Fingers and picks, but thumb picks?

[tangentmusic]

I used to use them years ago. Back then there were several choices.
Perfect for using fingers and pick within the same song like others have mentioned. No more hunting for that dropped pick on a dark stage.

 

[Biggbass]

I use a thumb pick but not on every tune we play...just when I need a pick. I keep it
pinched into part of my strap.

 

[coronado3]

the guy from Night Ranger, Jack Blades, uses thumb picks

 

[bluesdogblues]

used a thumb pick, or just his thumb?

Monk Montgomery was a Double Bass Player first. He was one of the first man who make popular the electric bass (Fender P and later J), which he played with his thumb, all down stroke. But later in his career - maybe about in 70s, he felt his thumb kind of numb, so he used thumb pick, all down stroke.

 

[zontar]

Thumb picks feel weird to me--on bass or guitar--but hey--no reason other people can't use them.

 

[JimmyM]

Tried it but didn't care for it. Good idea for some, though.

 

[GLEN18INCHSPICA]

Preston Niles of The Knack used thumb picks. I bought one to try & found it too tight on my thumb & would move around when up picking. I would like to try some other varieties. i jammed my pointer finger in a door recently (stupid a##) & had to use a pick for a week or two exclusively & really enjoyed it.

 

[Twangster101]

I use them sometimes too. I've tried alot of the ones on this link from Elderly Instruments. Just scroll through and look at the options on this link.
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[blixild]

I love thumb picks for switching between pick/finger and also for switching between pick and playing a keyboard line really quick.
I've tried a bunch, but my favorites are Herco HE115s. They're not a standard pick shape, so they don't get in the way as much as most of the others I've tried. They have the perfect flex amount for me -- enough that they aren't too tight, but they don't easily fall off either.

 

[viking power]

Jerry Only of The Misfits is a thumb pick guy.

 

[cnltb]

I use thumb picks at times. Like it.

 

[Hevy T]

Mario Cipollina of Heuy Lewis and the News is also a thumb pick guy

 

[Camaro]

Strat Hater beat me to it. Lets see how this newfangled Video-embedding works:

​

 

[bogwart]

Perfect example right there. It allows for so much versatility. But, smoking while playing? That's gotta be a skill, albeit a gross one.

 

[David Jayne]

Yup. File that under Things That Used To Be Cool But Are Now Repulsive.

 

[Howlin' Hanson]

I own two plastic thumbpicks and use them at practice. I tried regular picks, but I pinch them so tightly my hand cramps up. So it's fingers for gigs.

 

[MIMike]

I only use a pick for about 5% of my work! but when I do, I use a thumb pick (it keeps my fingers at the ready).

 

[N.F.A.]

Update: I read this a couple weeks ago and decided to give it a try. I've used a thumb pick playing banjo, so it wasn't really a stretch. I'm happy with my progress and have been incorporating using a thumbpick into easier band songs. I'm not happy with the size of the pick. (too small for my thumb, even though it's Dunlop's largest size.) I also wish the pick part was shorter. I'm still getting more of the string than I'd like. Anyway, as time goes on I will use this more and more. It saves me from having to grip the pick, since my tendency is to hold on too tightly sometimes. I used to really dig Johnny Winter, and I remember he uses a thumb pick to good advantage.

 

[mrwood4]

95% of the time i'm using my fingers, but I also use/used thumb pick. It works pretty well for me. Small club, but glad to see others with the same idea.

 

[Gravedigger Dav]

Never even thought about a thumb pick. I have always used fingers. There are times when I think a pick might sound better, but the light picks I have around for my guitars really doesn't work. I also thought about what I do with a pick during a gig. I have to give this a try.