Shaun Daley
12-01-2005, 04:59 PM
Hi. I stumbled across this site whilst searching for decent priced thumbpicks. For bits of plastic, which probably cost peanuts to make, I've always felt their price far too much.
Anyhow, I saw a thread on this site somewhere about using thumbpicks. I lost it and couldn't face reading through everything to find it. However, I thought I might like to offer some insight. I'm 49, an electric guitarist since the age of 14 and have used a thumbpick pretty much the whole time.
I started using one for no better reason than the guy I used to watch in my local music store had one. He used it because Johnny Winter used one. So, I'm talking early 1970s here.
As the years went by, I found more reasons to use one than not to. However, I would say that those who have stuck with a plectrum, find thumbpicks somewhat clumsy; they usually don't see the point.
The key for me has always to shave the thumbpick to a sharp point. So, I buy a batch of them and shave every one to a point, ie I remove the rounded point (they wear down then I chuck them away). I wouldn't be able to play with one if it had the rounded point. Actually, that's ironic because when I do play with a normal plec, that has a rounded tip and I have no problem with that at all. I switch to the latter when I need a bit more focussed bite or pinch harmonics. That, however, is a rarity; my harmonics are so much easier with the thumbpick, as I use the Roy Buchannan method, whereby the thumb (with thumbpick attached) plucks the string, whilst the index finger of the same hand 'pops' the string in the appropriate place, for the harmonic. It's not such a squealing sound as a pinched harmonic - more melodic - but, using this method, I can quickly find harmonics here there and everywhere.
I digress; the main reason for my using a thumbpick all these years, is so I can use all the fingers of my right hand. Think Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. He has exactly the same technique, but without the thumbpick. His playing is fantastic but the sound is somewhat softer as he's using his thumb, rather than a thumbpick attached to it.
As for strumming, it's definitely harder with a thumbpick than with a plec. I used to break a lot of strings, simply because the thumbpick is more rigid than your average plec. It comes down to technique. I have it right now, and it's only taken a few decades!
If anyone needs a convincing that rock guitar can easily be played with a thumbpick, as opposed to a plec, I can upload an MP3 I recorded recently - just me and one of the backing tracks which came with a Tascam PocketStudio 5.
Shaun
Anyhow, I saw a thread on this site somewhere about using thumbpicks. I lost it and couldn't face reading through everything to find it. However, I thought I might like to offer some insight. I'm 49, an electric guitarist since the age of 14 and have used a thumbpick pretty much the whole time.
I started using one for no better reason than the guy I used to watch in my local music store had one. He used it because Johnny Winter used one. So, I'm talking early 1970s here.
As the years went by, I found more reasons to use one than not to. However, I would say that those who have stuck with a plectrum, find thumbpicks somewhat clumsy; they usually don't see the point.
The key for me has always to shave the thumbpick to a sharp point. So, I buy a batch of them and shave every one to a point, ie I remove the rounded point (they wear down then I chuck them away). I wouldn't be able to play with one if it had the rounded point. Actually, that's ironic because when I do play with a normal plec, that has a rounded tip and I have no problem with that at all. I switch to the latter when I need a bit more focussed bite or pinch harmonics. That, however, is a rarity; my harmonics are so much easier with the thumbpick, as I use the Roy Buchannan method, whereby the thumb (with thumbpick attached) plucks the string, whilst the index finger of the same hand 'pops' the string in the appropriate place, for the harmonic. It's not such a squealing sound as a pinched harmonic - more melodic - but, using this method, I can quickly find harmonics here there and everywhere.
I digress; the main reason for my using a thumbpick all these years, is so I can use all the fingers of my right hand. Think Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits. He has exactly the same technique, but without the thumbpick. His playing is fantastic but the sound is somewhat softer as he's using his thumb, rather than a thumbpick attached to it.
As for strumming, it's definitely harder with a thumbpick than with a plec. I used to break a lot of strings, simply because the thumbpick is more rigid than your average plec. It comes down to technique. I have it right now, and it's only taken a few decades!
If anyone needs a convincing that rock guitar can easily be played with a thumbpick, as opposed to a plec, I can upload an MP3 I recorded recently - just me and one of the backing tracks which came with a Tascam PocketStudio 5.
Shaun