Active Melody

I’ve been playing the guitar on and off (more off) for the past 3 years and recently I’ve decided to try using a thumbpick.  I’ve been messing with it for 2 or 3 weeks now and can’t seem to get the hang of it.  It just feels odd.  I know there are some great pickers that use them, but I’m beginning to wonder if it’s for me.  Has anyone else had frustrations with a thumb pick?

Yeah I’ve had the same experience with them… like you - I’ve tried them on and off through the years and never been able to do much with them.  I think the problem is that you can’t feel the strings (like you can with your thumb) - I’ve never been able to play with my fingernails for that very reason.

I’m kind of the same way with thumbpicks.  I’ve used them on and off and for whatever reason they are much more intuitive with playing the banjo - maybe it has something to do with that bottom 5th string only being a “drone” string.  I love it when players will play finger-style using a thumbpick, and then switch to a standard format of picking the notes (while using the thumbpick), very cool!  Plus you’d never have to worry about dropping your pick

A good site i found about using thumbpick is Eltjo Hasselhof and i even bought his dvd wich is very helpfull and encouraging.

The great Johnny Winter used a thumbpick & he is not a bad player.

LP

Freddie King played with a thumbpick and one fingerpick on his index finger, as did Jimmy Rogers. I try and throw it into my playing and I am improving at it, like anything with guitar it takes patience.