Any Advice For Someone Who Plays Strictly With A Thumb
Brandon2002
Mar 23 2007, 01:56 PM
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does anyone have any advice for someone who plays with just their thumb. im trying to teach my little sister how to play guitar, and she refuses to use a pick regarless how much i stress that fact. i tell her you will never be able to certain techniques without learning to use one but still she refuses. this is partially because i never used a pick when i first started and could play a few kirk hammets solos and sweeps and stuff, so she thinks she doesnt need one =/.

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MickeM
Mar 23 2007, 02:06 PM
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Teaching her how to play chords maybe?

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Leijon
Mar 23 2007, 03:23 PM
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Well, it depends on what kind of music she wants to play. Mark Knopfler for one uses thumb, index- and middle finger only. He might not play as fast as some, but he is by no means a bad guitar player...

Have you tried giving her a thumb pick?

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Andrew Cockburn
Mar 23 2007, 03:26 PM
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QUOTE (Brandon2002 @ Mar 23 2007, 08:56 AM) *
does anyone have any advice for someone who plays with just their thumb. im trying to teach my little sister how to play guitar, and she refuses to use a pick regarless how much i stress that fact. i tell her you will never be able to certain techniques without learning to use one but still she refuses. this is partially because i never used a pick when i first started and could play a few kirk hammets solos and sweeps and stuff, so she thinks she doesnt need one =/.


You can actually get quite far without a pick - I started playing classical, and while that isn't just thumb (you use 3 fingers as well) - that gives you more options. To this day, I can do anything short of speedpicking almost as well with just fingers as I can with a pick. Of course tone sucks with fingers but it is not as limiting as you may think, so maybe you could influence her in this direction.

At the end, she has to see the limitations for herself before she will give up her thumb habit, so maybe you just need to blow her totally away with something she will never be able to master with just her thumb smile.gif

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Brandon2002
Mar 23 2007, 06:35 PM
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great advice, thanks alot, i appreciate it.
ill get her a thumb pick and see where that leads.

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bricktop
Mar 24 2007, 02:26 PM
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I would just let her develop her own technique without the pick. Personally I only use the pick on electric guitar. I just prefer the softer sound without one on the acoustic, and sometimes I won't use one on electric either. But for some of the fast stuff I will use a pick. Besides, girls in general will have longer nails that they will be able to use to articulate the notes cleaner without a pick...

john

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This post has been edited by bricktop: Mar 24 2007, 02:27 PM


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beebo
Mar 24 2007, 02:59 PM
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You know they do sell thumb picks. It's kind of like a ring and the pick itself looks like the top of an arrow
hope I helped. Reply if needed laugh.gif biggrin.gif

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