I make my own thumbpick by drilling two holes in a flatpick and putting a zip tie through them and size it to my thumb. Perfect for fingerpicking and strumming and flatpicking. A regular thumbpick is too hard and clumsy for me.
Thanks Ben - works a treat. I've gone from a cack-handed thumb picker to slightly less clunky in an hour! And suddenly the volume difference between thumb pick and fingers is not so pronounced :-)
This is such a handy video! Thanks for posting it. I bought a budget lap steel a while ago that included a set of fingerpicks - all of which are clumsy and too tight. I'll have a tinker! 😉
Absolutely brilliant video. I’ve been showing my students how to do this for years using Fred Kelly slick picks. Very interested in Dave Dave’s Ord pick too.
Glad you put the part in about adjusting the size. They are always too tight for me and cut the circulation to my thumb. I have to make them a bit larger by widening the fit with hot water and the submerging in cold water.
I use a piece of bicycle innertube, a tierap and a Dunlop pick. I cut two little indents to keep the tierap in place. No time to get used to it. Very comfortable and they do not get lost so easy. But I use 2 fingers. If you want to use it for fingerpicking it is to flexible. I was looking for a way to better while playing normal rytm or solo (rock/blues) hold my pick between tumb and pointer finger, when playing. I always let it drop or it was turning in my hand.
@@erichefley847 You need a inner tube that has the diameter so it will fit your finger like a glove. Then hold the [pick with the tube "ring" on your tumb and mark the pick so you know where to tie-rap the 2 together. Hope this helps.
I have tried thumb picks a bunch of times when I've been playing the guitar! Ive made the thumb pick very tight tell my thumb turnes purple . Every time the thumb pick turns around on my thumb! Maybe the answer is cut it down exactly like you do and suggest to do, for a smaller end that picks the strings with less pressure on the thumb pick. With less chance of moving the thumb pick?
To upstroke or not to upstroke… that is the question…? Some advised never to upstroke with a thumb pick.. but after watching this it seems that you do sometimes… is this just a technique where you’re just “flat picking” with the thumb pick..? Technique video would be ace 👍🏻
I do use an upstroke - having the shorter blade and the rosin really helps to be able to do it. And I do it all the time when I'm using it as a flatpick too.
One question I have is that when I play fingerpicking guitar when I start flowing and it all sounds great I then think about it and knackers my rhythm and it all falls apart. Does anyone have any tips how I can stop this mental block when playing?
Practice your bread and butter stuff - picking patterns etc - while you're doing something else distracting, like watching TV or something. Pick one, and play it over and over while you're concentrating on another thing, then you won't have to think so hard about it when you come to actually play, and can think about the notes you want to hit on the fretboard instead. Does that make sense?
Thanks Ben, it would be great to know if it is possible to play single lines with a thumbpick in the same way as a flat pick or are they just two different from each other that you would never get the same feel?
Maybe you are the guy to ask... My nails are naturally small and thin, my play goes up to rather hard and I wear them down fast. Tried the glues, tried the glue on acrylics, they all just weaken the substrate. How can I strengthen my natural nails ?
I have the same problem, and what I do is go to the nail bar once a month or so and get powder dip acrylic put straight on to my own nail. It's infilled every time I go. Basically, I'm just thickening up my nails so I don't wear them down!
Hi Ben, if we are on more technical topic i have a question. I bought om guitar half a year ago and today i noticed it get belly bulge. How much is it normal for relatively new guitar and when i should be concerned?
All acoustics have a bit of a bulge, so if it's sounding good and playing well I wouldn't worry, but if you're concerned, consult your local reputable luthier!
![АЛАУДИНОВ у Скабеевой: эти их ВСУ нас НЕ ДОГОНЯТ 😁 [Пародия]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/an0anqU4WGQ/mqdefault.jpg)
Far out. Hated thumb picks because they feel weird. But now I think there is no reason not to modify one and give it another go. Thanks for posting!
It makes life a lot easier for me!
Finally. Some one just says it, “yeah it’s uncomfortable. Life is uncomfortable. Deal with it.”
I make my own thumbpick by drilling two holes in a flatpick and putting a zip tie through them and size it to my thumb. Perfect for fingerpicking and strumming and flatpicking. A regular thumbpick is too hard and clumsy for me.
This is my kind of content! 🙌
Niche...😜
@@bensmithguitarwe've all got to have one! 😆
I'd love to get TAB for the licks you played.
Should try "Black Mountain " spring loaded picks..I only have 2 fingers left on my hand for strumming n they work great for me..
