Rockabilly Thumbpick Anyone?

[TeeBird]

So I had a post here about losing the pick recently, but now I have decided to learn more rockabilly stuff. The thumbpick makes it a lot easier to get that thump on the muted low string. Plus I can grab it and use it as a flatpick.

How about the other fingers? What chu using, flesh, nail, metal pick, plastic pick? You anchoring the pinky or using it (or not anchoring and not using)? I'm interested to hear your approaches.

[dijos]

I don't intentionally play a lot of rockabilly, but when I do, I use a fred kelley slick pick and fingers. I rest the heel of my hand on/by the bridge. I only anchor my pinkie if I am playing more intracate (chet atkins) fingerstyle. I've experimented with fingernails and picks, and my nails are a wee bit shorter than the Campilongo recommended length. I have grown them way out before, and besides grossing myself out, and making the rest of my life very difficult, I did notice a huge difference in speed and clarity.

[Tele Fan]

I just use my fingers, but I'm not a real accomplished finger picker yet either.

[Mojohand40]

I play about 98% of the time with a Thumbpick, and I play some rockabilly stuff.
I don't use fingerpicks, just nails/fingers.

For steel guitar I use thumbpick and metal fingerpicks, but for regular stuff just a thumbpick and my two fingers.

If you REALLY want to learn some good travis picking style Rockabilly with a thumbpick, I highly recommend:

Paul Pigat's DVD called "Travis Picking-Hillbilly Fingerstyle Guitar" available from:
http://www.learnrootsmusic.com/

It's probally more Intermediant level fingerpicking stuff, though explained pretty well, and as far as I know, one of the few sources for Travis Picking in the Rockabilly style instruction.

Beyond that, get some Merle Travis recordings, and see where the early Rockabilly git-pickers got THEIR influences from.

oh....as for what techique I use, if you are interested, check some of my vids on Youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/user/mojohand40
Nothing special, really, but some short clips I posted that show my approach to thumbpicking.

[TeeBird]

Thanks! I figured the rockabilly picking must be from a country style, but no idea where. I'll look into it all.

[Valvey]

Brian Setzer will kinda retract his flat pick up into a curled index finger and then use his bare thumb and fingers for the thumping bass rockabilly stuff. Brad Paisley and a few other good players do this as well.

[TelZilla]

Originally Posted by dijos

I don't intentionally play a lot of rockabilly

So it just happens by accident?

That sounds like a band- Accidental rockabilly

[Mojohand40]

check out Paul Pigat at about 1:25 into this:


really good DVD for learning this style...all this talks reminds me I haven't look at my copy of Pigat's DVD in awhile..and I have a three day weekend coming up..hmmmm....

[TeeBird]

Yeah man! That's the stuff! Jazz, blues, country all rolled into one.

I'll have to pick that up!

[superlightweigh]

Originally Posted by TeeBird

Yeah man! That's the stuff! Jazz, blues, country all rolled into one.

I'll have to pick that up!

+1!

[magicguitar]

I use either a Herco thumb pick (light) or a Fred Kelly Bumblebee (light) and fingernails. The Herco and the Bumblebee are two of the best thumb picks I've ever used. Unlike regular thumb picks these aren't bulky and don't slow you down and on the plus side BOTH can be used to flat pick as well. The Herco takes a little getting used to so you don't have it popping off your thumb all the time and you might need to trim it to a size to suit your style. The Bumblebee has a nice snug grip on the thumb and it is adjustable.