Why Brian May Uses a Sixpence

The guitar legend for Queen details why he plays guitar with a coin.

#queen #brianmay #rigrundown

[rickjason]

What a nice guy. He is far beyond needing to do interviews, yet couldn't be nicer.

[greatvanzini]

This is a rerun I can absolutely live with. Well worth another watch.

[AlbertoJorgeSoares]

The problem that he gets (he said so in an interview) of using a coin as a plectrum, is that the metal dust will mess with the Burn pickups. His guitar technician has always to keep the pickups very clean.

[mason]

A humble 6 pence piece has shaped music for a generation and continues to do so

[shodaboy]

the question is not 'why' it's 'how'

[simmonphoenix]

I love using the round side of the pick and my cousin tried to correct me. This solidifies that you can do it how ever you want.

[Acolyte]

Brian's such a nice guy to talk to, as I found out recently. Wonderful sound that sixpence sounded. Quite incredible, really.

[bitegoatie]

Brian is a treasure. I could talk with him all day. Whether he would feel the same about the talking - well, that's a different question.

[riccardobattiferrobertocch]

Brian, a great Person and a unique musician!

[donaldryder]

Vintage coins getting the Reverb bump :)

[matthewroach]

Awesome Video! I used a penny when I was younger, but now I use a Dunlop Flow. Also when I was younger I could never find my picks, so I would reach in my pocket and use a coin. I could always find a penny.

[Sean-mefv]

When I listen to him talking about this it makes me think of the intro to Keep Yourself Alive. As a guitarist it now makes sense how using a coin would lend itself to that kind of playing

[dgenerated]

Brian May is the epitome of DIY when it comes to guitar!. Not many can say they (with their fathers help) built a guitar from scratch and out of whatever materials were available, including both the pickups and amp and to this day is still playing the same guitar he built in 1964!.. Of course amps and pickups may have been changed over the years, but to my knowledge it's pretty much the same guitar he built all those years ago!…

[lilian]

I only use a quarter. Never worry about rotation. Makes fabulous ringing sounds!💟

[RK-mlns]

Guitar Legends are my favourite people.

[darrenleddy]

In the late 1800's we had a bicycle that had a large front wheel with a smaller rear wheel. It was a pre-chain design so the pedals were attached directly to the front wheel and in order to make the pedaling of the bicycle take less effort a larger front wheel was used as one cycle/turn of the wheel would cover a larger distance. The slang/name the bicycle picked up was the penny farthing because the front wheel was large in size just like the penny coin at the time and the rear wheel was smaller just like the farthing coin used.

I play bass using one too, the best tone

[Magnetron]

I have heard of guys using a quarter, but this the first proof that someone is uaing a coin. I don't seem to make it work, but he certainly does.Always a class act and real gentleman.

[SilentChil]

Coin can never get stuck on the string, pretty much like round side of pick. Once You try it you can never go back..

[devinwebb]

I started using coins years back when I found out billy gibbons did brian may is another reason to use em