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Author
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Topic: Keeping Finger Picks on?
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Fred Nolen
Member From: Mohawk, Tennessee, USA
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posted 20 July 2005 06:31 AM
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Help, I would like to hear how some of you keep your finger picks from coming off while you are playing. Some time when it is warm and/or humid, I spend a great deal of time jamming my picks back on my fingers.Thanks, Ol' Fred |
Dave Grafe
Member From: Portland, Oregon, USA
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posted 20 July 2005 07:30 AM
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I find a moment to quickly jam my fingertips agains my right thigh whenever they begin to loosen up, it's just part of the gig. |
John Ummel
Member From: Arlington, WA.
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posted 20 July 2005 07:33 AM
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Sounds like you might not have em fit right in the first place. What brand are you using? If you're using Nationals, try Dunlops, they have a little flair where it slides over your finger and fit very nice. They also come in gauges (thickness of the metal used).
regards, johnny |
Jody Cameron
Member From: Angleton, TX,, USA
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posted 20 July 2005 07:41 AM
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I saw Ralph Mooney in Tulsa spray a little bit of hairspray on his fingertips. I haven't tried it because my picks seem to stay on OK, but it's an idea. |
Lyle Clary
Member From: Decatur, Illinois, USA
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posted 20 July 2005 08:07 AM
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Try fiddle rosin.------------------
1969 ZB Custom D10, BMI S10, 1981 Peavy Musician Mark III, 15 Inch Black Widow, custom enclosure
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Ben Slaughter
Member From: Madera, California
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posted 20 July 2005 10:20 AM
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I've thought about trying some of this after a couple of HOT gigs and loss of picks:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/fg=141/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/428010/ |
Buck Grantham
Member From: Denham Springs, LA. USA
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posted 20 July 2005 10:32 AM
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I just stick my fingers in my mouth then slide the picks on . I never lose one that way. |
Ron Randall
Member From: Dallas, Texas, USA
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posted 20 July 2005 10:45 AM
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Fiddle rosin finds its way onto the strings. OK for a fiddle but not for steel.
Gene Jones advised I use GlueStick. The stuff you use to stick paper together, but not permanently. School kids use them in art class, etc. At the grocery store in school supplies. Works for me.Ron |
Alan Shank
Member From: Woodland, CA, USA
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posted 20 July 2005 11:55 AM
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That's why I like the Guptil Pro-pik with the double loop. They seem to stay on much better.
Cheers,
Alan Shank |
Fred Nolen
Member From: Mohawk, Tennessee, USA
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posted 20 July 2005 01:48 PM
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Thanks for the suggestions. I'm gonna give them a whirl.Ol' Fred |
Paddy Long
Member From: Christchurch, New Zealand
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posted 20 July 2005 02:09 PM
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I use some stuff from John Pearse called "Pick Stuff" ....... it's a bit like a little pottle of rosin, or that stuff that bowlers use to get a good grip in their balls !! (pun unintended)
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Michael Holland
Member From: Nashville, Tennessee, USA
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posted 20 July 2005 02:58 PM
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Eyeglass nosepad cushions. Get 'em at any Walgreen.  [This message was edited by Michael Holland on 20 July 2005 at 03:00 PM.]
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Robert Thomas
Member From: Mehama, Oregon, USA
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posted 20 July 2005 03:11 PM
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I keep a dispenser of clear scotch tape, 3/4" wide, and use a small piece of tape and tape the top flange of the pick just up to my first knuckle. I have used this method for years and it works wihtout a fault. I never lose a pick while playing. |
Fred Jack
Member From: Bay City Texas
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posted 20 July 2005 03:16 PM
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Buck, I am trying what you said and I'm having trouble getting my picks in my mouth after I have placed my fingers in there. Is there a trick or particular sequence that one must use in order to do this? Fred |
Leon Campbell
Member From: Texas, USA
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posted 20 July 2005 04:14 PM
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Buck has the right ideal, I put my fingers in my mouth then put picks on while fingers are wet. Works great, I never have lost a pick since I started doing this. Hope this helps. Leon |
David Nugent
Member From: Gum Spring, Va.
