Finger picking - those Blackmore riffs

[gwEm]

Last night I was dicking around on my strat playing some Malmsteen stuff (badly!) when I had the idea to learn a bunch of Deep Purple riffs.

Anyway, but I noticed was, they are a hell of alot easier to play, and sound better, when you play them like Blackmore with your fingers.

Obviously, you need to turn up the drive a bit, but its alot more natural that way.

With a pick, playing two notes five semitones apart does sound quite distinct, and has its own character, but always seems intentionally unresolved. The timbre you get from picking with fingers seems to fill out that type of two-note chord that Blackmore loves.

Any other hard rock players (famous ones, or members on here) use finger picking for heavier stuff?

[AndyR]

Not that "heavy", but Mark Knopfler.

And, er, me! :lol:

I don't know for certain, haven't watched enough footage, but I suspect Angus does it too on some tracks. Sounds like it, anyway.

[Philly Q]

I believe Richie Kotzen has totally abandoned the use of a pick, Jeff Beck style.  It's only recently though, so maybe not on any of his recordings.

And (I may be wrong here) doesn't EVH hold the pick between thumb and middle finger, to keep his first finger free?  Although that may be primarily for tapping.

It's utterly irrelevant, given my total incompetence as a player, but I've always used a pick-and-fingers approach.  I really like that sound of two (or more) strings being picked simultaneously. 

FWIW, I've always used my left-hand little finger, too, which a lot of people don't seem to do.

[Frank666]

He's not a heavy style of player but Billy Gibbons tends to use a pick and fingers approach for chords

[WeAreNotGentlemen]

Tosin Abasi has the coolest fingerpicking style. Infinite Regression by Animals as Leaders is a prime example of what he can do.

[James C]

I always like the sound of two-note chords played with fingers, brings it closer to an Organ sound with some drive and is a lot of fun. Man on the Silver Mountain is a particular favourite of mine  :)

[blue]

i'm not exactly a rock star :)  but i often play with just fingers, and plenty of distortion.  i can even get pinch harmonics!  i like the ability to play easily on non-adjacent strings, and the different sound it gives.  i do have longer nails on my right hand for this purpose though, so i'm not just playing with the fleshy part

[Philly Q]

I believe Lindsey Buckingham is another no-pick player.  I'm not a massive Fleetwood Mac fan, but it does strike me that the guy is hugely underrated as a guitarist.

[AndyR]

I believe Lindsey Buckingham is another no-pick player.  I'm not a massive Fleetwood Mac fan, but it does strike me that the guy is hugely underrated as a guitarist.

+1

I never thought a great deal of him until I saw the Classic Albums program about Rumours. He sits in a control-room and plays Never Going Back Again, just him and an acoustic... it's in my top 10 fave guitaring moments ever.

[gwEm]

there definitely seems to be a world of extra music that can be reached without a pick. except for some acoustic stuff, this is all new territory for me. i think alot of people go straight for a pick when playing electric.

[Philly Q]

It feels weird trying to play powerchords, or digging in to a bent note, without a pick. 

I like pick-and-fingers, I wouldn't want to eschew picks altogether.



Just had another thought - didn't Wes Montgomery play everything with just his thumb?

[Retalaitor]

I don't know for certain, haven't watched enough footage, but I suspect Angus does it too on some tracks. Sounds like it, anyway.

He certainly does on "Let Me Put My Love Into You" and "Rock 'n' Roll Ain't Noise Polloution" on the Back in Black album. Also on "I Put the Finger on You" off "For Those About to Rock"