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billy j
Aloha
7 Posts |
 Posted - 01/19/2012 : 4:23:47 PM
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Anybody else use them? I catch some ribbing from other guitar-playing friends about my "claws." But I can't play any other way. Tried growing my fingernails, but doesn't work at all with my job.
Am I also the only slack key player that uses an alaska pik? When I first tried to use a thumb pick, the sideways one screwed me up so bad it was like I never played guitar before. So I tried the brass alaska pik on the thumb to simulate the same angle of attack as a long thumbnail.
Seems like the only way to get good volume and clarity? The down side is that now I have a really hard time playing without them. Kinda hard to just pick up a guitar somewhere and start playing.
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aloha |
Edited by - billy j on 01/19/2012 4:31:20 PM |
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Trev
Lokahi
United Kingdom
265 Posts |
Posted - 01/20/2012 : 12:59:33 AM
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I feel I’m pretty basic when it comes to fingerstyle, in general. I’ve had a go at it over the years, but I think my main problem is my nails. They’re very thin and weedy, and if I do any fingerpicking, they’ll all be broken after a day or two.
Some people just use the pads of their fingers. Nothing wrong with that – Tommy Emannuel seems to manage with that approach – but I feel that nails give you more options – there’s more projection, and clarity when you want.
I’ve tried picks from time to time, but I find them really hard to use. I keep hitting strings I don’t mean to hit, and I keep getting the strings caught behind them and I can’t seem to damp the strings without making buzzing and clicking noises.
I’ve been using some metal ones when I play a bit of steel guitar. I’d never been able to use them either, but at an Aloha camp, Konabob advised me to bend them to fit round my fingers, and lent me some pliers he’d brought along for just such an eventuality. Immediately, everything was easier!
I thought – hey this is brilliant! And when I got home I tried to adapt my plastic picks by putting them in hot water. Alas, that didn’t go well. I put one in the hot water, and it opened out flat. Aha! I thought, the residual memory of the plastic!
I put my hand in to try and mould it round my finger, and then shouted ‘Aargh, *^&%$£** and pulled it back out again because I was burning my hand!. When the water was cool enough to actually put my hand in, the plastic had hardened up again, and lay in the pan, mocking me.
After trying this another half a dozen times, I decided it wasn’t going to work. S o I swore at it again, muttered for a bit, and eventually shrugged, chucked it away and went back to using a plectrum for 90% of the time.
In fact, the only time I really do any fingerstyle is if I go to the Aloha Camp, when I get the luxury of spending the week doing nothing else. And I really love it and feel that I learn a great deal in a short space of time. But then when I get home I get caught up in all the music that we play, and I don’t persist with it.
I’d love to be able to use fingerpicks properly. But you need a bit of time, and usually I don’t have much. However, I’m visiting some friends in America in two weeks, so perhaps that’s the time to give it another bash.
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Iakonu
Akahai
USA
57 Posts |
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Bing
Lokahi
USA
100 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2012 : 06:40:36 AM
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| I use alaska pics because my nails are so bad. I've tried everything including glue on "guitar player nails" and all it did was ruin the nail bed until they grow all the way out. I only use the alaska pics on my three ( index, middle & ring ) fingers. I've also discovered putting a little piece of clear "scotch" packing tape over the top of the pic on my first finger makes a strum much easier with out catching the string and flinging the thing across the room. |
Bing |
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slipry1
Ha`aha`a
USA
1511 Posts |
Posted - 01/22/2012 : 10:18:34 AM
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| I use a John Pearse thumbpick, because it doesn't wilt from body heat, and it's light. I prefer .022 brass finger picks, but I will use .028 steel picks for heavy duty work. I learned a long time ago how to bend finger picks so the contact with my finger is maximized. They stay on all night and don;t hurt. |
keaka |
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RWD
`Olu`olu
USA
850 Posts |
Posted - 01/23/2012 : 01:34:41 AM
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I just decided to try some Fred Kelly "Freedom" Picks. Ordered them yesterday. Unlike the Alaska picks, these do not require any nail to stay attached.
Hope they work because my hobbies are tough on my nails.
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Bob |
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jimscottjr
Aloha
USA
38 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2012 : 07:23:22 AM
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I too have really bad fingernails. I tried all kinds of fingerpicks myself, but found no satisfaction.
I ended up with nylon glue on nails, but they DO work for me. (I guess I'm just dedicated enough to maintain them - scary huh?). I figured that if women could wear nails year in and year out, I could also. My daughter is a stylest, and does nails, and gave me a few pointers.
They work fine. Beautiful, hard nails, can't hardly be detected by others. They need to be replaced every 4-5 weeks, but it is better than anything else I have found. |
Old Haole
http://www.haoleslackkey.com/ |
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RWD
`Olu`olu
USA
850 Posts |
Posted - 01/31/2012 : 11:19:08 AM
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Someone here emailed me asking what I thought of the "Freedom" picks.
Got them a few days ago and tried them out. Did not get along with them very well though because they create a nail that is behind my real one. The biggest negative effect to me was that I have to curl my fingers inward more--more than I was comfortable with and it was nearly impossible to do some of my arpeggios. However, I did not try to shape them with hot and cold water. Just went for it.
They fit tight and secure but cause a 1/8 inch wide bulge in the skin (at the gap) that makes the skin go white and gives a pinching sensation. If they were looser I doubt they would stay on for my playing style.
I bet someone will like them and it will depend on the playing style. The woman in the demo video has a technique that probably is not affected. If her fingers were more perpendicular to the strings, she may have had a different opinion. Just guessing.
So, I still prefer Alaska Piks but then, you do need some nail to use them.
This is what I do now: I use the very fine fiberglass from guitarplayer nails w/medium viscosity superglue applied to the last 3/16 inch of my natural nail.
That has made my nails strong and they have not broken since I started doing it. One month now BTW.
I still keep Alaska Piks in my case and I always have guitarplayer nails on hand for emergencies.
Have to pass on the Fredom Nails for now but I may experiment with them later. |
Bob |
Edited by - RWD on 01/31/2012 11:22:56 AM |
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Do you use finger picks? If so, which ones?
