Tonefiend Forum

Yeah, I've ben trying to lose that old crutch, the plectrum, for about a dozen years now, and I just never seem to go all the way. Although my finger-style chops are damn-near as clean and accomplished as my pick-chops, there's just some stuff that seems to feel it wants the pick, particularly on the rockier (or rockin'ier) side of things. Hell, I spend half the night burying the thing out of the way in my palm, then the other half digging it back out just in time (or more likely, slightly late) for when I want it again, so it's actually technically more difficult than going pickless. At times I've forced myself by simply not carrying any plectra around, but I've left a Hansel-and-Gretel-like trail of hot pink Dunlops all over my hometown for the last eon, so someone's always handing me one...
When I perform solo, or play bottleneck or steel, I ride bareback all the way, but I'm still about 50-50 fingers-to-pick in standard ensemble playing.
Anyone else battled their plectra addiction? Successfully? Unsuccessfully? You just came to terms with it and accepted your occasional fix of pickage? Or are you the finger-picker of the Gods, now that you finally let that infernal bit of plastic go? Or, do you think I'm nuts and you would never consider doing a gig without a pick? Any thoughts?

I'm actually trying to add the pick to my repertoire after years of fingerstyle. I think if you're fairly comfortable using either approach [EDIT: either = both at will], then just be content with that. I think that versatility is the key and therefore being able to use either approach when it is called for is optimal. So I'd say just work on your pick-palming skills to make switching easier and be happy.... but that's just one man's opinion.

Pick-palming on a good night is a seamless and effortless procedure, and it often takes place without my being particularly aware. Pick-palming on a bad night is a distracting pain in the ass, requiring multiple micro-adjustments to keep it out of the way/get it in the way.
Danny Gatton was the guy who hipped me to a pick-and-fingers approach (World's Greatest Unknown Guitar Player? cover story in GP), and I've been working at that ever since, and was proficient long before I could finger-pick worth a damn. It's a good compromise, like a dumbed down thumb-picking approach (never could get with those things, not for the lack of trying).
One thing no one has picked up on (har, har) is that there is a tonal compromise as well as a technical problem. I prefer bare thumb on the bass strings for almost everything and fingers tame harsh trebles as well. Then, there's the volume discrepancy which makes me crazy at times...
So, losing the pick is about streamlining physical technique and reducing the amount of volume/tone tweaks required.
And, having said that, picks will always have some sort of use in my life and right-hand facility is a good thing no matter how you employ the old appendage.

The tuck between first and second or second and third fingers ala Jimi just takes a little practice. Another really flashy thing is to toss it up and catch in your mouth , carried a pick in my mouth for about 20 years or so before I realized where that thing spent its whole life.

I think one of the challenges I'm facing is simply not playing enough these days. Not so much for the chops, but you get some pretty awesome callouses if you play solely with thumb and fingers, and I've had a natural thumb-pick grow in when I've been busy enough. Goddamn 'financial meltdown'. Trickle-down theory, indeed...gigs have been at a trickle since autumn 2010.