three fingers and one thumb

[henry]

I'm trying to start using my third finger for picking as well as the first two. ..finding it pretty difficult to use tho.
I was mainly gonna use it for 4 string grips, is this what other people do? or is it more integrated into your overall picking technique?

I feel like my third finger is very puny and malcoordinated!!

any advice much appreciated

[Zumbilly(Murdoch)]

Henry
I do'nt use the third finger,however I had a conversation with a friend at Dallas last year who takes lessons from Reece Anderson.
Reece told Him to put a third pick on and just go on and play as normal and not to concentrate on the extra pick.
I will be seeing Him again next month and will find out how He is doing.
I think the reason is to get the finger working more naturally.
Billy

[SteelieAJK]

A couple of weeks ago 3 days before a gig I got a really sore papercut on the tip of my middle finger picking hand, and couldn't use it to play comfortably. I tried using a pick on my ring finger and found I could play (surprisingly..) reasonably using thumb, index and ring finger as a fall back. Fortunately the middle finger no too sore by the time of the gig so I played as normal T+I&M.

But having had some success with ring finger picking and since I have played standard 6 string using thumb & three fingers
(but no picks just using nails) for more years than I care to publish I thought I would try some practise with thumb + 3.
Aaaarghh nooooooo. Didn't work for me.

I think it's a whole new game, tried for a day or two but rethinking finger usage, when to crossover etc
I figured it was setting me back more than gaining anything. So I'm back on thumb + 2 for now.

I think if I was more of a pick blocker I might persevere, Joe Wrights courses show how to use thumb + 3 and
I kinda like the idea of covering 4 strings at a time and practising permutations of picking order (which is what I do on 6 string; strange it does not transfer easily for me, well not strange actually it's the picks! can't use them on standard guitar, can't play without them on steel). When (if) my pick blocking improves I may revisit.

[James Crowbear]

there are some great 4 note grips be they on E9 or C6
using the ring finger can be awkward at first but w: time & practice, it can be conclusive
i'm not a ref in the matter, but i am studying the phenomena
even tho i use picks, i also like to play w: no picks ( i do use the thumbpick tho') for a warmer sound
in that way gettin' to use the ring finger comes along purty good
Sez Adamson from Jo-Burg in SA plays some great 4 note grips on C6
strings : 9 7 6 4 - 8 6 5 3 - 7 5 4 2
in some of Buddy's tabs there also 4 notes played, but i'm not sure if it's a grip
perhaps some kind of sweep ?
Zumbustin' Billy : Good point about lettin' it come naturally
that's an Ol' hippy thang from R Crumb is'nt it ?
yeah ! Mr Natural

[henry]

yeah.. i've just started wearing the third one but not really using it just so i'm accustomed to having it here. I just keep it tucked in at the moment.
I'm gonna start practising 4 string grips but i've got no sense of where the third finger is in relation to the strings, which I do with the other two..

James, i had a lesson with Gerry Hogan once and he was showing me a thumb sweep that he did to get bigger chords, I practise it but cant do it very evenly!
re. C6, part of the reason i'm getting into the three finger thing is cos I've got this 12 string uni on its way and i want to get into big C6 chords. I was watching a Bobbe Seymour vid on youtube and he was getting some great c6 sounds with 4 string grips..

Allan, I had a paper cut for one gig which I thought was gonna be a problem, I went to the Chemist to try and get a plaster and they sold me this stuff which was quite good:
http://www.boots.com/en/Germolene-New-S ... le_862956/

but hopefully it will just come naturally..!

thanks everyone!

[SteelieAJK]

Thanks for the 'new skin' suggestion Henry, I'll avoid paper & cardboard as much as possible as well.
Have fun with the universal, good luck with 4 string grips.

[Will C]

Henry, I'd got so used to seeing you with that old Marlen with the stripes on - it'll be strange to see you with a Uni. I'm jealous though, they seem like the best of both worlds, and lighter than a D10. PM me? I'm interested to catch up with you and your progress, swap notes.

[henry]

yeah, that's what i like about unis. the one i'm getting is a Bennett keyless 4/6, which has been round the houses but Dave Wiggins is breathing life back into.

it's about the same weight as the Marlen nad a bit smaller. I'm looking forward to teh extra range and the B - Bb lower, and the C6 pedals.
it's also got a higher output pickup with a coil tap so a bit more flexibility there

[Donny Johnston]

Henry, Dave will do a great job, he certainly did on my Blanton. When you get the guitar from Dave would you please ask him to finish fitting the kitchen as Brenda is about to blow. Not a pretty sight.