Guitar Fingerpicks. Comparisons and Techniques.

Do you fingerpick guitar, thumbpick guitar or want to learn how to fingerpick guitar?

It’s actually a complex subject and a hard one for beginners to get into.

They can feel unnatural at first but there are so many fingerpicking techniques that can help build good right hand technique and picking speed.

We look at these and compare various products like Dunlop Thumbicks, Dunlop Fingerpicks and National Fingerpicks.

This should help any resonator guitar player or blues player develop great technique and volume.

*********************************

Guitar Stories Playlist -

*********************************

The best ways to support us;

********************************

Our social links;

*********************************

Personal links;

*********************************

Thanks for looking!

[anders_engstrom]

Thanks for sharing knowledge and experience on this subject! I been playing with only fingers for some years but I’m just about to convert to thumbpick (and maybe fingerpicks). Lets see if I can adjust in only 3 days before next gig. 😎🎸😅

[albertaadv]

There’s some people on YouTube reviewing Reverb ads, no ones reviewing National ads though. That’s another video I could watch all day.

[williamjasper]

Great videos and I truly appreciate your time and efforts to help us newbies out here. I've found that, for me, my fingers are totally happy with the Dunlop plastic thumb and finger picks. I really struggled with them initially and found myself modifying them to my taste. I shortened the thumb picks arm so it's almost even with the side of my thumb. Boiled some water and formed the finger picks to follow the tip of my finger's profile exactly. This made using picks for me as close to bare skin, which made the transition almost effortless. Just my personal experience with them so far.

[mikeeasson]

Brilliant Martyn, thanks a million 👌🤠🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[keithhicks]

Yet another interesting and informative lesson. Thanks so much.

[tommyaiken]

HAPPY NEW YEAR MARTYN Great Subject I put down the Flat pick three years ago To learn fingerstyle I practice everyday 2 to 3 hours a day Finger TIPS and finger PICKS are both GREAT Two different sounds and Vibes Both are WONDERFUL I play both ways (DEPENDS ON THE SONG and TIME OF the NIGHT AT THE APRTMENT Ya know the Neighbors ) I play a National steel body Now They can be REAL LOUD
Learning to use Finger picks WAS HARD for me it takes Time Patients and Lots of practice I tried a LOT of brands I LOVE the metal and The plastic, again TWO different sounds and Vibes I went through the same thing with the Dunlop metal Thumb picks I love the sound but, those metal lips grab the strings and they are a bit to heavy, I use them once in a while for the FULL METAL SOUND ( SOMEONE SHOULD MAKE A METAL THUMB PICK THAT IS LIGHTER METAL AND FITS COMFORTABLY ) I tried Pro Pick Thumb pick TOO BIG... Mostly when I use metal finger picks I use Dunlop metal finger picks OR I really like The DOUBLE WRAP PRO PCKS They come in nickel and stainless I love mine, and Some times I use one of each. NOW I mostly use a Plastic Thumb pick when I use metal finger picks. I normally use a medium orange Slick pick BUT lately I have been using Heavy Dunlop and the Heavy Slick pick YOU KNOW I think It Really depends on The song as well, I had to work my way up to using Heavier gauge Thumb picks YOU HAVE TO PRACTICE ALL THE TIME and DO NOT GIVE UP YOU WILL GET THERE
For some one STARTING OFF with FINGER PICKS MAINLY the THUMB pick I suggest using the lighter or medium gauge Thumb pick until you Get the feel for it It worked for me .. I have really gotten The Hang of it over the past Three Years switching from FLAT PICK to FINGER picks? NOT EASY FOR ME
At First Finger picks Were REALLY F ing HARD for me to use, but with Lots of practice It DOES get EASIER I love Using them now I also Love using finger tips I HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEONE Thanx MARTYN ENJOY THE NEW YEAR

[albertaadv]

Thanks for the video! I’m still working on getting comfortable. But have found that the Dunlop metal fingerpicks with a plastic thumb pick is most comfortable. Also I turn the fingerpicks inward against my nail bed to give it a more straight-on attack of the strings.

[stumblecol]

Excellent that was, very interesting, thank you

[chadvandam]

I hate finger pics! But you make me wanna try again! Great video!

