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Q: Should I learn to use a pick?
I’ve been ‘playing’ guitar with no pick for 20 years but three days ago joined TAC to actually gain some knowledge about the instrument beyond strumming some campfire tunes. My question is whether or not learning to use a pick is essential to the TAC experience. I’m just a lot more comfortable with no pick, but some of the early videos in the ’30 Days to Play’ program have some pick-specific techniques/suggestions. My instinct was to just cater the lesson to my own finger-picking style, but wanted to see if anyone on here had a good reason why I should re-train myself to use a pick.
Thank you!
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11 Replies
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Smoody said: “but wanted to see if anyone on here had a good reason why I should re-train myself to use a pick.”
Hi @Smoody , I am going with the quick, easy answer, do it because it is fun and because you can. If you try it and don’t like it, let it go
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Thanks! It is kind of fun… I think I’ll keep at it.
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So you want to learn something beyond strumming some campfire songs. Learning to use a pick will force you out of your comfort zone. You will always have your finger picking skills. A pick will be another tool that may take you places you never thought possible. It’s the learning that is the hard part .
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Excellent points. Gotta remember that the learning isn’t always easy . . . but is the actual reason I’m here. I think I was just frustrated feeling like a beginner and struggling with things I felt like I shouldn’t struggle with. Thanks for the perspective. Much appreciated!
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Just more than a month gone I was feeling the same way, and had picks all over my room. I learned that picks could and would fly! I was also frustrated.
I got some pointers on holding the pick and some products to try… I will dig through the old forum for that thread in the morning and see what I can find for you… I know one of them is dava picks.
Anyway, keep at it, it gets easier with daily use, and it improves the tone of strumming steel strings. It’s worth the effort
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Found the old thread with the advice I got.
https://tac.tonypolecastro.com/topic/30370-i-started-with-12-picks/
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Thanks @Alfred — I just read through your old forum topic and got some good ideas and inspiration. Thanks for taking the time to dig through and find that for me!
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👍
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Alfred: I would love to read the article on picks, but the link isn’t taking me to the article. I even copied / pasted it into a new browser window, same result. Any ideas? Thank you, Frank
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@Smoody , like most suggested, give the pick a go for a while. If you don’t like it, don’t use it. It’s been fun for me to try out different types. I like the DAVA’s the best because they are grippier (is that a word?), but now that I’m used to holding a pick I’m trying a bunch of others.
I have to admit that my preference is the sound of fingerpicking. But I actually do better with the flatpicking exercises. Go figure!🙂
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Yes, learn to use a pick. @Smoody It will be one more “tool” in your “tool box. 🧐😎
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