Caint Play With A Pick I Just Dont Like It,my Style Of Playing Is Flamenco And I Use My Whole Hand And Vary From Different Movements. Let Your Rigth Hand Nails Grow And File Your Nails Also And You'll Get A Real Good Sound With Your Hand

[bigbuda]

I Dont Know Why But I Just Caint Play With A Pick I Just Dont Like It,my Style Of Playing Is Flamenco And I Use My Whole Hand And Vary From Different Movements. Let Your Rigth Hand Nails Grow And File Your Nails Also And You'll Get A Real Good Sound With Your Hand

You wouldn't happen to be the guy playing the ukelele in that video would you? You know, the video posted here a few weeks ago. :D

[eclecto69]

I heard that segovia grew out his nails and then filed them so that they were at an angle and only one corner of the nail stuck out.

[rockonn91]

You wouldn't happen to be the guy playing the ukelele in that video would you? You know, the video posted here a few weeks ago. :D
hahahhaha that was sweet.

[George Pittaway]

There are tricks to using fingers 4 lead guitar. 1) reverse roll (M,I,Thumb)
On TWO NOT THREE strings at a time. index and thumb strike the lower string in each "pair" of strings. That's one trick. Using that same picking pattern its a short jump to playing insane cascading rolls, once you get the TIMING down. I play lead both ways, and can speed pick well with a flatpick, but nothing EVEN COMES CLOSE to the fingers (with a little bit of fingernail, and a thumbpick. It is mathematically IMPOSSIBLE for flatpicking to equal fingerpicking for lead guitar. You would eventually want to learn some articulation tricks and then its shredfarm for days. I think I can e-mail a short video on what its like when you do it right if u want.

[jiujitsu_jesus]

Yeah, I learned how to do that when I was playing bass guitar. I'm not much of a shredder, but I can't resist using it in the odd rock lead!

[axemaster911]

You get some picks on the end of your fingers, and you'll be 5 times better, and the songs that have parts more suited to a pick, well you will have five to chose from... But thats just me.

[jiujitsu_jesus]

You get some picks on the end of your fingers, and you'll be 5 times better, and the songs that have parts more suited to a pick, well you will have five to chose from... But thats just me.

Or you could try to develop an insanely fast thumb, like Wes Montgomery. That's what I'm trying to do at the moment (my thumb hurts...)