The "pick sound" with your fingers

[kombi]

... how do i get this? I saw some players before that played just with their thumb/index finger, holdig their fingers like they were holdig it with a pick and sounding really sharp - just like a pick.

Does anyone has a tutorial on how to play it correctly? I somehow can't get it right

Also, i don't know how this technique is called so i can't search it on YouTube.

[bobm2112]

why dont you just use a pick?

[kombi]

Originally Posted by bobm2112

why dont you just use a pick?

I like to play melodic stuff sometimes and when i play with fingers, i can add and combine techniques like slap'n'pop. If i play with a pick, i cant do that...

[Russell L]

Try growing your nails a bit. That's the way I play. It sounds a lot like a pick.

[chaosMK]

Punchy attack, high presence, harsher mids, steel strings, slight preference for bridge pickup. Those things could help. I bought the Sansamp BDDI after a few minutes of playing on it. The Presence control gives you that type of sharpness.

[VincentSalizeri]

It's called "chucking", I believe. You make like you're holding a pick, but strike with your fingernails. Index (or middle) finger on the downstroke, thumb on the upstroke. It's not quite like a picked sound, but it'll do the job if you don't want to use a pick.

[Rockin Mike]

You can get a pick holder for your mic stand and load it with 4 or 5 picks.
Switching from pick to fingers is as simple as dropping the pick on the floor.
Switching from fingers to pick is as simple as grabbing a new one off the mic stand.

Some people put the pic in their mouth like a cigarette.
Some people learn to fingerpick with middle and ring finger so they can keep the pick in their hand while using fingerstyle.

Just some thoughts.

[stratovani]

I keep my fingernails short for just that reason, so I don't get that "pick sound". If I want the pick sound I'll use a pick!

[Strohsx]

Usually just playing hard near the bridge does the trick quite well actually.

[UnfortunateTony]

Some people grow their nails out like was mentioned, and what you're talking about is basically just making your fingers in the shape of a pick and using them like one. My personal favorite thing to do is to move my first finger back and forth like a pick. Works really well however you'll need pretty low action and it works best when you play up by the neck. Hope this helps

[onosson]

I sometimes use a technique where I pluck in one direction - UP only - and use the bottom edge of my index fingernail like a pick (it has less flexion in that direction, so is more ridgid like a pick). I find it helps to bring up my volume slightly and play lighter, then quickly roll the volume down when switching back to fingers. It's better than using a pick if you change techniques just for certain sections of a song. If you combine it with some palm-muting, you can approximate an upright-like sound, also.

[Ric5]

Learn to palm the pick and keep playing. Sorts like a magician.

[skwee]

nails.

[The Lemon]

That's like asking how to make potatoes taste like pop-tarts. Delicious strawberry pop-tarts. The kind with sprinkles. Mmmmmmmm.....

Anyway, just use a pick.

[makkE]

Imho, there are some ways to get close to the sound, but it will never sound like the real thing. Just like a soloed neck PU on a Jazz gets close to a P, but will never be the real deal...

[jabsys]

Originally Posted by Ric5

Learn to palm the pick and keep playing. Sorts like a magician.

That's what I do, playing with your nails still doesn't sound like a pick to me.

[jgroh]

I use this exact same technique all the time. I hold my fingers like I am using a pick and just use the end of my index finger to strike the string. IMO it gives a tone somewhere between actually using a pick and using fingers. Not as bright but not as soft if that makes sense.

[panda bass]

use a thumb pick. it holds itself while your using your fingers

[kombi]

Thanks for all the answers, guys! I will google/youtube the "chucking" technique and see what I'll find. Yesterday I also tried around a bit with some tips for yours and I think I start to understand how it works... Anyway, if anyone has some more tips, dont hesitate to throw 'em in here!