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PaokanoMike
Aloha
USA
18 Posts |
 Posted - 08/01/2010 : 4:18:17 PM
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My question is how did you learn to use picks and do you use them. i see them in alot of instructional videos are they hard to get used too? Any help appreciated
Mahalos
Michael+
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+Praise the Son+ |
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alika207
Ha`aha`a
USA
1260 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2010 : 4:37:46 PM
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| A lot of people hate me for this, but so far, I have used it every time I strum the 'ukulele and sing because I don't want to lose the sensativity in my fingers. I've been blind since birth and therefore have read Braille all my life. As far as the sound of the instrument is concerned, I do agree with everybody that it sounds better if you don't use one, but at least for now, I feel I have to, personally. |
He kehau ho'oma'ema'e ke aloha.
'Alika / Polinahe |
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wcerto
Ahonui
USA
5052 Posts |
Posted - 08/03/2010 : 5:07:56 PM
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It's like anything else you learn- at first it's awkward, but if you persist, you get used to them. I use them most of the time on the guitar & dulcimer, with steel strings, but rarely on the banjo, never on the uke as it has nylon strings. I try to save my nails for playing clawhammer banjo. On the very rare occasions I play 3 finger style banjo, I mostly play with bare fingers.
Paul, usurping Wanda's account. |
Me ke aloha
Malama pono,
Wanda |
Edited by - wcerto on 08/03/2010 5:09:55 PM |
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hwnmusiclives
`Olu`olu
USA
580 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2010 : 01:54:06 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by PaokanoMike
My question is how did you learn to use picks and do you use them. i see them in alot of instructional videos are they hard to get used too? Any help appreciated
Mahalos
Michael+
I don't. Not when I can help it. I play slack key, fingerstyle jazz, and a number of other styles. I don't use a pick for any of them.
I tried for years, but the picks just seem to get in the way of any natural connection with the strings.
Most of the time, I don't even use picks when I play steel guitar. I realized after many years how I was limiting myself. So now it sort of depends on the tune. I put picks on, I take them off again.
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Join me for the history of Hawaiian music and its musicians at Ho`olohe Hou at www.hoolohehou.org. |
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sirduke58
`Olu`olu
USA
993 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2010 : 02:35:53 AM
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Howzit Mike
I don't use a thumb or finger picks.Ozzie made a good point about thumb picks,although it gives you a lot of volume you're stuck in one mode.With your naked thumb and nail you'll be more versatile at expressing the tone of your bass. You can go all nail,part flesh/part nail or just flesh.Nahenahe slack sounds better with a warmer bass line.
The reason I don't care for finger picks is because I use the back of my nail on a downward stroke to brush the strings a lot, finger picks get caught on the strings. With bare fingers you can also go partial flesh & nail or all flesh too to add color to your mele.....Nothing to do with picks but you can serious change your tone by either plucking close to the saddle or out over the soundhole. |
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thumbstruck
Ahonui
USA
2176 Posts |
Posted - 08/04/2010 : 03:11:43 AM
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| When I play at home, I don't use picks. When I play in public or a jam, I use picks for volume and clarity. There's been plenty said about picks here before. It's what you get used to. BTW, I use a Goldengate thumbpick and 2 Dunlop brass mdeium guage fingerpicks. Duke's comment rings true about picks getting caught, but style is based on limitation. It's good to learn both. It will take about 2-3 weeks to get used to the picks, they feel like playing on stilts. Slipry1 has some good tips on shaping the picks to form to your fingers. |
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Using picks
