Author Topic: Anyone here use a thumbpick? (Read 10101 times)

froglord · « **on:** March 08, 2006, 08:52:52 PM »

I'm mainly a fingerstyle player, but use a pick some of the time too. I was wondering about trying a hybrid style using a thumbpick plus index, middle and ring fingers - a kind of "best of both worlds".

I've had a go with a Dunlop thumbpick before, but it was a really unwieldy thing and I found I couldn't really do upstrokes with it.

What I need is a thumbpick which behaves pretty much like a normal pick. Any of you guys found one that fits the bill?

sambo · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2006, 08:55:29 PM »

me and my guitar teacher were talking about this- how thumnpicks suck cause of the limitations- theyre stuck at the same 90 degree angle.... we were gonna make one with like velcro or something that wrapped round your finger (probably middle finder or thumb) then it wouldnt be in the way for tapping and youd have extra stability....

if we ever get round to making it (weve been talking about it for months) ill send you a prototype! :D

froglord · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2006, 09:11:41 PM »

Cheers, Sambo! Are you ever off this board?

What I really need is a pick anchored to the bone in my thumb that extends and retracts at will - a bit like Wolverine's claws in X-Men ... but not as sharp.

_tom_ · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2006, 10:09:28 PM »

Could always grow your thumbnail? Or will that not work well enough?[/url]

froglord · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2006, 10:17:41 PM »

Like most classical guitarists, I have long, girly fingernails on my right hand and extremely short nails on my left. The trouble with the thumb is, again, on the upstrokes. They sound completely different to the downstrokes, probably because I'm hitting the strings with the fleshy part of my thumb - but this is unavoidable unless I grow my thumbnail to ludicrous (and impractical) proportions.

sambo · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2006, 10:19:09 PM »

oh that reminds me- this sam richwood- our drummers bro uses his thumb to pic and he can go really fast with it- its unnatural i swear- he anchors his hold hand and just quickly wiggles his thumb using his nail to pic- ridiculous.

lol froglord :lol: :P wolverine pics would be so damn cool...

froglord · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2006, 10:28:09 PM »

Yeah, I've seen a blues guitarist in a pub play with only his thumb and get away with it. I don't think my thumb will move that fast.

If Wolverine played a PRS, how would he protect the finish? Just a thought.

_tom_ · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2006, 10:30:31 PM »

Quote from: sambo

oh that reminds me- this sam richwood- our drummers bro uses his thumb to pic and he can go really fast with it- its unnatural i swear- he anchors his hold hand and just quickly wiggles his thumb using his nail to pic- ridiculous.

lol froglord :lol: :P wolverine pics would be so damn cool...

That sounds bloody hilarious. Get that on vid, please!

sambo · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2006, 10:33:26 PM »

tis weird indeed.... but effective and seems to be VERY accurate and controlled some how

Bird · « **Reply #9 on:** March 08, 2006, 11:18:19 PM »

These ones are as close as you get to best of both. The Herco flat /thumpick is great, about as close as you'll get to flatpick feel. Go with a heavy gauge though. Extra heavy are too tight on the thumb and mediums don't hang on enough.
http://www.jimdunlop.com/products/herco/guitar/

sambo · « **Reply #10 on:** March 08, 2006, 11:22:34 PM »

see the 'finger pick' in there is kind of what i need- a pic attached to your finger pointing inline with your finger not at a right angle...

however- a finger pick like that attached to your thumb would be better cause then if you needed to tap it wouldnt get in the way like it would if it was on your index finger- see what i mean?

rahnooo · « **Reply #11 on:** March 09, 2006, 12:47:21 AM »

I'd add my vote to the Herco, I use one a lot, albeit on lap steel and it's a sweet pick. I've tried Dunlops and hated them, they were really unweildy and tended to cut off my circulation. The Hero has a bit more give so feels much more natural.

*Rahnooo*

Searcher · « **Reply #12 on:** March 09, 2006, 05:40:26 AM »

Thanks for that Herco link. I'd never heard of them before. What I've done before to get my thumbpicks to fit better is to drop the pick in some boiling water and then shape it before it gets cold. That might work for you, too.

froglord · « **Reply #13 on:** March 09, 2006, 09:01:17 AM »

Cheers, chaps! I'll give the Herco a try.

Elliot · « **Reply #14 on:** March 09, 2006, 09:09:00 AM »

I think thumbpicks are good for certain style - American fingerstyles like country blues (Mississippi John Hurt or Lightning Hopkins) or Travis style picking work great with thumb picks because you have that heavy muted bass that often is quite monotone.

For British fingerstyles like Davey Graham or Bert Jansch I find I need to use flesh or nail to get the slightly more articulate sound. I know Jansch plays with a thumb pick but I can't for the life of me work out how.

Right hand position is another thing - if you are used to the classical style and want to play blues/folk fingerstyle you might need to change the right hand position as classical hand positions don't really help.

I saw Davey Graham a few weeks ago and he changes his right hand position like crazy depending on the style he's playing - a real revelation to watch.