Using the index finger as a pseudo-pick

[Atticus]

During a songwriting thing for my school's guitar club (which has myself as the bassist, no regular drummer, three guitarists, and one guitard ) the guitard of the group asked me to ride an A really fast. It's faster than I can go with two fingers, and my three finger technique is not yet up to snuff, so I tried using my index finger as a pick. It actually worked fairly well. I made my right hand into a picking position, stuck out the tip of my index finger, and thanked God my fingernails were not too long for this to work. I played with it later and discovered than at lower tempos it sounded too syncopated to work well, but at the high metal tempos most of the club guys prefer it works rather well in a pinch.

Has anybody else ever used this? I know that Jamerson used one finger but he used a different hand position than this one.

 

[Fergie Fulton]

During a songwriting thing for my school's guitar club (which has myself as the bassist, no regular drummer, three guitarists, and one guitard ) the guitard of the group asked me to ride an A really fast. It's faster than I can go with two fingers, and my three finger technique is not yet up to snuff, so I tried using my index finger as a pick. It actually worked fairly well. I made my right hand into a picking position, stuck out the tip of my index finger, and thanked God my fingernails were not too long for this to work. I played with it later and discovered than at lower tempos it sounded too syncopated to work well, but at the high metal tempos most of the club guys prefer it works rather well in a pinch.

Has anybody else ever used this? I know that Jamerson used one finger but he used a different hand position than this one.

Yes i use such a technique, as do many others. Its a good one to have in your armoury.

 

[David Jayne]

I've done it; it works. But I'd highly recommend you spend some quality time with an actual pick instead; it works better and doesn't beat up your finger. Consider it another technique to learn. Picks are fun once you get the hang of it. I suggest a heavy-ish pick, 1 mm or so, and hold it very loosely.
Best wishes with the 3 finger(index, middle, ring?) thing. It's a great technique, but I can't seem to master it-my ring finger is ********. I use a variation, using index/middle/thumb, which works well for me. But anyway, give flatpicking a try- it's cool in it's way.

 

[Baron Von Vik]

Burton used the same technique, and Trujillo still does. I do if the tempo calls for it.

 

[Samsound]

I use a variation, using index/middle/thumb, which works well for me.

In a similar vein, I've played around Wooten's double thumb and 2-finger technique (on same string) but without the slapping/popping aspect, and it works pretty well, too.

 

[Atticus]

I've done it; it works. But I'd highly recommend you spend some quality time with an actual pick instead; it works better and doesn't beat up your finger. Consider it another technique to learn. Picks are fun once you get the hang of it. I suggest a heavy-ish pick, 1 mm or so, and hold it very loosely.
Best wishes with the 3 finger(index, middle, ring?) thing. It's a great technique, but I can't seem to master it-my ring finger is ********. I use a variation, using index/middle/thumb, which works well for me. But anyway, give flatpicking a try- it's cool in it's way.

I have no objection to using picks. In fact, even though I rarely use them, I often defend their use to other people. This was mostly a spur-of-the-moment thing, but I'm going to work with it a little so if I need it I have it in the toolkit.

The three finger is index-middle-index-ring. I find it slightly easier to maintain a steady pulse on high tempo songs, although it's difficult for rapid string skipping. I also use ring-middle-index for gallops.

 

[J Posega]

I like using my finger as a pick, but I find that for super tremolo picked stuff, that I can go back and forth with one finger... pluck and also flick forward.

 

[Skygoneblue]

The three finger is index-middle-index-ring. I find it slightly easier to maintain a steady pulse on high tempo songs, although it's difficult for rapid string skipping. I also use ring-middle-index for gallops.

That's interesting to me. A while ago I read the metal thread in this forum, and I believe it talked about a super-fast three finger technique going Index-Middle-Ring-Middle so that your fingers are essentially moving as if you were rolling a coin on your knuckles.

Have you tried both? Why do you prefer I-M-I-R if so?

 

[MNAirHead]

the Randy Jackson video goes into this.

There's another way.. thumb and index.. ... thumb are downstrokes.. index is upstrokes.

 

[PJSShearer]

Burton used the same technique, and Trujillo still does. I do if the tempo calls for it.

Bernard Edwards used it (he called it "chucking") - check out the intro to "Everybody Dance" by Chic for an example where this technique makes life much easier.

 

[Jawshco]

I have no objection to using picks. In fact, even though I rarely use them, I often defend their use to other people. This was mostly a spur-of-the-moment thing, but I'm going to work with it a little so if I need it I have it in the toolkit.

The three finger is index-middle-index-ring. I find it slightly easier to maintain a steady pulse on high tempo songs, although it's difficult for rapid string skipping. I also use ring-middle-index for gallops.

I've never been able to use index-middle-ring. For some reason it doesn't work out right in my brain. I do use the ring-middle-index for gallops. On the Boston song, More Than a Feeling, there's a little gallop on the 3 chord of the chorus. I go: ring, ring-middle-index. I use the straight ring-middle-index for the quick part in Immigrant Song, and when I play the 16th's in a Iron Madien songs like Trooper I use ring-middle-index-index(flick up on my fingernail). It works like a charm.

As for Picks, I play both bass an guitar, so I use all sorts. I never shy away from having another tool in the tool box. There are a lot songs that sound great with a pick. Sure, I could play something similar without the pick, but it's nice the tonal varitey different picks offer. I usually use the the thick plastic kind, but occassionally will use a really subdued sounding felt type of pick. That pick is super thick and always demands attention. I like it, but man it makes my pickgaurd messy.

I probably only use my fingers as a pick when I'm hitting chords after a fast slapping riff. I do this when I play Primus's version of Master of Puppets.

All of it is good though. Use what ever allows you to make music, and don't be afraid to be different. If it sounds good, it is good!