Steel fingerpicks - Are they really necessary?

[bazmusicman]

I come from the world of playing 6 string guitar and at first it feels like you are all 'fingers and thumbs' that wont do as they are told!
But as previous posters have said, keep at it and it will come. In fact It feels like I'm undressed now if I try and play without picks!

Regards,
Baz.

[Tony Russell Davis]

Alan -FWIW I use thumb-pick and three nails for guitar, but find T+ 2picks adequate for steel; it's just something you find that works for you. For single note runs I use T+one finger and that seems to be the norm. Most guys use thumb and second finger (because it is less likely to crash into your thumb?), I use T+first (because of arthritis-bent fingers). Again, find out what works best for you. Same goes for pick gauge, mine are .25, about as thick as they come and, from experience, the ones with no gauge on them are probably thick rather than thin.
Make sure your hand is curled up into a loose ball with the fleshy edge almost on the strings, don't hold it flat or you will mess with the picking angle and also tense up your hand. Some stick the right little finger out, some tuck that into the "ball" too.

[icu81b4]

Thanks for the encouragement Chaps.