Finger picking vs the flat pick

[glenvolk]

Neil,

I have been on your site for a few months and really like it BUT you finger pick the play through portion of many of your lessons (Wish You Were Here and Madman Across the Water specifically) and then you proceed to do the lesson with a flat pick. I can't speak for anyone else but I prefer to finger pick songs. Any chance you can start including a finger picking section for your arrangements as well? I think that sounds so much better. I suppose with time I could work my way through it but then I would have to quit my job and I can't afford that .

Thx

Glen

[BigBear]

glenvolk wrote:

Neil,

I have been on your site for a few months and really like it BUT you finger pick the play through portion of many of your lessons (Wish You Were Here and Madman Across the Water specifically) and then you proceed to do the lesson with a flat pick. I can't speak for anyone else but I prefer to finger pick songs. Any chance you can start including a finger picking section for your arrangements as well? I think that sounds so much better. I suppose with time I could work my way through it but then I would have to quit my job and I can't afford that .

Thx

Glen

Glen- Wow, your first post is a good one! Welcome to the program! We're glad to have you with us. Could we ask you to go to the Please Introduce Yourself thread and tell us a little about yourself and where you are on your guitar journey?

Some songs just aren't really fingerpicking songs. Wish You Were Here is definately a picking song. I think Neil tries to demonstrate the song as close to the recorded version as possible but he can finger pick anything obviously. As long as it takes to produce a full song study I'd be very surprised if Neil would produce both versions. Plus if he doesn't do the same way as the tab the members scream bloody murder! LOL!

Cheers!

[AndyT]

I like finger picking myself. It sounds really cool and you can do a lot of sweet things with it. But I know I also need to learn the other methods also. It takes a bit of time but makes me a much better guitar player in the long run.

[Chasplaya]

Some songs just need a pick, I don't think you can get the same 'attack' with the thumb on the Bass notes as you can with a pick. SO its really dependant on what sound you are after really.

[Catman]

Chasplaya wrote:

Some songs just need a pick, I don't think you can get the same 'attack' with the thumb on the Bass notes as you can with a pick. SO its really dependant on what sound you are after really.

I have to agree with that. For many years I never used a pick, but since I started using one I find that it is an invaluable addition to my skill set (such as it is). Since learning "The Sage", I find myself applying the combined pick/fingers technique in lots of places, including idle plinking.

[FlatPick]

Hm... which do I prefer...Hint: (look at my screen name)

[Music Junkie]

Good points made here, once again. I am a firm believer in doing it however you want, if you are comfortable with it. I agree with Chas that some songs just beg for a pick. Others, however, can be played either way and sound great! Very subjective IMHO.

[BigBear]

I think the premise is wrong. It isn't one versus the other. They aren't mutually exclusive. They both have their place and unless you are a classical or flamenco guitarist you need them both! :cheer:

[Music Junkie]

BigBear wrote:

I think the premise is wrong. It isn't one versus the other. They aren't mutually exclusive. They both have their place and unless you are a classical or flamenco guitarist you need them both! :cheer:

I agree. I think it is fine to prefer one sound over the other, but you would certainly be well served in learning all methods to improve your overall understanding and your capabilities....