• From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Topic: Finger picking on an Electric?

Just wondered what people thought was cooler.  Finger picking or Plucktrum(guitar pick)

I've been using Jazz III XL picks for a year now and love them but I find that I just play really fast with them.  I can play pretty fast leads by finger picking but for some reason I feel like I'm getting out of the box more and I play more creative leads then just me and a pick buring up old Clapton licks as fast as I can.  Also I'm reading a lot of guitar mags that show a trend that finger picking guitar leads is what more and more people are doing. 

So I wanted to take a poll and see what everybody thought to see if we are all the same or a little different.

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  • From: The Netherlands
  • Registered: 2010-02-14
  • Posts: 318

Re: Finger picking on an Electric?

I use both all the time. For solos I usually go to a pick, or if I want the chords to be very saturated, but if I don't, I'll play with my fingers....

I don't charge for mistakes. - Joe Bonamassa
  • Registered: 2010-03-20
  • Posts: 536

Re: Finger picking on an Electric?

Rick49 wrote:

I use both all the time. For solos I usually go to a pick, or if I want the chords to be very saturated, but if I don't, I'll play with my fingers....

Me too. I use fingers for a softer attack.

Other than Joe, one of the best I've seen at fingerstyle on an electric is the criminally underated Fleetwood Macster, Lindsey Buckingham....a jaw dropping performer.

"Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips...."

JB LP Goldtop No. 290- Aged...rather like me.
  • From: over yonder....in PA
  • Registered: 2009-02-09
  • Posts: 240

Re: Finger picking on an Electric?

I use both at times, but normally just picking with some hybrid picking thrown in. If it's a chord that I need some dynamics on, I'll pick the bass note and pluck the rest ala EJ. I do a good bit of finger picking on some swampy stuff, though. Check out David Grissom if you've never listened to him...he's what got me into fingerpicking-ish stuff

"The way I like to look at it is....if that's the last time I ever got to play, I'd better give it everything I've got." -SRV

5 Reply by aussiemeats (edited by aussiemeats 2010-12-02 12:14:02)

  • From: Los Angeles
  • Registered: 2010-03-19
  • Posts: 105

Re: Finger picking on an Electric?

Good Day,

Jakey  +1 on Lindsey Buckingham...

I've seen him, and ALWAYS admired his playing..He is a MONSTER on guitar!

Besides being one if the Tastiest guitar players alive on electric, he also

does things on an acoustic that just make your head spin!!

He is truly a master on the guitar, and he doesn't sing to badly either!

Put him with Stevie Nicks and you have Nervana

Love them both!

Cheers

  • Locke
  • New member
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  • Registered: 2010-11-13
  • Posts: 9

Re: Finger picking on an Electric?

I was trained classically, but switched to picks when I started electric.

Its funny that I should see this topic now... I just switched back to playing with my fingers about a week ago. There is so much more you can do tonally...

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: Finger picking on an Electric?

I agree that finger picking gives you more.  I understand what everyone else is saying too because tonight was the first time I picked up a pick in a week.  Even though I feel like I stepped out of the box with more creative idea's I found I missed hearing that Jazz III pound that string into submission.  I still want to keep up the finger picking because lately thats all I've been doing and on an acoustic no less but the pick will always have a place in my playing as well.  smile

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