How to Learn to Use Thumb and Finger Picks on Acoustic Guitar

This is a common question among new guitar players. I know what I think but I wondered what other guitar players thought so I asked some of my pro-guitar-playing friends.

So, what's better, playing guitar with a guitar pick or fingers? New guitar players should learn how to use a flat pick first. That way they can easily strum chords and pick notes as they learn and build strength in their left hand. Eventually, they can master new picking techniques like fingerpicking to build strength in their right hand and add versatility to their playing.

Deciding on whether or not to use a guitar pick or your fingers is a personal choice determined by the type of music you like to play, the song you're playing or the type of guitar you are using.

When I play an electric guitar, I use a flat pick along with my middle and ring fingers, to strum and pick the strings.  When I play an acoustic guitar, I use a flat pick for strumming or solos and I switch to my fingers when I finger pick.

Some guitarists never use picks, they only use their fingers.  Other players use guitar picks all the time and never use their fingers. There are also guitar players that switch between picks and fingers and some that play using flat picks and their fingers, at the same time.

You can strum the strings a lot harder and get more volume from your guitar with a pick so it's really a personal choice.

Pick or No Pick, What Type of Guitar Music Do You Play?

The music you choose to play will help you determine whether you should use your fingers or a pick. Do you play rock, blues, classical, folk or country? Do you play rhythm, lead or both? Are you using an electric guitar or an acoustic guitar? Do you like the sound of your guitar better with a pick or with your thumb and fingers? It's up to you!

Playing Guitar With Your Fingers

The most common guitars that are played with fingers and no picks are acoustic steel-string and nylon string classical guitars. Classical guitars have nylon strings. Classical and flamingo guitar players use their fingers to fingerpick or strum both styles of music.

It's also common to play acoustic steel-string guitar using a fingerpicking strum style with your fingers and no picks. This is often found in folk, bluegrass, blues, country, and singer-songwriter's music.

Some electric guitar players play blues and jazz with their thumbs to get a rich, mellow tone. Others use fingerpicking on their electric guitar to get an acoustic-electric sound.

What is The Difference Between Flat Picks and Finger Picks?

There are basically two types of picks that most guitarists use, flat picks and finger picks. With flatpicking, your fingers hold one pick, with fingerpicking you slide 1 to 4 picks onto your thumb and fingers to pluck and strum the strings.

What is a Flat Pick?

A flat pick is a small, flat, rounded piece of plastic that is used to pick or strum the strings on a guitar. Picks are typically made from nylon, wood or most commonly plastic. Based on the size, shape, and thickness of the pick you choose, the sound you get from your guitar will vary widely.

Most electric guitar payers use flat picks when playing rock, blues, and country. Acoustic guitarists also use flat picks to strum or pick rhythm parts and pick lead lines.

What is Flatpicking?

A flat pick is held between the thumb and the index finger. You use the tip of the pick to strum or strike the strings on a guitar.

Strumming chords with a flat pick on a steel string electric or acoustic guitar can create a rich, rhythmic sound. With a flat pick and you can get more volume than fingerpicking. You can also play a fingerpicking style by picking each string of a chord in a rhythmic pattern with a flat pick.

With practice, flatpicking allows you to play solos at lightning speed. You can also use a flat pick to create sound effects like palming (muting the strings while your pick them) or a harmonic string click as you pick each note.

Some Common Flatpicking Techniques

• Economy Picking: a mix of alternate and sweep picking, used for solos
• Alternate Picking: continuous up and down picking on single notes, used to play fast solos
• Sweep Picking: pick down when moving down, pick up when moving up, used for solos
• Down Picking: playing down strokes, used for steady rock rhythms
• Hybrid picking: using a pick and fingers at the same time, used in country, rockabilly and bluegrass

What are Fingerpicks?

Fingerpicks are small plastic or metal picks that are designed to slip over the thumb, index, middle and ring finger of your right hand. There are 4 finger picks in a set of fingerpicks.

Acoustic guitar players use finger picks to create rhythmic chord patterns when playing bluegrass, country, ragtime, and some blues songs. Electric guitar players use finger picks create alternate bass and chord comps with melody lines. Chord-melody (integrating chords with a melody) arrangements can be easily accomplished with fingerpicking.

What is Fingerpicking?

When you fingerpick a guitar, you are plucking the guitar strings with your thumb, the index, middle and ring finger of your right hand. To fingerpick you can use the tips of your thumb and fingers, the nails on your thumb and fingers or a set of finger picks, which are made of plastic or metal, that slip over the tips of your thumb and fingers.

When fingerpicking, your thumb plucks the 6th, 5th, and 4th strings, while your index, middle, and ring fingers pluck the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd strings.

Can You Use a Flat Pick and Your Fingers The Same Time?

Yes, you can use a flat pick and your fingers at the same time, it's called hybrid picking. You can switch back and forth or play 3 strings at a time by picking with the flat pick and plucking the strings with your middle and ring fingers. You can choose which to use when based on the style of music you are playing or the sound you trying to get from your guitar.

Does Your Tone Change When You Use a Guitar Pick Verses a Finger?

When you compare the tone that's created with a guitar pick versus a finger you can hear a real difference. If you have a guitar handy, try it. Listen to the difference in the tone of a note or a chord when a guitar pick strikes the string versus the sound that your thumb or a finger makes.

When you use a flat pick or finger picks to strike a string, you are striking the string with a hard plastic, wood or metal object. The tone the pick creates when hitting the string is bright, with a distinct and clear attack.

When you use your thumb or fingers to strike a string, you are striking the string with a soft, fleshy object. The tone that is created with a thumb or finger is much softer, with a non-distinct attack. If you lightly pull the strings with your fingers, you'll get an interesting plucked sounding tone.

If you're playing a percussive funk rhythm, aggressive rock power chords or a speedy blues solo using a flat pick can provide the attack you'll need. However, if you're playing a jazz solo or fingerpicking a mellow acoustic guitar tune, the softer sound of your fingers provide may be a better choice.

Generally speaking, picks are used more often than fingers. Experiment, try playing with and without a pick. Give yourself an opportunity to discover all the options that are available to you on the guitar. If you spend some time mastering the ability to play each way, you'll be able to enjoy the best of both worlds.

Playing Rhythm Guitar With a or Without a Pick

Using a pick to play rhythm guitar is a big part of playing guitar.  You can play interesting funk, rock, blues and country rhythm with a flat pick or a thumb pick. You can also play rhythm guitar by strumming with your fingers but using a pick will help you play louder and more rhythmic.  When you strum with your fingers and get tired, you can use a pick for a backup.

Learn How to Use a Pick By Watching The Guitarists You Like

The internet is full of free information on how to play the guitar. There are numerous guitar lesson videos for every type of music. Watch videos from your favorite artists and try to use the same picking techniques they use to improve your playing.  Learn their songs to master their musical style.

How to Learn to Use Thumb and Finger Picks on Acoustic Guitar

Source: https://guitarclubhq.com/whats-better-playing-guitar-with-a-guitar-pick-or-finger/

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