Fingers and picks, but thumb picks?

[Thom Fioriglio]

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.

What thumb pick did you settle on? I've always used the Dunlop

 

[Polfuste]

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... View attachment 417246 View attachment 417245

M-picks has created a special model that can allows you to choose your angle:

Elastik Picks

details explanations are in their guide:

♪ Guide & Instructions ♪

 

[HvyBlvy]

What thumb pick did you settle on? I've always used the Dunlop

This is the good one for me. However! I have a brand new one that looks exactly the same but it’s much too tight. This one here is not new; a dobro playing friend with humongous thumbs gave it to me. It fits perfect.

 

[WRM]

I'm a fan of the Thumb pick, but it has to fit properly. Once on the Thumb, I use it more like a regular pick, holding it with Thumb & Index. Though they look quite similar, the Fender fits me fine, while the Dunlop hurts my thumb (right at the edge of my Thumbnail).