Plectrumphobia

[Frank53]

Just curious, is there anyone else on the board who never uses a pick to play guitar? I have never felt comfortable using one. And it allows me to say that I play guitar just like Mark Knopfler. LOL! My favorite jazz player, Joe Pass, rarely used one either. So maybe there is still hope for me. 

[Greeny]

Plectrums all the way for me. And I've finally settled on one brand: Fender mediums. If I could play like Mark Knopfler I might have considered using my fingers. Also, I don't have any finger nails!

Jeff Beck ditched plectrums a while back too. If it's good enough for him...

[Flash Harry]

I use them when the music calls for them. you can put your own rhythm section in with a plec.

Bass wise, much the same, I prefer to use my fingers but there are some songs that need more punch and more speed. A pick is essential sometimes.

[SdC]

Code Select Expand

Estimated pick use (+/- 10%)

Guitar type  |   Pick % | No pick %
-------------+----------+---------
Electric     |   40     |   60
Steel ac.    |   15     |   85
Nylon ac.    |   0      |   100


[Geir]

I used to use my fingers more when younger, now they tend to stiffen up (especially when cold) and as a result the fingerpicking gets a bit sloppy (as you can hear here). But there's some things I just can't do with a pick.

For el. and acc.steel 89.5% pick, 10% fingers and 0.5% teeth.
For nylon 99% fingers.

cheers

[Bluesberry]

For el. and acc.steel 89.5% pick, 10% fingers and 0.5% teeth.
For nylon 99% fingers.
cheers

Thats great geir, 0.5% teeth... and what about the other 1% for nylon, any other body part involved in that 1% 

For me, I try to use the hybrid picking technique.  Use a plectrum and use middle and ring finger like in fingerpicking, I use this on electric and acoustic.  I stumbled on this style watching DVDs of Rory Gallagher and I tried it (Rory is my ultimate guitar hero so I had to try it).  As Rory would say, use whaterer you have to hit those strings.  For nylon I use fingers only.  For kaosillator I use fingers, thumb and nose.

[guitarron]

i sometimes use them but when i do it's with my other 3 fingers too-on bass it depends what tone i'm going after
pick gauge means a lot too-on faster licks i prefer to use a medium to lighter gauge-depends on what guitar(string gauge) i'm using as well
on an acoustics i use picks on big strumming parts
never got the hang of finger picks-never use those

[Geir]

Thats great geir, 0.5% teeth... and what about the other 1% for nylon, any other body part involved in that 1% 

Apart from the occasional foot sticking out of my mouth the 1% is 10% elbow 20% (and falling) hair when headbanging to some John Williams tune 30% palm of my hand hitting the strings and the remaining 40% of that 1% is various beverage containers I've forgot to remove from my hand before playing !

CHEERS

[Bluesberry]

Thats great geir, 0.5% teeth... and what about the other 1% for nylon, any other body part involved in that 1% 

Apart from the occasional foot sticking out of my mouth the 1% is 10% elbow 20% (and falling) hair when headbanging to some John Williams tune 30% palm of my hand hitting the strings and the remaining 40% of that 1% is various beverage containers I've forgot to remove from my hand before playing !

CHEERS

Now thats using everything you got! 

[OsCKilO]

Always use my guitar nails for struming......

The fret hand cut short.

Fingers all the way i'm afraid........

I get carried away sometimes and the pick goes flying..........


Also, I can  never find picks at home.....I think the Evil Mrs Osckilo Hides them!!!!!