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posted 20 July 2005 04:20 PM
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There is a product that guitar players use called "Gorilla Snot" (really!), works very well. |
Curt Langston
Member From: ***In the shadows of Tulsa at Bixby, USA***
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posted 20 July 2005 04:26 PM
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John Pearse High Rider picks. They have been around for a few years. Try them. They fit a little higher on your finger.(almost to the first knuckle)......------------------
I'd rather be opinionated, than apathetic! |
Al Udeen
Member From: maple grove mn usa
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posted 20 July 2005 06:33 PM
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OK now listen! I've had this problem for many years! I've tried all the above methods, Gorilla Snot, double sided scotch tape, picks dipped in liquid plastic, sandpaper glued to the inside of picks, artificial finger nail tabs & etc, Theres only one thing that works, & it works great, get some Fiddle Rosin at any Music Store $5 > scrape the inside bottom of your picks until the rosin powders onto the inside of the pick! End of Story! au |
Francis Chamberlain
Member From: Franklin, KY, USA
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posted 20 July 2005 08:42 PM
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I have been at it for well over 30 years.
I don't have a problem keeping my finger
picks on. I use a pair of needle nose plyers
and bend the picks untill they percisely fit
my fingers. I file a notch in the pick that
that goes on my first finger. The same pick
goes on the same finger every time. I use
the old National picks. |
Justin B. French
Member From: Virginia Beach, VA, USA
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posted 20 July 2005 08:53 PM
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Hey Fred, I have had very good luck using the "Elmers School Glue Stick", same thing kids use in school. Just touch the stick to the fingers and it does the trick. You can find these where ever school supplies are found. I found this tip on this Forum a few years ago. Try it, you'll like it for sure.
Justin  |
Larry Hicks
Member From: Alabama, USA
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posted 20 July 2005 09:17 PM
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I find a mouse pad to be the perfect surface for "jamming my picks back on my fingers."It protects the picks, and is still stiff enough to get the job done. Also, mark your picks and always use the same pick on the same finger. lrh |
Bob Hoffnar
Member From: Brooklyn, NY
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posted 20 July 2005 09:59 PM
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The showcase 1941 work for me. They seem to be shaped a little different than the others I've used. Once I get them fitted right they stay on fine. I think I have been using the same ones for about 4 years now. ------------------
Bob
My Website 
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Ernest Cawby
Member From: Lake City, Florida, USA
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posted 21 July 2005 05:31 AM
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Go to wal mart and buy a bottle of new skin, put it on the inside of the pick and it will not slide off, replace when needed.
You will find this works.ernie |
Lefty Schrage
Member From: West Union, Iowa, USA
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posted 21 July 2005 08:05 AM
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I use a suggestion acquired from an earlier thread on this topic, i.e., I use a dowel and a pipe clamp to bend the sides of the picks into a graduated round shape around the dowel. This causes the sides of the picks to come into greater contact w/ my fingers causing them to stay on better. Another thing that helps is to use rubbing alcohol to remove oil residue deposited by your fingers inside your picks. Just my humble opinion. ...lefty |
David Doggett
Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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posted 21 July 2005 09:01 AM
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I wrap friction tape around where the finger grip ends come together over my cuticles. In addition to keeping the picks stuck on well, it cushions my cuticles and feels way better. A little black stuff comes off on your fingers the first few times you use the picks, but that soon stops and the tape stays tacky a long time. Once the tape is on there, you never have to worry about applying something repeatedly when you put your picks on. I guess the nose pads are about the same, but the tape covers a bigger area, including the gap, and just seems handier to keep on hand and apply to new picks. |
Buck Grantham
Member From: Denham Springs, LA. USA
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posted 21 July 2005 12:21 PM
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Fred Jack, if your mouth is too small it won't work. Then you use a shoe stretcher first. |
Mark Lind-Hanson
Member From: San Francisco, California, USA
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posted 21 July 2005 01:22 PM
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I have been trying the Walgreens nosepad Idea
for the last two weeks. Seems to be JUST FINE and very comfy, too! |
Stu Schulman
Member From: anchorage,alaska
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posted 23 July 2005 01:20 PM
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A couple of years ago I went to a concert by the band Hiroshima and they have a lady that plays the Koto"June"and she keeps her fingerpicks on with egg whites. |
Tony Davis
Member From: Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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posted 25 July 2005 04:35 AM
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I always had trouble losing picks as it gets a little hot and humid here...until my Buddy brought me a set of Kyser picks back from USA....no trouble now.....they have a sort of ripple or cheese grater finish in the inside of the pick bit...stops them from slipping...I bought a few more from Scotty last year. My friend Doug Rolfe has the Kyser pick for sale but has added a sort of rubber tube to the bands that go around the finger for extra grip...this could be achieved by going to electrical store and buying Shrink tube....just big enough to slip over band and then it shrinks when heat is applied....used to cover and insulate electrical joints!.....think I have some in my shed...might try it tomorrow |
Spriggie Hensley
Member From: Kenosha, Wisconsin, USA
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posted 26 July 2005 04:07 PM
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Try putting your finger (s) in your mouth just before you put the pick on, the saliva acts like glue and I bet you will have to pull them off when you do not want to pick anymore. Keeps your dive goggles from fogging up to in case you dive.
