[RICH.J]

Out of curiousity, whilst finger picking, which fingers do you use for the odd strum here and there? Side of the thumb, index finger, all three fingers...?

[gcd23]

It will definitely depend on peoples styles. I like to use my thumb for the bass notes and my index, middle and ring finger for treble. I have a tendancy to use my middle finger more often than I want to so I would say my middle finger. Some people play with just thumb and index or middle but it depends on how they learned.

[RICH.J]

I mean for strumming for a pick effect.

[gcd23]

oh, I use all my fingers.

[RICH.J]

I see, have you always done it that way naturally? I use the tip of my index finger moving from side to side, or my thumb, depending.

[dadfad]

If you want the brighter "attack" (I guess you'd call it) of using a pick, strumming downwards with the backs of the nails will sharpen the "attack". Sort of opening your fingers from a closed-fist sort of motion as you also move your arm (or snap your wrist).

[gcd23]

If you want the brighter "attack" (I guess you'd call it) of using a pick, strumming downwards with the backs of the nails will sharpen the "attack". Sort of opening your fingers from a closed-fist sort of motion as you also move your arm (or snap your wrist).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks for explaining it. I couldn't have explained it better.

[krypton57]

I mean for strumming for a pick effect.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not sure what you mean. Strumming isn't picking.
Anyway, I use my index or middle fingers for treble strums and thumb for bass strums.
You could try the Spanish flamenco way - Rasguedo - which is a graduated but usually fast sweep of all your fingers in between the fingerstyle notes.

[epearson]

Rasgueado is a great effect but you have to plant your thumb on the sixth string and it has a more percussive effect (with fingers striking strings at different times) and it is definately very spanish sounding. Not to mention there are like 12 different rasgueados all appropriate for different rhythms, such as 2 finger, 3 finger, 5 digit etc. Rasgueado is a studied accompaniment form that's a pretty big deal in flamenco and some classical stylings and it takes years to master. Depending on the song you're playing you may not want that Flamenco sound, especially if you're using steel string.

Using the back of your nails isn't a bad idea, but another one that's pretty effective for quick strums is just a flick of your index finger. Flick it forward and back to get a lighter strum sound and also with a quicker response than changing your hand position to strum with all fingers. It could be called a one finger rasgueado lol, but it's not quite the same.

This post has been edited by epearson: 14 January 2005 - 01:43 PM

[iamaciderdrinker]

Not entirely to the point, but something else you can try is to use a thumb-pick, and just angle your hand that way when it comes to doing the strumming. This works better on songs where it starts off as fingerpicking but then has a strummed chorus or something, ie, elongated periods of strumming that you wouldn't want to do with your hands. An example of this being "A love never known" by Leahy. It doesn't affect your fingerpicking, because it shouldn't be in the way.