The definitive finger pick technique

[sm3llyd3c]

Ok, been playing for 5 years now, but only started finger picking a year ago, due to the wide range of techniques. So which is the right one, as I can't decide and I keep being told that my technique is bad. The main ones are keeping finger planted on pickup, and travelling thumb up and down strings for muting.

[semajniwdoog]

The thing with technique, is that it's not something that's learned; it's devoloped. If it works for you, it's right. If it doesn'e work, it's developed upon. Look at Sting play - t's totally weird, but it's what makes his sound. Geddy Lee's thumb is usually up in the air somewhere.
I personally, rest my thumb over whatever pickup I'm playing over and my fingers do the muting. I f you like the sound your getting - improve upon it!

[sm3llyd3c]

Ok thanks, I prefer the Travelling Thumb as it makes my sound less muddy, might aswell stick to it.

[Sonicfrog]

One thing I've incorporated into my finger technique is something I picked up from Mo Foster. Practice playing without resting the thumb on the pickup. Forces you to be more mobile and quicker getting around. I still often rest my thumb, but having the "free thumb" technique in the tool shed certainly helps. Plus, if you slap (I can't, I was born funk-less) you'll be ready to do so much quicker between fingered notes.

I've also seen many different ways to hold your plucking fingers. When I see video of myself playing, mine always looks weird. But it works.

[SwamiRob]

Yeah I've never really used the thumb on pickup thing either, I'm mostly a pick player, but I did start out fingers only, then went to pick only and now I'm back to using both and have a reasonable finger technique again. I just do whatever feels natural for what's being played, I think for some quieter notes I do rest my thumb on my new Jazz neck pickup where there wasn't anything before.

Like first guy to post said there's no definitive technique. When I play pick style I sometimes anchor my picking by gripping the D/G string with my little finger for some reason, never noticed I did it till someone pointed it out to me, I don't do that all the time either and that just happens wherever it seems natural too.

Obviously it's good to observe your technique to make sure your getting what you want out of your playing. I go over my left hand fingering all the time to make sure I'm using the best positions, fingers - so I get my little finger up to standard cos I played with 3 fingers most of the time for the first 3 years or so of my playing - and so it sounds how I want it to sound by using what I think are the right stings and frets to make the most of playing higher on a thicker string to make a heavier part of a song sound more powerful and playing lower frets on thinner strings for quieter bits sometimes etc etc.There's lots of things you can improve by yourself without and set guiding technique.

[unclemeat]

There is no one uniformly perfect technique. I've played primarily with my fingers for like 12 years and I am all over the place depending on the sound and feel I am going for. Sometimes you can grab with the tip of your finger rather than the meaty pad, and get a warmer sound. If I pick with three fingers vs two, it may be easier to get certain tempos. Picking over the pickup vs. near the bridge obviously changes tone. Most importantly, different picking styles change dynamics, which is what so many players have no understanding of.

Here's a decent example with mr Jaco:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD9EA...eature=related

Another of Roscoe Beck
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVUooONu8LU