Pick or fingers

dtdodds · #1 08-22-2010, 04:41 PM

Hi all. I'm a late in life player. I didn't get to start when I was a kid. Just picked up the instrument on my 35th birthday. I've been playing for almost two years mostly blues rock. Ive recently been introduced to Jazz guitar and am now obsessed with learning all about it. I'm completely self taught through books and online courses and therefore not that good but still trying and learning. My main question is I've noticed a lot of good players seem to use only their fingers. At this early stage of my Jazz education should I ditch the pick or what.
Thanks
Derek

cosmic gumbo · #2 08-22-2010, 05:02 PM

At this stage, learn how to use both. It's a pretty common solution for most. Each has a valuable use that the other can't provide.

Night Jet Trails · #3 08-22-2010, 06:55 PM

its funny, i stopped using a pick about two years after i started playing, now, having been playing for a further 8 i feel a strange urge to use one again!
its really just a matter of taste

to my mind its difficult to play lead guitar with the same degree of fluidity,

but just using your hands offers a wider tonal output,

depends what (or in that case who) you want to sound like?

for me itll always be fingerstyle, hands down (ahaha)

or you could just learn to do what Jimmy Bruno does

YouTube Video

Goofsus4 · #4 08-23-2010, 04:27 PM

I think you'll find that rhythm playing and chord melody will be much easier if you use your fingers. That's what got me hooked on fingerstyle. I still use a pick for some single note stuff, but I am trying to get fast enough with my fingers using various techniques so I can finally kick the pick to the curb for good. I don't like a pick to begin with. It isolates me from the instrument seems like. I just like the feel of touching the strings.

oldsouth · #5 08-23-2010, 05:00 PM

I play both. Personally, I would start out using a pick and focusing on the left hand (assuming you are right-handed). Once you have all of the 6 finger chords down, then you can add a finger (pick and fingers) or drop the pick. The first guitarist I really studied was Merle Travis - I learned a lot, but I think the focus on the right hand slowed my progress with chords and theory.

derek · #6 08-24-2010, 09:36 AM

Imo having the ability to play fingers only, pick only and hybrid (pick and fingers) is pretty important, as different tunes/feels will want different approaches. Good luck with it.

Papadoc · #7 08-24-2010, 12:33 PM

Bruno's a friggin' magician. It would take me weeks of practice just to learn how to palm the pick the way he does in that vid. And that's without trying to play any music at the same time!

Old Feller · #8 08-24-2010, 03:00 PM

IMHO if you are interested in chord melody, walking bass lines, or just solo jazz guitar in general, fingers is THE way to go.

fastFingers · #9 09-16-2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cosmic gumbo

At this stage, learn how to use both. It's a pretty common solution for most. Each has a valuable use that the other can't provide.

I like fingers picking, but I also use the pick. Sometimes I "glide" with my thumb which feels smooth as in brushing...very cool and fast. Other times I use my thumb and index finger when I realize that I'm being lazy and only using the thumb, but I definitely try to put in the time to practice with all my fingers, and speed picking with the pick. I also try to control the bite/tone on each stroke. Whatever the mood really.

Dad3353 · #10 09-16-2010, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtdodds

Hi all. I'm a late in life player. I didn't get to start when I was a kid. Just picked up the instrument on my 35th birthday. I've been playing for almost two years mostly blues rock. Ive recently been introduced to Jazz guitar and am now obsessed with learning all about it. I'm completely self taught through books and online courses and therefore not that good but still trying and learning. My main question is I've noticed a lot of good players seem to use only their fingers. At this early stage of my Jazz education should I ditch the pick or what.
Thanks
Derek

Good evening, Derek...
Just a comment or two, if you would. 'Late in life'? no problem, lot's have either started as 'seniors' or, very often, left the guitar to one side to pick it up (much...) later on. You are far from alone.
You have noticed that a lot of good players use their fingers. You are right, of course, but I would like to add that a lot of (very...) bad guitarists use their fingers too (and I'm well placed to know; it's my case...).
Personally, I have never been able to play with a pick (or plectrum, as we older folks call it...). My 'pick' is the nail of my index. I don't have to palm anything, I don't often loose it, I can switch from single note to strumming to cross-picking to vamping without trouble. It's true that, if playing for hours on end, blistering can occur, so I don't do that (which explains perhaps my mediocrity..?).
There are many 'finger-styles', so you will have quite a choice to try out. Keep with the pick as well for as long as you find it suits you. Neither is 'king'; as Cosmic remarked, they are complementary. Whatever works for you is fine.
Hope this helps...

Shadow of the Sun · #11 09-17-2010, 04:42 AM

Rather than going with the pick-palming of Bruno, you could go with Joe Pizzarelli's trick- he keeps it in his mouth until he's soloing.

Dad3353 · #12 09-17-2010, 04:53 AM

That's just to stop him singing...

Shadow of the Sun · #13 09-17-2010, 05:01 AM

Hah!

Nope. John (sorry, got his name wrong...) Pizzarelli's FAMOUS for being able to sing and play at the same time.

YouTube Video

Aristotle · #14 09-17-2010, 07:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtdodds

My main question is I've noticed a lot of good players seem to use only their fingers. At this early stage of my Jazz education should I ditch the pick or what.
Thanks
Derek

Been some discussion here on this.

http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/theor...y-picking.html

http://www.jazzguitar.be/forum/chord...-not-pick.html