[HANASHIR:13053] Re: Finger picking

[Rebjoe <Rebjoe...>]

Shalom everyone --
Debra Dolin asked a question about finger picking and picks.

As a dedicated fingerpicker and someone who used to use fingerpicks 
exclusively when I songled, I have a few thoughts on the matter.

I find that actual fingernails always sound better than fingerpicks on a 
steel string. Fingerpicks can be scratchy, they can fall off, they can hurt 
your fingers and get in the way of playing.  They also can cause you to break 
more strings when you're playing ludly because of your hand position on the 
bridge of the guitar.  On the other hand, you don't have to worry about 
breaking fingernails with fingerpicks.  Also, they allow you to play louder 
than nails.  

I recently have begun using  acrylic nails (you can get them at any beauty 
parlor) when I play which, I feel, gives me the best of both worlds.  They're 
strong, they don't break and they are loud.  On the other hand......  you are 
making a serious commitment to getting them "filled' every 3 weeks.   Some 
people say that there is a dangere of getting an infection with acrylics, but 
I haven't had any problems.  They do weaken your real nails so, if you decide 
to remove them at some time, there is a period of adjustment when the new 
nail grows back. There are also many products out there that strengthen your 
nails -- flamenco guitarists, in particiular, have develped some pretty good 
stuff.

AS a rule, when I am songleading, I usually use a flatpick because it is 
loud, less complicated, and more versitile.  There is a fun picking style 
that combines flatpick with fingerpicking for those "quiet" moments that I 
would encourage everyone to try out.

Debbie Friedman uses a fat Dunlop thumbpick and two fingerpicks when she 
plays -- (she also breaks a lot of strings......).

Happy Picking everyone!

Joe

Rabbi Joe Black
Congregation Albert
3800 Louisiana Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM  87110