Fingers and picks, but thumb picks?

[Gravedigger Dav]

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

Used to be normal stuff all the time. Guitards would leave one string end long and impale the cig throught the end of the filter. We bassists (wonder if they call us basstards on the guitar sites) would jam it between the headstock and the E string right at the nut. Of course, there was always the burn mark right there.

 

[marmadaddy]

I used a thumb pick for years until I realized that the way I positioned it resulted in a less than optimal attack compared to a flat pick.

 

[Revolver]

I've tried thumb picks a few times over the years, and the problem for me is the angle of attack. It feels very unnatural to me compared to a regular pick or your thumb with a a long nail (The same thing happens when I've tried them on my acoustic guitars. The hand position just feel odd). Some weeks ago, I searched to see if anyone had come up with a different alternative to your standard thumb pick, and I've found quite a few. This one especially caught my eye. I might get one.

http://www.strum-n-comfort.com/

 

[N.F.A.]

I've tried thumb picks a few times over the years, and the problem for me is the angle of attack. It feels very unnatural to me compared to a regular pick or your thumb with a a long nail (The same thing happens when I've tried them on my acoustic guitars. The hand position just feel odd). Some weeks ago, I searched to see if anyone had come up with a different alternative to your standard thumb pick, and I've found quite a few. This one especially caught my eye. I might get one.

http://www.strum-n-comfort.com/

Could you share some of the others you have found? The Dunlop picks I got off Amazon just aren't getting it for me. I'm going to try the one you listed, but am open to more choices.

 

[Guiseppe]

Due to physical issues, I am changing to full time (well, almost) pick player. I like the thumb pick except for an issue noted earlier - the angle of the pick. I hold a flat pick more at a 45 degree angle where the thumb pick is nearly straight up and down. Has anyone found thumb picks with a more angled surface? Hopefully, these pics will show what I mean...

 

[flipmouse]

a bit late...just cruisin this thread...my 0.2 cents: i play with a thumb pick for certain things, but never could find a pick i liked right out of the box. I use a few diff. kinds (dunlops, ernie ball, fred kelly, etc), but i always file them way down, shape them by sanding them, sometimes also by heating in hot water...i found (for me) tone and comfort depend on fit and shape. took some experimenting.

 

[kschuyler]

h

 

[kschuyler]

I have used the Herco Lights and medium for 25 years playing electric bass. I thought I was the only one.

 

[Steven Ayres]

I usually played with picks up into the mid-'90s, and had tried the Dunlop-style thumbpicks, but couldn't stand them very long. Eventually I discovered Herco thumbpicks, which have a thinner, more comfortable wrap (for me, anyway) and a wider control surface, like a more standard guitar pick. I play fingerstyle guitar as well, and the Hercos work great for that. On bass the thumbpick was handy for flat-tire shuffles and like that, freeing the first finger for upstroke work.

I like to shorten them up on a belt sander so I don't dig too deep with them.

 

[pbass2]

I use one on acoustic guitar sometimes, but I can't get it to feel right for bass--I can't get the same control I have holding a regular flat pick.

 

[JustForSport]

I've tried them a few times, cut back a ways, but they really mess up the floating thumb technique on a 5 or 6 string.

 

[Duckophile]

When I was first learning, I used the Herco Medium thumbpicks, since they allowed me to switch between finger-style and picking without fussing with where to put the pick. When I signed up for a few lessons, the bass teacher was... not best pleased with the idea.

 

[Thom Fioriglio]

I know this is an old thread, but add me to the club! I started using the Dunlop L white thumbtacks back in the 80s when I started playing. For me, I switched because I would get a cramp in my hand from gripping a regular pick too hard, plus I would drop or lose them. Switched to a thumb pick, using it like a regular pick. I stopped losing them, still have one from the 80s, and later, when I started to learn to play with my fingers, it was nice to switch up without having to put down a pick, or switch midsong between pick and finger style.

 

[Rockbobmel]

I just found a National "L" in an old guitar case. I tried it and liked it. I think it's a 1.4mm and I'm going to order some more different ones to try.

 

[IamGroot]

Monk Montgomery did

He did?

 

[herbygardener]

Old thread I know, but I'm in this small club too...probably play 2/3 of our tunes with fingers and 1/3 with a thumb pick. Was only fingers when I first started then in the interest of expanding techniques (and at the urging of our band leader) tried to use a standard pick; found holding/gripping the pick to be my biggest issue with cramping, slipping, etc. Tried the Dunlop L thumbpicks and got comfortable more quickly. I add a small bit of hockey tape around the flat under my thumb for better grip. I have found a couple different gauges and lengths of picks that give me enough variety of sound to suit the needs of various tunes.
Maybe not for everyone but worth a try, IMHO.
Cheers!

 

[BarqsBitMe]

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.

Your profile picture gave me a chuckle

 

[Zbysek]

I am ordering thumb pick right now...want to try it...

 

[bogwart]

Wow...almost a 10 year old thread. I used thumb picks back then, but I've switched to a conventional .88mm Dunlop pick these days. But give it a shot...I did enjoy them when I used them. It's a different feeling.

 

[HvyBlvy]

Yes, I'm sold on the thumbpick now. Thumbpick plus fingers is the way forward for me. I can get the pick sound (clack clack clack) and the finger sound (fwump fwump fwump) in the same song. Lightning and thunder. Clack! Fwump.

I mostly play fingers; I do like the pick sound sometimes but if I have to choose fingers OR pick for a song, I almost always go fingers. About a year ago I decided I might eventually want to play 5-string so I thought I'd start consciously practicing the floating-thumb muting technique to get ready. Well, my floating thumb doesn't like to sit still; if it's there on a string it wants to get in on the plucking action. So by last fall I was using thumb and fingers. Then I thought, why not slip a thumb pick on there? Might as well.

I tried a few different thumb picks and almost gave up. Too tight. Too loose. Too stiff, too flimsy. Finally found one that is just right. Now I can upstroke and downstroke with the thumb alone, leaving the fingers free for other pursuits. I especially like to alternate thumbpick on the thick strings (say, root and fifth) and fingers on the thin strings (maybe octave and tenth) it sounds like two distinct voices.