Finger or Pick?

While learning to play guitar I never used a pick. I eventually just keep my nails long and lways just use those. But I was wondering if it is better to play with a pick. I would like to be abe to single note runs like heavy metal solos but I'm wondering if this would be better acomplished using a pick.

The more I play, the more I see that the best of both world (flatpick AND fingers) allows you to play everything and a little more. I guess that's why Dany GATTON, Shawn Lane, Buckethead and many more have choosen this technique.

I hate hybrid picking, it looks so awkward.

I mostly fingerpick, always have. I pick too, but very rarely.

What's hybrid picking?

Originally posted by iiholly
What's hybrid picking?

Hybrid Picking is simply combining the use Finger and the Pick..
i.e. Use the Pick as you normaly do (I hold my pick between thumb & index fingers) , now you can use the middle and the ring fingers with the pick as if they were 3 fingers for finger style picking stuff , and also taking advantage of the pick to do some shredding and other things you can't do with fingers

I've always used my fingers. Even used it like a pick. But when I recently tried to use a pick I was unable to play with it very well. So I was just wondering if it seems viable to try to learn how to shred using my finger nail?

Originally posted by aiwass
I reckon you don't play alot of Dream Theater...

Ha ha, your right.

I dunno, for me its either pick or fingers - one or the other. It probably comes from seeieng hundreds of guys in guitar shop playing Stairway to Heaven hybrid style, it makes me wanna yell at them just to use their fingers. But hey, if its what works for you, thats fine.

Originally posted by thegreatkris
I've always used my fingers. Even used it like a pick. But when I recently tried to use a pick I was unable to play with it very well. So I was just wondering if it seems viable to try to learn how to shred using my finger nail?

I had the same problem one day, bec when picked up guitar it was a spanish one, but one I got an elec. I found that learning how to use a pick is much easier than Finger Picking, you just need some patience to get used to it, and try to remember your first days with the guitar and you'll get my point.

Originally posted by SLY

I had the same problem one day, bec when picked up guitar it was a spanish one, but one I got an elec. I found that learning how to use a pick is much easier than Finger Picking, you just need some patience to get used to it, and try to remember your first days with the guitar and you'll get my point. [/B]

Thanks for the 'pep talk.' I shall redouble my efforts.

I wish I could play finger style well, fact is I have virtually no nails at all cause I keep em short for tapping. This really limits my acoustic playing - you can't bend so easily and tapping/harmonics don't come out well. (O.k There's spannish fly by EVH and Midnight express by Nuno Bettencourt but these guys are mega talented).
Acoustic guitar seems to me like a different instrument entirely, one better suited to finger style players< I wish someone made fingernail impressionists for guitarists to wear.
I've heard that Jeff Beck uses a lot of fingerstyle. I'd be very interested to hear if anyone knows anyone else who plays fast scalar stuff with finger style on electric.

Mark Knopfler, Chet Atkins and most country players.

Originally posted by u10ajf
I wish someone made fingernail impressionists for guitarists to wear.

The thing you just mentioned already exist, I'm not sure what do they call it but they are simply something like a pick with a ring around it to wear in each of your fingers , and they all the same looking exept for the thumb one which is a little different. I've tried them before, they are made either of metal material , or the normal picks materials (celluloid,tortex,nylon,etc.)

I think most picks manufacturers have this thing on their production line, but I'm dead sure that D'andrea make them bec I've treid it.

I have short nails(bite them all the time - cant help it) and I manage fingerstyle fine, I can use my nails or pads. I think the reason for having long nails is to sound like a pick.

ps, you can shred with fingers without resorting to tapping

Shreddings always gonna cause problems, its difficult.

Itd probably be just as hard learining with a pick or fingers - you can use 3 fingers per string(or 4 if you use your little one) but you only have one pick.

3 or 4 fingers per string is only used for Spanish guitars (nylon strings) and Bass Guitars... I've actualy never heard of any one who shred on Elec. guitars using this technique,bec the strings are very close to each other in elec. guitars which makes it very hard to use more than one finger per string..

But you can always do fast stuff by using legatos , like Knopfler (dire straits) ...

Anyway, I believe that the Elec. Guitars & Steel Strings Acoustics were made to be played by Pick or Hybrid Technique, Nylon String Acoustics & Bass guitars were made to be played (mainly) by finger style..

Originally posted by aiwass
Unless you use strict legato technique, or play classical guitar, you're gonna have problems shredding with your bare fingers

What is legato technique?

So if I call hammer-ons and pull-offs, legato's I won't be barbaric anymore?

Actualy the word legato is a general word in music, and it means fluidity between notes, each instrument has some special technique to play succesive notes with fluidity, but in our guitar world we call it hammer-ons and pull-offs..
I'm proud to be a guitarist ... I'm proud to be barbaric :0)

keep on shredding folks !

Well if I'm going to learn how to play with a pick can anyone help with techniques, tips and especially habbits to stay away from?

The most basic rule in learning how ot use a pick is 'Alternate Picking' , which means succesive usage of up and down strokes..

Assuming that you realy know how to finger pick , this (alternate picking) is similar to the succesive p,i picking (using alternate index and middle finger picking)..

for arpeggios , you may need to use similar picking (down strokes or up strokes) for succesive strings , this is similar to something called 'sweep picking' which is a very hard to learn technique , used to shred on arpeggios...

Never think of this sweep picking now, and focus on alternate picking... when you feel alright with the pick , you can go on to higher steps..

the most important thing that determines your picking direction (up or down), is to use the least amount of movement to save your energy for higher speed, so give your mind some job ...

also, there are 3 ways of moving your pick:

1 - moving your whole arm, this only helps for chord strumming
2 - moving your hand . to change from one string to another, & chord strumming
3 - moving your fingers that hold pick. for more than 1 note on a single string. (this one is the hardest, a lot of people tend to move their hand even for a single string picking.. it's o.k. but always remember that the less movement saves more energy)

Finally, the most fundamental rule of learning music, always begin at a slow tempo, rising your level gradualy, and never move to higher level unless you are completely comfortable with your level.