MSA SD10
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Jack Stoner
Sysop From: Inverness, Florida
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posted 27 July 2005 03:19 AM
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I just blow my breath on the picks and my fingers and that seems to mostly hold them on.I've seen Lynn Owsley dip his fingers in chewing tobacco. He offered some to me one day but I declined. I'm going to have to try it the next time Lynn visits my gig. |
Eric West
Member From: Portland, Oregon, USA
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posted 27 July 2005 05:34 AM
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Super glue. Gel works best, and after putting it on the first time take the picks off and put them back on. That part is important.It's not for the undedicated. EJL |
Mike Perlowin
Member From: Los Angeles CA
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posted 27 July 2005 07:33 AM
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I use the red powder coated picks that are made by the same guiy that makes the red rajah bars. The powder coating prevents them from slipping off. I've not noticed any difference in the tone they produce.Plus, they're red.  [This message was edited by Mike Perlowin on 27 July 2005 at 07:34 AM.] |
Doyle Mitchell
Member From: Loraine,Texas 79532
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posted 27 July 2005 07:42 AM
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As weird as it may look to anyone watching you, sticking fingers in mouth has worked best for me for years, even better than resin, in fact the picks are hard to pull off when you are through playing, it's fast and cheap and always available unless you have a severe case of the drymouth, then you better look around for the fiddlers resin!!! |
Ron Scott
Member From: Flushing, Michigan, USA
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posted 27 July 2005 09:56 AM
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Buck, I always did what you do to keep them on and it worked for me.When I saw you do it in the green room at the Baldknobbers show then I knew I must be on to something.RS------------------
Franklin Guitars  [This message was edited by Ron Scott on 27 July 2005 at 09:58 AM.]
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Tim Whitlock
Member From: Arvada, CO, USA
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posted 27 July 2005 01:57 PM
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Ditto the saliva solution. The simplest of all and it works! Did an outdoor show in 100 degree heat last week. No slippage. I do also bend my picks with needlenose pliers, for a custom fit. |
Gene Jones
Member From: Oklahoma City, OK USA
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posted 27 July 2005 03:10 PM
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I have tried all of the solutions to securing finger picks mentioned above, but this is the BEST one that has worked for me! 
[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 27 July 2005 at 03:15 PM.]
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Donny Hinson
Member From: Balto., Md. U.S.A.
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posted 27 July 2005 03:20 PM
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My solution was to use Stevens picks. They're now produced by John Pearse, in stainless only. They have a double loop that fits over the knuckle instead of your fingernail, so they'll never slip off. A side benefit is that if you have trouble with hangnails or have a smashed fingernail, these picks completely avoid the nail area, so you can still play! |
jim milewski
Member From: stowe, vermont
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posted 28 July 2005 03:08 AM
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I've tried a lot of different stuff, what works best for me is the spray adhesive in an aerosol can on a Q tip, then wipe the inside of the picks with it, let the picks sit for a minute or two or even longer before putting them on, it's more of a treatment as it lasts for a week or more |
Joy Wofford
Member From: Battle Creek, Michigan, USA
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posted 28 July 2005 08:55 PM
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Ok you guys...I'm not a peddler....but I always read this section of the forum just in case I can pick up some kind of pointer to help me out with my Lap Steel...so here we go...I've played and picked autoharp for years...and the VERY best thing to hold all your picks on with is SILCONE CAULK, yep, the rubbery, flexible stuff you put around your bathtub or sink. It has to be the kind that stays flexible...coat the inside of your picks it eliminates two problems we all have while wearing picks. First, it "cushions" your fingers, so the picks don't bite you, and second, it acts like a non-skid rug mat on your fingers, the picks won't fall off. You have to try this, I know it sounds weird, but I wear four picks all the time, and this works. I never lose a pick. And it never wears off!
Edited to add: it also won't "powder" onto your strings or board, so you won't have to clean them like you do with rosin...
It ranks right up there with duct tape in my house.........Joy[This message was edited by Joy Wofford on 28 July 2005 at 10:35 PM.] |
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