Thanks Ben - works a treat. I've gone from a cack-handed thumb picker to slightly less clunky in an hour! And suddenly the volume difference between thumb pick and fingers is not so pronounced :-)
Super niche! Love it, exactly what I was looking for help with
Great video Ben. If I cut my pick down too much, I then cut it all off and stick a normal pick between my thumb and thumbpick and then shape that.
Cool, love this as I was looking to mod some thumb picks I just bought..
Would also be great to get a video from you on nail care and shaping.
This is such a handy video! Thanks for posting it. I bought a budget lap steel a while ago that included a set of fingerpicks - all of which are clumsy and too tight. I'll have a tinker! 😉
kind regards from Berlin 🌻
Absolutely brilliant video. I’ve been showing my students how to do this for years using Fred Kelly slick picks. Very interested in Dave Dave’s Ord pick too.
Awesome lesson. Thank you very much.
Glad you put the part in about adjusting the size. They are always too tight for me and cut the circulation to my thumb. I have to make them a bit larger by widening the fit with hot water and the submerging in cold water.
Butane torch lighter doesn't work. It makes them smaller
and starts them on fire 😅
Try Black Mountain thumbpicks, they are spring loaded, so they fit pretty much any thumb, and they come in 3-4 shapes and thicknesses now.
Thank you for sharing
I use a piece of bicycle innertube, a tierap and a Dunlop pick. I cut two little indents to keep the tierap in place. No time to get used to it. Very comfortable and they do not get lost so easy. But I use 2 fingers. If you want to use it for fingerpicking it is to flexible. I was looking for a way to better while playing normal rytm or solo (rock/blues) hold my pick between tumb and pointer finger, when playing. I always let it drop or it was turning in my hand.
How do you use tire tube on it?
@@erichefley847 You need a inner tube that has the diameter so it will fit your finger like a glove. Then hold the [pick with the tube "ring" on your tumb and mark the pick so you know where to tie-rap the 2 together. Hope this helps.
I have tried thumb picks a bunch of times when I've been playing the guitar! Ive made the thumb pick very tight tell my thumb turnes purple . Every time the thumb pick turns around on my thumb! Maybe the answer is cut it down exactly like you do and suggest to do, for a smaller end that picks the strings with less pressure on the thumb pick. With less chance of moving the thumb pick?
To upstroke or not to upstroke… that is the question…?
Some advised never to upstroke with a thumb pick.. but after watching this it seems that you do sometimes… is this just a technique where you’re just “flat picking” with the thumb pick..? Technique video would be ace 👍🏻
I do use an upstroke - having the shorter blade and the rosin really helps to be able to do it. And I do it all the time when I'm using it as a flatpick too.
Thank you
You're 😁
One question I have is that when I play fingerpicking guitar when I start flowing and it all sounds great I then think about it and knackers my rhythm and it all falls apart. Does anyone have any tips how I can stop this mental block when playing?
Practice your bread and butter stuff - picking patterns etc - while you're doing something else distracting, like watching TV or something. Pick one, and play it over and over while you're concentrating on another thing, then you won't have to think so hard about it when you come to actually play, and can think about the notes you want to hit on the fretboard instead. Does that make sense?
@@bensmithguitar thank you it does make sense indeed, your help is appreciated
Thanks Ben, it would be great to know if it is possible to play single lines with a thumbpick in the same way as a flat pick or are they just two different from each other that you would never get the same feel?
Absolutely, I play that way all the time. I'll do a video on it!
@@bensmithguitar Please post a video on this. I love your playing style and am always looking for tips to improve my own playing.
Maybe you are the guy to ask... My nails are naturally small and thin, my play goes up to rather hard and I wear them down fast. Tried the glues, tried the glue on acrylics, they all just weaken the substrate. How can I strengthen my natural nails ?
I have the same problem, and what I do is go to the nail bar once a month or so and get powder dip acrylic put straight on to my own nail. It's infilled every time I go. Basically, I'm just thickening up my nails so I don't wear them down!
Is it possible to strum with thumb pick, just gentle sound
Yes! I do it all the time. You just have to hold it like you would a flatpick, and then it's down to touch, just like with a flatpick. 🙂
@@bensmithguitar is it different sound of different colour of thumbpick,s plastic
Hi Ben, if we are on more technical topic i have a question. I bought om guitar half a year ago and today i noticed it get belly bulge. How much is it normal for relatively new guitar and when i should be concerned?
All acoustics have a bit of a bulge, so if it's sounding good and playing well I wouldn't worry, but if you're concerned, consult your local reputable luthier!
Thanks, i paniced a bit, it's my first all solid wood acoustic and didnt notice something like this before.