[keyote]

I have been playing guitars for years, before that I played drums.... in more recent life I have begun suffering from a debilitating Arthritic manifestation in my fingers. This has resulted in my losing the ability to figure chord shapes quite a bit. However, never one to concede, I picked up the slide guitar instead.
This has given me a new type of misery. I have tried everything as far as plectrums, picks, finger nails, until I invested in the Fred Kelly Delrin Freedom pick. This covers the entire finger top on my second finger because my forefinger is now totally useless with bending. Then I discovered that my middle finger now aches like the deuce after just a couple of numbers, so now, serious reduced finger picking begins in earnest. All I can offer in advice is to just try it all, and simply practice as much as you great clip here though.!!!! I found that a lot of thumb picks were way too long on the 'blade', so I found some plastic shorter ones and I am so far doing alright with them. All manner of either metal or plastic 'banjo' picks work for me, but again, practice as though your life depends on it. Using conventional picks before is a hard job to overcome the habit. I made a cross myself using a normal, oversized thumb pick and attaching a normal plectrum to it. This tended to work until I got excited in a number, and the damned thing broke I still have a few, but the fingers cannot retain the assembly keep up the good work...!!!

[richmiller]

Another great video mate. I think for me the fingers mean I can feel the strings and I can’t with picks, but as you show, plenty of advantages with them

[JustForfun-hgni]

Hi Martin, interesting video, I’ve tried finger picks, never could get on with them especially thumb picks. Picked a few rags with just fingers. Played 12 string with flat pick as leadbelly - alternating bass and strum. Very new to resonators, enjoying it learned a couple of songs already in open G. I seem to be getting on ok so far just hope I’m not limiting myself with my style.

[MrAeglaeca]

So since you used to play bass i figure you might have some insight. I cut off the end of my middle finger a few years ago and the difference in length has been a big issue. I've been thinking that finger picks might be a solution. Any thoughts on if that would work? (I'm mostly a rock/metal player, but yeah)

[ahg]

You've been a good student o Bob Brozman, playing wise that's not a bad thing . I personally use national plastic thumbpick and Dunlop fingerprints . No joke they do hurt while playing for a bit, that is normal, but that is the style we chose . Live with it or change your style . Happy Picking, God Bless .

[rogersnyder]

I started on Autoharp that seemed to come with plastic finger picks... which I didn't like. I kinda lost the "feel" of the strings. Then I learned Banjo, Scruggs style first. Plastic thumb and two metal finger picks. Then came guitar, which was like getting a free new sound with that sharp rise and decay compared to bare fingers or my flat pick. Finally, full circle, the metal finger picks on the autoharp produced a nice sound, a louder sound and much more "feel" than the plastic finger picks I first tried. When I started dobro or lap slide, these picks were a natural fit. I've been curious about using a thumb pick rather than flat pick but am having troubles getting used to it. Perhaps, I haven't stuck it out long enough? Anyways, I'll try some more because I like the idea of going from picking to strumming and back again within the same song. The idea of using a finger pick on the third finger for more a strum sounds cool. I'm going to work on that mad skill! Thanks for this video... it got some creative juices and inspiration flowing!

[MrDotneck]

Another good one. Are there any differences between "National" and "Dunlop" metal fingerpicks? I'm using Dunlops 018 right now plus Dunlop plastic thumbpick - I used to prefer Kyser thumbpicks but they don't seem to be available anymore. I have my fingerpicks bent and curved so that they are close to my fingertips - seems to get me more in touch with the guitar than having them stuck way out. How about a comparison of different slides - sizes, materials and so on? I do have my favourites but would be curious what your experiences might have been.

[andrewmacokatic]

Awesome video man can you post who makes the metal fingerpicks?

[mikew]

To pick or not to pick that is the question, the best advice I saw was in a Bob Brozman book called "Rhythm in the Blues" with an accompaning casset tape (shows how old it was) He said try using only picks for three weeks, if after that you still can't get on with them then don't bother.
I use a Dunlop plastic thumb pick and Dunlop metal finger picks. I prefer the sound of plastic finger picks but haven't found a brand that have the same profile as the metal picks. Currently experimenting with D'Addario picks, don't like the Dunlop plastics they are too thick. Boiling water can be used to shape them, don't use a hot air gun cellulose catches fire easily!

[keyote]

Round about the 17 minute clip above, I thought a while and I came up with the excuse that as I was a drummer before, for many years to be honest. Now that I have gone down the slide road, I tend to perform (limited now) at open mic' sessions etc. The rocking, thump of a National, banging away on something like 'Rollin' and Tumblin' tends to get people up and bopping away, all ages, even if they do not know the tune at all. It must be my own take on percussive playing. I find the walking 'bass', alternate playing like a man with a wooden leg, fairly easy after several years practice. However, the melody line, say like on 'Jitterbug Swing', comes very hard when played at the same time. I adapted a bit, and use an old cardboard suitcase with a bass drum pedal. It works for me, plus it adds a little visually as well to the

[DaisyChaine]

What gauge of strings do you find work for you? I have seen people online say lights and I was getting rattles on my g string like crazy, lifted the action a bit now using medium gauge strings. No more rattles